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...
The Beauty of Wisdom
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Friar Reflection
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...
Authority and Humility
The first reading for today is from the Book of Wisdom (6:1-11), which at first blush you might think does not apply to you: “Hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's...
Service and More Service!
One point in the Gospel is very clear from beginning to end: Christian life is service, service to others, service to God. Life is nonstop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service. God’s son Jesus...
Sin and Forgiveness
In today’s Gospel Jesus warns his disciples against causing scandal: “Things that cause sin (skandala) will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur.” Jesus calls for both...
Waiting at the Subway Station: Be Attentive; Be Prepared
During the COVID19 pandemic I lived in the northern part of the Bronx and among other activities, I worked in Harlem giving out food to people on the street and those living outdoors in Marcus...
Jesus is Lord
In today’s first reading we hear once again that Jesus is Lord, the Lord of all: “This is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” This means, Paul...
First Love: The Cross and Our Christian Vocation
Today’s Gospel is probably one of those passages from the Gospel that would we prefer to skip over or completely edit out of the Gospel. Many people say that Jesus is being excessively hard here....
The Invitation
In this day and age, we receive all manner of electronic invitations (evites): to meetings, parties, events and more. Upon receiving the invitation, are we excited? Were we just hoping for a day or...
A Fickle God?
God is not fickle! That is the good news in today’s first reading from Romans. In Romans 9-11 Paul deals with the issue of his fellow Jews who refuse to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Paul...
Jesus the Jew
Both Jesus and Paul were Jews. Jesus attended the synagogue on the Sabbath and join the pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem and the Temple for Passover. Paul was a zealous Jew, a Pharisee. Paul even...
Constancy For the Long Walk
The event in today’s Gospel happens right after Jesus’ comments in yesterday’s Gospel about the narrow gate. A group of Pharisees comes up to Jesus right after his teaching session and tells him he...