Videos

After a miraculous catch of fish, Peter tells Jesus, "Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man." Instead, Jesus invites him to be his disciple and opens him up to be more than he thought he ever could be. That is what grace can do for us.

Today we celebrate the great Saint Josephine Bakhita, a former slave who converted to Christianity and joined the Canossian Sisters, and was known as a saint in her own day because of her faith and cheerfulness. In today's Gospel, Jesus and the apostles try to get away to a quiet place, but the crowd finds out and are assembled when they arrive, so Jesus teaches them because "they are like sheep without a shepherd." In our troubled, chaotic times, the world needs more shepherds.

In today's Gospel we have a healing within a healing. On the way to heal Jairus' daughter, Jesus heals a woman who suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years, and gives us a glimpse of what it means to be holy in the midst of chaos and distractions.

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. As Jesus is presented in the Temple in Jerusalem, the prophet Anna sings his praises and the prophet Simeon declares that he can now die happy because he has seen the salvation God has promised. Can we allow Jesus to take away all our fears, even the fear of death?

Readings: Malachi 3:1–4; Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10; Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 2:22–40.

In today's scripture we hear of Jesus establishing a new covenant with his own blood, one sacrifice with the power to save "the many," and we ponder how many might be able to be saved by this one act.

Today we celebrate Word of God Sunday and hear how Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, found the passage "I have come to bring good news to the poor," and declared that he was fulfilling that passage that very day. Scripture tells us who we are, giving us roots, but every time we return to it scripture also gives us wings, sending us out to fulfil its promises in our own age.

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for Epiphany Sunday. In the first reading it is prophesied that all the nations will go up to Jerusalem bringing gifts of gold and frankincense. In the Gospel, the magi follow the star to Jesus and give him gold, frankincense... and myrrh, an incense used in divine worship and in burying Jesus, noting his divinity and the sacrifice of his life. In the second reading, Paul reminds us that Jesus came for everyone, both Jews and gentiles.

Readings: Isaiah 60:1–6; Ephesians 3:2–3a, 5–6; Matthew 2:1–12

On this Feast of the Holy Family, we recall Jesus being lost for days and finally found in the Temple, seemingly oblivious to the worry he caused his parents. Every family has some degree of chaos as different members pull in different directions. There is not only one way to be a "perfect" family. Families and churches are best when they let each member be the best version of who they really are, and then together they create their own best version of family.

On this Feast of the Holy Innocents, we remember how, warned by an an angel in his dream, Joseph fled with his family in the middle of the night to escape Herod's deadly wrath. There is still genocide and evil in our world, and we still need to listen to God about when to stand and when to run.

In this extra A Word of Hope video, Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP, Br. Joseph Hilliker, OP and Fr. Dick LaPata, OP share about what gives them hope in the this lovely season of Hope.

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Jesus said that those who listen to him and acted on his word were like those who built their house on a firm foundation. While the foundation of a real house might be difficult to fix, the Good News is that we can strengthen the foundations of our faith every day by simply living out our faith. Thus we need not worry about our lack of faith or what might come if we simply live each day according to our faith.

Isaiah promised that he coming saviour will provide a rich feast for all peoples, not just for some. Jesus on the mountain miraculously healed all the sick and provided food for everyone. When we see small gains for some at the expense of others, know that this is not the promise, and work and pray and hope for more. To accept a second-rate saviour is to give up on the real one.