It seems there was a great deal of confusion and diversity of opinions about who Jesus was even within that first community of faith, the first disciples and apostles. Jesus spent several years with...
The Key and The Rock
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Friar Reflection
Listen to Him
The Feast of the Transfiguration is one of those Gospel scenes that almost overwhelms us with beauty. Jesus, radiant with divine light. Moses and Elijah appeared in glory. The mountain enveloped in...
Focusing on Jesus – Courage, Confidence, and Faith
My family has a cottage on a small lake in Upstate NY, in the Adirondacks. There are a lot of watercrafts at the camp: ski jets, kayaks, sailboats, and motorboats. It would be very rare for one of...
Hungry People
In both readings today we have stories of hungry people. In the first reading from Numbers the Israelites lament and complain because they have no food but this “disgusting” manna. They would even...
Yom Kippur
In today’s first reading from the Book of Leviticus Moses instructs the Israelites about the various holy days or “festivals of the Lord.” So, we hear about the Jewish feast of Passover and the...
Fishing
In today’s Gospel we come to the end of the Parable Chapter in Matthew’s Gospel. The Evangelist has collected various parables that Jesus told throughout his ministry into Chapter 13. In today’s...
What we treasure
In our gospel for today, Jesus gives two short parables today—simple, vivid, and deeply challenging. They’re about people who find something so valuable that they are willing to give up everything...
The Heart of God
“So the LORD passed before him [Moses] and proclaimed: ‘The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, continuing his kindness for a thousand...
A Mustard Seed
Jesus teaches through everyday experience, the sights and sounds that people experience each day. In today’s Gospel he uses the experience of seeing a tiny mustard seed or the experience of mixing...
Earthen Vessels
“But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” 2 Cor 4:7 St. Paul speaks with remarkable honesty about the fragile condition of human life...
Parables
In today’s Gospel Jesus speaks about the purpose of parables. Jesus often teaches using parables or stories taken from daily life such as the farmer sowing, or the story of the growth of a mustard...
Mana – God Provides
The history of the Exodus of Israel from slavery in Egypt and its journey through the desert to the promised land is not just a story of a time long ago. It is our story, our living story of...