In these last days of Advent, we hear how God prepared everything for Jesus’ birth. Mary surrendered herself to the will of God and her part in the history of salvation. Her openness to life went...
Joy and Service
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Friar Reflection
To Whom the Word Came
Today’s gospel is a familiar part of the Christmas story - the Angel Gabriel inviting Mary into the plans of God for redemption and salvation of the world. Given our proximity to Christmas, I...
Pray and Waiting – In Faith or in Doubt
Advent is a time of waiting, time to renew our lifestyle and our form of waiting. Advent waiting is a form of life, not just a passing season. Advent is living in hope and joy. Some people wait...
Emmanuel
In today’s Gospel the great promise or vision of Isaiah the prophet is fulfilled: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel…” (Matthew 2:23; Isaiah...
Just Passing Through or Real Conversion
During most of the pandemic I lived in the Bronx and worked in Harlem in a support program for homeless and street people. Three times a week, I had to take the Metro North train or the subway into...
God of Mercy
“The Lord is gracious and merciful.” This is the proclamation in today’s Responsorial Psalm. In this Psalm we give praise and thanks to God. This psalm proclaims: “The Lord is gracious and...
Who is like our God?
Our first reading is taken from the 40th Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah - a chapter we have been reading for more than a week now. Taken a moment to quickly read over Isaiah 40 and you will note how...
The Many Faces of Our Mother
From our first reading: “Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you” (Zech 2:15) When I was in Kenya, I remember the first...
Forgiveness
“Who but God alone can forgive sins?” In today’s Gospel some scribes and some Pharisees accuse Jesus of blasphemy because he said to the paralytic, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus...
The Banquet
The first reading today again comes from the Prophet Isaiah. In yesterday’s post what has been, in times past, promised and announced, comes to fruition as the Promise One is depicted as ruling. In...
Responsible not Privileged
The first reading today again comes from the Prophet Isaiah. At the end of this reflection, there is some background on the prophet and his writings which might prove insightful in this first week...
Lord, I Am Not Worthy!
The words of the Centurion in today’s Gospel are words that are very familiar to us. While he desires Jesus to heal his servant, the Centurion objects: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter...