Videos

24 August • The Narrow Gate is a Broad Minded Inclusivity

Again from Abruzzo, Italy, Fr. Jimmy looks at Jesus' injunction to enter through the narrow gate in light of the first reading from Isaiah—that God came to gather people from every nation—concluding that the narrow gate is to have a broad minded view of inclusivity. We are not to have a narrow view of who is saved in our church, nor allow a narrow nationalism in our country—a challenging perspective!

23 August • Practice What You Preach with Integrity

Today's reflection is from the Abruzzo Mountains in Italy, where Fr. Jimmy is visiting his ancestral homeland. Jesus tells his followers that they should do everything the religious leaders say, but they should not follow their example because they do not practice what they preach. Fr. Jimmy ties this to Pope Francis' warnings against clericalism, and also applies it to leadership outside the Church, noting that political leaders should also see themselves as servants, and not as entitled to special treatment. In the same way, each of us needs to practice what we preach.

The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP as he breaks open the readings for the Know Before You Go video for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Some of the themes explored are: Faith over sight, Preparedness for God's presence, Responsibility that comes with blessing, Daily discipleship, Biblical study for 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

25 July • Choosing Hope in the Midst of Suffering

On the Feast of St. James, we hear the words of St. Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed." Jesus did not come to remove suffering or to have us ignore it. He came so that, knowing his power and presence, we would be empowered to choose hope even in the midst of suffering.

24 July • Are You Open to Having More Faith?

Jesus said, "to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." He was speaking of faith, not material wealth. Do we have a faith that is open to growing and increasing? If not, we will lose it.

The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we learn that God's Law is already inside us. We don't need to go looking for it.
In the second reading from Paul's Letter to the Colossians, we hear of how Christ is the center of all things.
For a Gospel, we have the classic parable of the Good Samaritan, and are confronted with the question of who is our neighbor today? If it is the one in front of us in need, it seems as if the answer in the United States is the recent immigrant. What should we do about that as faithful Christians?

25 June • God's Unshakable Hope in You

God placed his hope in Abram, and so Abram placed his trust in God. Even when we head down the wrong path, God still hopes in us with unshakable confidence. Find that hope in yourself today so that you can place your own trust more firmly in God, no matter the challenges.

24 June • I Thank You God, for I am Wonderfully Made

John the Baptist was created by God blessed with a particular mission and wonderfully made to be able to carry out that mission. You and I are also called to great things and greatly gifted by God to be able to carry them out. Ponder that today.

The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in the Know Before You Go video for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Surprisingly, we get Jesus' words instituting the Eucharist not in the Gospel, but from the second readings, Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. The Gospel challenges us with a feeding miracle of Jesus from Luke in which Jesus challenges the twelve to feed the crowds themselves. Fr. Jim then relates this with similar calls from Pope Francis and Pope Leo for us all to do something to care for refugees and migrants.