The image above is a painting, “Finding of the True Cross” by Agnolo Gaddi. It came to mind when preparing for this reflection and as a popular expression came to mind: “that’s their cross to bear.”...
The True Cross
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Friar Reflection
Suffering Servant or Political Messiah King
The profession of faith by Peter in today’s passage from the Gospel is a culmination point in the first section of the Gospel. Everything that comes before this moment in the Gospel, all Jesus’...
The Outsider
In today’s Gospel a woman asks for compassion and mercy and Jesus answers not a word. She is an “outsider,” a Canaanite woman seeking Jesus’ help: “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My...
Transfiguration of Ourselves and Our World Through the Cross
On the road to Jerusalem para the feast of Passover, the disciples of Jesus were filled wonder from all the marvelous deeds, healings, actions, and words of Jesus. They had very high expectations...
An Unpopular Stand
It is always a tough thing to take an unpopular stand especially when among people you know will not support. Do we shy away from the moment - I mean, why waste time and effort? But what about as a...
Jeremiah’s Message
The last of the righteous and faithful kings of Israel, Josiah, died in 609 BC. He was a reforming king who relentlessly called the people of Judah to return to the Lord, be faithful to the...
Living or Judging
Today’s parable shows us a way of looking at our lives and the world that has not really penetrated well into our Christian culture. The fishing nets collects all kinds of fish that eventually have...
Woe to Me
Jeremiah was to say the least, a reluctant prophet as we heard in the story of his call: “The word of the Lord came to me: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I...
Weeds and Wheat
In today’s Gospel Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of the parable of the weeds and the wheat that he previously told (Matthew 13:24-29). In the parable the Master of the household...
The Messiah and Son of God
Today is the memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. As we hear in today’s Gospel Mary comes to full faith in Jesus: “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of...
Joachim and Anne
In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke furnish a legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is the culmination of great promises. Not only is his mother’s family neglected, we...
Service and Sacrifice
Today is the feast of the apostle James, often known as St. James the Greater perhaps because he was older or perhaps taller than the other apostle named James. In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches...