Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

4 April • Living Faithfully: Risks, Persecution, and Hope in Lent

A Word of Hope

Fr. Brendan reflects on the challenging readings of Friday in the fourth week of Lent, exploring the themes of risk, persecution, and unwavering faith. He draws parallels between the Gospel's accounts of Jesus facing threats and the modern-day struggles of those persecuted for their beliefs.

This reflection acknowledges the reality of suffering and risk within the Christian journey, highlighting the sacrifices made by individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. and the Dominican Family in Myanmar. Fr. Brendan emphasizes that Lent is a time to open our eyes to the risks others take for their faith and to recognize the call to share a message of hope, even in the face of adversity.

Join us as we contemplate the courage required to live faithfully and extend hope to a world in need.

#Lent
#Faith
#Christian
#Catholic
#Hope
#Persecution
#Risk
#ChristianLiving
#SpiritualReflection
#MartinLutherKingJr
#ReligiousFreedom

A Word of Hope with dove

Every day the Chicago Dominicans offer "A Word of Hope" video to bolster our faith through these trying times. We welcome any feedback you have at hope@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name, and you can have them emailed to you each morning by signing up for our email service:

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    A Word of Hope for July 23, 2023

    Commenting on the parable of the weeds and wheat growing up together, Fr. Brian Walker, OP reminds us that we all have choices, and as Christians, we need to make sure that our choices reflect our faith, lest we go astray and lead others astray as well.
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    A Word of Hope for July 22, 2023

    On the Feast of Mary Magdalen, Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP extolls how here close friendship with Jesus allowed her to endure his crucifixion and to be the first to experience his resurrection and receive the instruction to go out and preach about it. She can be a model for all of us, who are similarly empowered by our friendship with Jesus to go out and speak about his resurrection to those who need to hear the Good News.
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    A Word of Hope for July 21, 2023

    Moses did not feel himself worthy of the task God called him to, but God gave him the grace to do it. In the same way, Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP reminds us that God calls each of us, sinners though we might be, and provides us with the grace to do the task God needs us to do.
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    A Word of Hope for July 19, 2023

    God called Moses in the Burning Bush and challenged Moses to trust that he would accomplish all that God wanted. In the same way, Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP asks us to trust God first, knowing that we might not get an affirmation that we are on the right path until our work for God is completed.
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    A Word of Hope for July 18, 2023

    Jesus said "woe to you" to those who witnessed his great deeds but did not heed them, so Fr. James Marchionda, OP reminds us to pay attention to the great deeds that people are doing around us each day, because these loving and often heroic actions of individuals are a living sign of our loving God.
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    A Word of Hope for July 13, 2023

    Joseph (of "The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat") was sold into slavery by his brothers, but when the tables were turned and they were in need, he forgave them. Jesus sent out the disciples telling them to take nothing with them, no sack nor extra pair of sandals. Fr. Brendan Curran, OP reminds us that we all tend to carry around a lot of baggage that we need to put down if we are do the Lord's work, and we particularly need to learn to forgive one another.
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    A Word of Hope for July 11, 2023

    In today's Gospel, we see Jesus caring for those who are suffering, because they are like sheep without a shepherd. Fr. Yamil Samalot Rivera, OP points out that Jesus wants to do something new to help them, and asks us if we are open to God working in new ways to heal the brokenhearted today?
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    A Word of Hope for July 10, 2023

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP advises us to take our troubles to God in prayer. God will answer them. Even if we do not get an answer just as we expected, but we will know that God is with us, helping. So bring your burdens to the Lord.
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    A Word of Hope for July 9, 2023

    Jesus tells us, "Come to me all who labor, and I will give you rest." Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP explains that Jesus does not promise to take away our burdens, but to lighten them. Our burdens might remain, but they will feel lighter with the help of Jesus.
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    A Word of Hope for July 7, 2023

    Speaking of the call of the apostle Matthew, Br. Ed Van Merrienboer, OP notes how God sees talent in us all that we don't see, and God trusts us and calls us forth to use these hidden talents for the sake of the Kingdom.
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    A Word of Hope for July 6, 2023

    When Jesus forgives the sins of a lame man, people suspect that these are just empty words—and so he tells the man to pick up his mat and walk, to prove to them that they are not. Thus, Fr. Brian Walker, OP challenges us—do we think Jesus' promises are empty, or are we truly moved by them?
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    A Word of Hope for July 2, 2023

    Echoing the words of Jesus, Fr. James Marchionda, OP challenges us to love God as much as we love our own family (love God more, not your family less), and to carry the cross of Jesus even as we deal with the others crosses that life gives us.
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