When visiting someone’s home, we are often invited in, offered a place to sit, a refreshment, and when the purpose of the visit is complete, we are thanked and escorted to the door. There is...
Strangers No Longer
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Friar Reflection
Rich in Mercy
What is your image of God? Is God Santa Claus or the Bogeyman? While the true God is neither he is more the giver of good gifts than someone out to scare us. In today’s first reading Paul...
Express Love At All Costs
Today we see Jesus invited to dinner with one of the town’s Pharisees or religious leaders and other important neighbors. While they were dining, a woman appears and washes Jesus’ feet. The whole...
Redemption and Forgiveness
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....
Even more
“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...