Today’s gospel also happens to be, in part, the gospel for this coming Sunday - the 5th Sunday of Easter (Year A). The gospel contains the verse we all remember from the King James translation...
In my Father’s house…
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Friar Reflection
Evangelist
There are many theories about St. Mark’s life and journeys. But we do know that the Gospel of St. Mark is the earliest of the four Gospels. One of the oldest traditions about Mark says that he...
Light
Light and darkness are important themes in John’s Gospel right from the beginning up to the end. Today Jesus says very clearly that his mission is to bring the light to those who are in darkness. It...
Voices
In the gospel reading for today we heard Jesus tell some bystanders who wanted Jesus to plainly say that he was the Messiah. Jesus replied: “But you do not believe because you are not among my...
God Made Me Do It!
In today’s first reading we continue to hear the story of the conversion of a Gentile, named Cornelius. Peter’s outreach to non-Jews causes some controversy for the early church who saw themselves...
Conversion
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear the first of three different accounts of the conversion of St. Paul (Acts 9:1-20; 22:3-16; 26:2-18). Paul was a zealous persecutor of...
Outcasts
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear how the early church continues its mission despite persecutions. Philip is one of the seven who was appointed with Stephen and the...
The Bread of Life
All of us have probably used the expression “I am dying of hunger!” While we probably were not literally dying for lack of food, we probably were very hungry. In today’s Gospel Jesus states: “I am...
The Testimony of Stephen
Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin where, as we heard yesterday, the whole council recognized that he was like an angel. When Stephen spoke in his own defense against the false accusations, he...
Stephen’s Action and Message
Stephen was a man filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. He was so alive with the power of the Spirit that he was overwhelming and explosive. He was focused on one thing: sharing the experience of...
Witnesses of the Resurrection
Mary Magdalen and the other disciples had experienced the death and burial of Jesus as a tragic moment in their lives. All their hopes and plans had been crushed in a most cruel way from one day to...
Witnesses
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles Peter declares, “We are witnesses...as is the holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” When the apostles were ordered not to...