Preaching Season | 2019-2020
Vespers Preaching-january 2020
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The Unity of ChristBr. Andrew Martin del Valle, O.P., preaches on 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17 at Vespers for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Br. Andrew Martin asks us to put aside our 'culture of preference' and to embrace the unity that comes only from Christ.
Christ calls us to more, he calls us to a unity of mind and spirit. Are we willing to put aside our preference and to embrace the presence of Christ? "I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you," |
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A Light That Is Not Our OwnBr. Dominick Jean preaches on Isaiah 8:23-9:3 at Vespers for the Third Week of Ordinary Time.
Br. Dominick calls us to consider in what we trust. Do we let the light of Jesus and his Cross touch our lives; if not, what holds us back? He shares the good news that by choosing Christ, our lives are transfigured to share in His glory. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light..." |
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Christ Promises AbundantlyBr. James Pierce Cavanaugh preaches on Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 at Vespers for the Second Week of Ordinary Time. Br. James Pierce reminds us how persistently God has called us back to Himself despite our sins and despite our unworthiness. God calls us forth into his wonderful light, promising us everything and speaking the perfect Word which is found and made known in the Suffering Servant Jesus Christ.
"The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory." |
Vespers Preaching-February 2020
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To Trust God AgainBr. Dominick Jean, O.P. preaches during Vespers on Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7 for the First Sunday of Lent.
Brother Dominick reminds us that without God, there can be no good, no freedom, no independence. He invites us to clear away the rubble of our lives, and find a way to trust God; either again or for the first time. He invites us to accept the friendship God offers. "Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed." |
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We Belong to Christ Br. Andrew Martin Del Valle, O.P. preaches during Vespers on 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Brother Andrew Martin invites us to reflect upon our relationships with our brothers and sisters and how from these we all belong to Christ. This belonging calls us to recognize our unity in Him and to allow Christ to make holy all that we do. “all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.” |
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Live On PurposeBr. Ben Keller, O.P. preaches on Sirach 15:15-20 for Vespers at the Come & See Discernment Weekend on the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
Br. Ben recounts an experience from his college baseball days, and uses an example from his own life to encourage the brothers and discerners to live their lives more intentionally. He tells us that when we live our lives in Christ, we live our lives to our full potential. Only when we live in Christ do we, "Live on Purpose." "Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him." |
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Where Is The Light?Br. James Pierce Cavanaugh, O.P. preaches on Isaiah 58:7-10 for Vespers on the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
Christ has come into the world to be light for the world; but so frequently, we do not encounter the light of Christ in the world. Br. James Pierce invites us to ask, 'Where is the Light?' The prophet Isaiah's words to Israel give today's followers of Jesus a sure path to the Light of Christ, in such a way that darkness is unable to overcome. "...light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday." |
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Cultivating a Life of ExpectationBr. Carlos Salas, O.P. preaches on Hebrews 2:14-18 for Vespers on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Christ became like us and speaks to us in human ways and through the Eucharist and the other Sacraments. He has given us the gift of Himself. This is our great consolation, Br. Carlos says, and we must through our prayer and lives, cultivate a life of expectation as we look forward to the ultimate union with Christ that is Heaven. "Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested." |
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Who Can Stand?Br. Matthew Paul Grote, O.P., preaches on Malachi 3: 1-4 for the Feast of the Presentation.
Br. Matthew Paul challenges us to ask, "Who can truly stand in the presence of God?" He gives us a challenging message; on our own, no one of us can. But he also shares good news; Jesus IS able to stand in the presence of God, and invites us to share in His life, so that we may stand as well. Will we accept the gifts Jesus offers us to stand in His Body? "But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears?" |
Vespers Preaching-March 2020
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Evil Cannot Stand LoveBr. James Pierce Cavanaugh, O.P. preaches during Vespers on Romans 8:8-11 for the Fifth Sunday of Lent.
Brother James Pierce invites us to reflect on an underlying battle that we experience: the battle against evil. Because evil is hostile to God, it attacks us instead with one weapon: avoiding unconditional love. Let us follow Christ’s example, who embraced the cross for love of us. “Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” |
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Hope Can Find UsBr. James Martin Nobles, O.P. preaches during Vespers on Ezekiel 37:12-14 for the Fifth Sunday in Lent.
Brother James Martin exhorts us to let the Light of Christ into the darkness of our lives, and reminds us that hope can always find us. He seeks to echo Pope Francis' recent message of hope: let us invite Jesus into our lives; with Him, life never dies. "...you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them..." |
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Live As Children of LightBr. Thomas Mary Wagaman, O.P. preaches during Vespers on Ephesians 5:8-14 for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
Brother Thomas Mary draws our attention to the relationship between darkness and light. He acknowledges our current time as a time of darkness and fear, but then encourages all of us as capable of bringing light into the world in the midst of the darkness. He reminds us of St. Paul's promise that, in Jesus, we overcome all darkness. "...now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light..." |
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Learn To Trust in GodBr. Carlos Salas, O.P. preaches during Vespers on 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
Brother Carlos begins by asking us what we do in the midst of unprecedented uncertainty. He reminds us that God sees differently, more clearly than human beings. In this time of great uncertainty, he asks us to be humble before God, and to trust in Him. "Not as man sees does God see..." |
Vespers Preaching-April 2020
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Let Us Burn TogetherBr. Dominick Jean, O.P. preaches during Vespers on Isaiah 50: 4-7 for Palm Sunday.
Brother Dominick recalls a brother who once defined for him a preacher, "A preacher stands in front of the congregation, and sets himself on fire; the people watch him burn." Br. Dominick encourages every Christian to draw closer to the Light of Christ, so that we may be set ablaze as light in the world. "...that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them." |
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God bless!
God bless!
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Preaching in 60 SecondsOften we find ourselves caught up in our day, lost in our work and without any sense of the peace so often mentioned in Scripture.
But even in the midst of the frantic, hurried pace of this life we can all take around 60 seconds. Listen to our brothers exhort, appeal and proclaim from Scripture and then incorporate that 60 seconds into the rest of your day, your week, and even your year. God bless. |
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