Welcome to Opening the Word, videos and guides offering prayer and insights for the Sunday Readings. Each reflection is lead by one of our experienced presenters including Dr. Tim Gray, Dr. Mary Healy, Dr. Scott Powell, Dr. Edward Sri, Fr. John Riley, Dr. Ben Akers, and Martha Fernandez. Opening the Word is designed to facilitate thought and discussion for personal faith formation or in the context of a group meeting, especially in RCIA.
Heroes in our stories today are usually the strongest, the smartest, or the most beautiful people who conquer evil by overpowering it in some way. Even if they don't start out that way, a crucial part of their story is usually them preparing for battle by getting stronger. They know that everything is up to them.
27 Jul 2024
17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B)
Heroes in our stories today are usually the strongest, the smartest, or the most beautiful people who conquer evil by overpowering it in some way. Even if they don't start out that way, a crucial part of their story is usually them preparing for battle by getting stronger. They know that everything is up to them.
20 Jul 2024
16th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B)
Heroes in our stories today are usually the strongest, the smartest, or the most beautiful people who conquer evil by overpowering it in some way. Even if they don't start out that way, a crucial part of their story is usually them preparing for battle by getting stronger. They know that everything is up to them.
13 Jul 2024
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B)
Heroes in our stories today are usually the strongest, the smartest, or the most beautiful people who conquer evil by overpowering it in some way. Even if they don't start out that way, a crucial part of their story is usually them preparing for battle by getting stronger. They know that everything is up to them.
6 Jul 2024
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
We have all been in need of something at some time, maybe even begging for it. We all have had many experiences of needing to ask for a favor or a need to be met of someone. When it comes to asking God for things, what is it we ask him for? Do we seek comfort - health, wealth, job security, or whatever other dream is the "end all be all" in our minds? Or, do we seek virtues like patience, humility, compassion, meekness, and so on? God will grant us the spiritual gifts we ask for, as we cooperate with his grace and learn to turn to him in our human struggles to master them.
29 Jun 2024
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Healing is something we all seek at some point in our lives. Whether we have battled a life-threatening disease or suffered through a common cold, we have all sought physical healing. In this week's Gospel, Jesus reveals his power to heal and bring forth new life. He also longs to heal you of the things that are preventing you from growing in love for him—whether physical or spiritual. Have you ever approached him with the faith of Jairus or the hemorrhaging woman? How much do you trust his power to heal your body and soul?
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22 Jun 2024
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Control is a central theme in our lives, and this week's readings for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us to reflect on who truly holds the reins. Through the imagery of the Great Storm, we are reminded of the divine authority of God amidst life's tumultuous moments. In the story of Job, God challenges Job's doubts, emphasizing His role as the omnipotent creator capable of stilling all storms. This powerful message is echoed in the Gospel as Jesus calms the violent squall that terrifies the disciples, questioning their faith in the process. We all encounter storms, both minor daily struggles and profound sufferings, and are urged to trust in God's guidance. As you face your own storms, consider whether you are relinquishing control to God or trying to steer alone. Is your faith strong enough to trust in His power to sustain you through life's greatest challenges?
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15 Jun 2024
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
The more we come to know God through study and prayer, the more we realize how truly his thoughts are not our thoughts, and our ways are not his ways (Isaiah 55). What we assume God would do is so often challenged by how the events of our life actually unfold. Today's readings draw us into this mystery of God's complete other-ness.
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8 Jun 2024
10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Today's Gospel demands our conversion. Conversion is a two-step process. It requires a change of heart and then a turning around of sorts. It is both an interior and exterior change, moving one closer to God. It could be likened to re-aligning yourself to follow your north-facing compass—it first requires a knowledge that you are no longer headed north, and then the willingness to change paths in order to head north.
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1 Jun 2024
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Year B)
Knowing what is about to come, Jesus shares a meal with his disciples. Sharing a meal with family or friends is an intimate and joyous occasion. Gathering around the table and sharing food together are often some of people's favorite memories they reflect on. Jesus wants to have this closeness with us, and thus invites us to share in a meal with him every Sunday. What an amazing gift he leaves us with. An invitation to break bread with him.
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25 May 2024
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (Year B)
Have you ever felt a tug to do something out of the ordinary? Maybe say something to someone you've never met before or call up an old friend to check in even though it's been years? This tug can make us feel uncomfortable, as we aren't sure why we have this feeling we need to act, but we feel almost disobedient if we don't follow through. Often times, this is the Holy Spirit. He puts things on our hearts in order for us to be Christ to others. Through Baptism and Confirmation, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. Next time you feel prompted to reach out to another, be bold in love and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the courage to follow through.
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18 May 2024
Pentecost Sunday (Year B)
Fire. It's intense, beautiful, dangerous, overwhelming, warm, and all consuming. Fire can be used to warm us on a cold night, or as a way to gather friends on a summer evening. It can also yield immense destruction. Fire is powerful. This is the image that we hear about today as we learn more about the Holy Spirit. The Apostles have tongues of fire descend upon them. At our Confirmation, our hearts are set ablaze with the Holy Spirit. Think of a blazing fire, it consumes everything nearby, without hesitation or prejudice. Are we really ablaze with the love of Christ? Do we radically and unabashedly share him with those around us, setting their hearts ablaze, too?
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11 May 2024
7th Sunday of Easter (Year B)
The readings today invite us to meditate on a simple truth of our faith—God is love, and he loves us. This sentiment might not seem that impressive. These are phrases that many of us have heard since Sunday school while we were coloring pictures of Moses holding the Ten Commandments. It probably seems obvious to us . . . but that's the danger.
This truth can seem so obvious that we begin to ignore it and even disregard it. As we grow up, we forget how desperately we want to be loved. We forget that God meets this desire and exceeds it! These words hold all of our desires within them. They are powerful, deep, rich, and we can never reach the end of meditating on this mystery. "God is love, and he loves us"—a bottomless well of overflowing living waters.
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4 May 2024
6th Sunday of Easter (Year B)
The Catholic Church plays a vital role in our ability to remain on the vine throughout all of history. As new circumstances arise, God has given us the gift of the Church to help us recognize where his love is so that we can remain with him. We know that God does not ask anything from us without giving us the grace to respond, and that grace always flows through his Church so that we can be assured that we are truly following him in all truth.
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27 Apr 2024
5th Sunday of Easter (Year B)
When St. Paul commands us to "pray always" in his first letter to the Thessalonians, we tend to let it go in one ear and out the other. "Of course, he can't possibly mean that! He really just means to pray a lot." We so easily filter the words of Scripture based on what we think God wants from us, but then we end up missing his true message. God actually wants us to always be praying, just like St. Paul told us!
Our readings today point towards this vision God has for us, particularly when Jesus gives us the image of the vine and the branches. He promises that if we remain in him, we will bear much fruit. If always staying connected to the Lord seems out of reach, then let's remember that when God gives a command he always gives us the grace to respond. How can we stay attached to the vine and learn to pray always?
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21 Apr 2024
4th Sunday of Easter (Year B)
God needed to reach us, to come in a way that we would recognize him and hear his voice, and so God made himself a mere human. What amazing love Our Lord has for us! Let us spend some time together today reflecting on this love as we read of it in the first two readings and then as we hear of Christ as our good shepherd, keeping us safe from harm.
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