by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | Jul 24, 2023 | Friar Reflection
It is a natural human desire to see signs, signs of God’s presence, signs of God’s power, of God’s goodness, of God’s love. Some of the scribes and Pharisees in today’s Gospel respond to that human desire: “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” People today also...
by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | Jul 21, 2023 | Friar Reflection
In today’s Gospel Jesus once again cites the prophet Hosea, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13; 12:7). Neither the prophet Hosea nor Jesus wants to do away with the cult, the sacrificial system and worship of the Jews. The cult and solemn...
by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | Jul 17, 2023 | Friar Reflection
In today’s Gospel Jesus finishes the second of five discourses in Matthew’s Gospel. The first discourse was the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:28). In this second discourse Jesus commissions his disciples to go out on mission: “Jesus sent out these twelve after...
by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | Jul 13, 2023 | Friar Reflection
Evangelization is a word we often hear today in the church. We are called to evangelize. The word “evangelization” comes from the Greek word for Gospel (Greek: euangelion, Latin: evangelium). In today’s Gospel Jesus sends the apostles out to evangelize, to proclaim...
by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | Jul 7, 2023 | Friar Reflection
What is your favorite book of the Bible? What is your favorite Bible verse? If we asked Jesus this question, he might well answer that Hosea is his favorite book of the Bible and Hosea 6:6 is his favorite passage: “For I desire goodness, not sacrifice; Obedience to...
