Over the last several weeks as we near the end of the liturgical year, the Church has chosen readings that are quite apocalyptic. The readings from the Book of Daniel and the gospels - are they...
Standing in Hope
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Friar Reflection
Thanksgiving
Today we gather to give thanks for many things, for our family, our friends and parishioners and for our country. The most important thing that we give thanks for is the gift of God’s grace...
Daniel: Wisdom and Faithfulness
We are living the last week of the liturgical year for the Church. This coming Sunday we start a new season with the beginning Advent. The reading during this last week always addresses the end...
Passing Things; Permanent Things
Today’s readings place before us two very powerful images of history. In the first reading from the Book of Daniel, is the scene in the Book of Daniel when he is asked to interpret a dream of King...
A Poor Widow
In today’s Gospel we hear the story of a poor widow putting her offering in the Temple treasury. It seems like a simple story highlighting this widow’s great generosity. Jesus remarks: “I tell you...
A House of Prayer
Today’s readings remind us that both the Temple and the Church are called to be houses of prayer. Today’s Gospel is often called the “Cleansing of the Temple.” In the first reading from Maccabees,...
Discernment
Just a very brief note of history to better understand today’s readings. In the second century before Christ, Israel was a small country sandwiched between Egypt and Syria. Alexander the Great had...
Tyrants
In today’s readings we hear about two violent tyrants. In the first reading the Greek King or Tyrant Antiochus uses violence and torture to try to force the Jews to violate God’s law. In the...
Mercy Alive!
This encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus is a key point to understand our life as Christians. Jericho is a good-sized city located about 40 miles east and north of Jerusalem. According to Google,...
Spiritual Integrity Under Pressure
The first reading for today is from the First Book of Maccabees. It is an account of the time of persecution of the people of Jerusalem during the time they were ruled by Antiochus IV of the...
The Beauty of Wisdom
The first reading for today is from the Book of Wisdom (13:1-9). It is an amazing passage the speaks to the natural human inclination to be drawn to beauty - and at the same time our inability to...
False Messiahs
It is right in front of you! You just need to know where to look. This is Jesus’ teaching in today’s Gospel. People search high and low for a new messiah, claiming some emperor, some king, or...