Woe to you who build memorials to the prophets! Woe to you, scholars of the law! Hard words today that Jesus directs at the religious leaders, scribes, Pharisees, and scholars of the religious laws....
Redemption and Forgiveness
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Friar Reflection
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“Woe to you Pharisees!” Today’s gospel gets right to it! In our 21st century experience, we understand the phrase as one of condemnation, or at least as a warning of the coming condemnation. The...
Path to Freedom
The first reading today begins: “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” The larger context of his message to the Galatians is about reports he...
Sign of Jonah
It is natural to seek signs to bolster and strengthen our faith. Sometimes the signs are not what we expect and can be difficult and challenging to accept. St. Paul reflects on the challenge and ...
The Heart as Dwelling
In today’s gospel we witness an encounter between Jesus and the people after Jesus had driven a demon out of an afflicted person. At the end of the dialogue, Jesus offers a parable: “When an unclean...
Stupid Galatians!
In today’s first reading St. Paul calls the Galatians “stupid” not once but twice. “O stupid Galatians! Who has bewitched you…Are you so stupid? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now...
Jesus Prays
Today’s Gospel is the story of Jesus praying and in turn teaching his disciples to pray. Today’s Gospel begins: “Jesus was praying in a certain place…” Throughout his Gospel Luke notes how Jesus...
Becoming Martha
In today’s gospel I think poor Martha is sometimes made to be the foil of the story. We easily remember the ending. Mary has chosen “the better part” and poor Martha is left worried and anxious...
Mercy – All Out Loving
What must I do to inherit eternal life? The purpose of the question in today’s Gospel proposed by a religious scholar is to make Jesus look bad, seem a heretic, or put him in public disgrace. It is...
God’s Answer
Today’s first reading continues Job’s encounter and dialogue with God. Job is forthright and bold in his challenge to God. In today’s reading God in turn answers and challenges Job. God puts a...
The Message for the Road
Once again today we look at the sending of the disciples out onto the road to proclaim the presence of the Kingdom of God. This is not just the original twelve apostles but a larger number of...
Eyes Front
“Eyes front” was something heard quite often during my naval career. As a plebe at the US Naval Academy the expression was “keep your eyes in the boat” an expression that originates from traditional...