In this section of Matthew’s Gospel Jesus is in constant debate and conflict with the scribes and pharisees. As the religious leaders of Israel, they should have been calling the people to holiness...
The Weightier Things
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Friar Reflection
Come and See
In today’s Gospel Jesus invites his first disciples and invites all of us to “Come and See.” Philip finds Nathanael and tells him we found the one foretold in the Scripture (“the Law, and also the...
Dry Bones
Today’s first reading is the prophet Ezekiel’s great vision of dry bones. As we hear at the beginning of today’s reading “and of the LORD came upon me and led me out in the Spirit of the LORD and...
The Preparation
Jesus is teaching in the temple when the religious leaders, the pharisees and chief priests, ask him with what authority he bases his teachings. He does not answer their questions directly. Rather...
The Harder Deal?
How many times have you heard today's Gospel of the landowner who went out to hire laborers for his vineyard? Most often we hear it as a contrast between God's generosity and our sense of fairness....
Riches As Our Goal
I have often wondered why the disciples were so startled by Jesus’ statement that being rich and being Christian are generally incompatible. None of them were rich. Why were they so disturbed by...
The grace of restlessness
A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” (Mt 19:16) Jesus answered the young man. “When the young man heard [Jesus’] statement, he went away sad…”...
Mission and Witness of Covenant
We continue to hear the prophet Ezekiel condemn the people of Israel for their infidelities. Through the protection and action of God, Israel grew from a being an abandoned, discarded, and enslaved...
Forgiveness
How many times? Peter’s question to Jesus in today’s Gospel is probably a question all of us have asked. “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as...
The Glory of God in the Faith Community
It is good to read the Old Testament with Christian optics to be able to understand who Jesus is as the savior. But if we don’t go further to understand the Old Testament culture, we will lose much...