by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | Jul 27, 2023 | Friar Reflection
In today’s Gospel Jesus addresses the first disciples and all of us disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.” What is it that we see and hear? We hear the Word of God proclaim the mystery of God overflowing love and...
by Fr. Jim Scullion OFM | Jul 26, 2023 | Friar Reflection
In today’s Gospel Jesus tells the story of a farmer who goes out to sow. He sows here, there, and everywhere. Jesus, of course, was not a farmer but a carpenter, “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary…And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3). Jesus caused...
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...
