Part of the baptismal ceremony for infants is the blessing of the waters of the sacrament. It is a wonderful blessing that tells the history of salvation through the story of the living waters. It...
On Living Waters
read more
Friar Reflection
New Heavens and Earth
It has been said that a prophet is someone who “comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable.” This saying describes well both Isaiah in our first reading and Jesus in today’s Gospel. ...
Commanding Love
The scribe's question in our gospel from St. Mark about the greatest commandment was not posed “to test” Jesus as is done in Matthew’s and Luke’s gospels. The question is, in fact, a familiar one...
The Voice of God
The prophet Jeremiah in today’s first reading calls us to hear the Voice of God. Jeremiah becomes God’s mouthpiece, speaking the very words of God: “Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and...
Hope
The Word of God in the Old Testament continually proclaimed the coming of the Messiah who would re-establish a right relationship between God and all creation. Many in Israel chose to live out their...
The Bulwark
We should certainly hear an echo of the Lord’s Prayer in today’s gospel: ““Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you,...
Prophets
Who are the true prophets and what does a prophet do? True prophets are those who speak the word of God. Both Elisha in today’s first reading and Jesus in today’s Gospel are prophets. Elisha...
Rejection
Both of today’s readings tell the story of rejection. In the first reading from Genesis, Joseph is rejected by his other brothers. His brothers “hated him” out of jealously because his father...
Trust
Today’s readings are all about trust. Whom or what do we and should we trust? The first reading from the prophet Jeremiah challenges us to trust not in human beings but in the Lord. The prophet...
Disturbed
I am a bit troubled by today’s readings. The gospel is this uncomfortable sequence in which Jesus, for the third time, has told his disciples “Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and...
Conversation with God and Moving Away from Pride and Privilege
Jesus gives a tremendous condemnation to the religious leader of the times. He recognizes what they teach as important but faults them on their lifestyle. They make themselves important through...
A Litany for Our Life
What did you take away from today’s readings? Before reading on, take a moment. Click on the link and peruse the readings for today. What are the one or two notions or ideas that stand out for you?...