“A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.” Sadly, this passage is all too real today as we...
Holy Innocents
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Friar Reflection
Seeing is Believing
Today’s readings reflect on the relationship between “seeing” and “believing.” In today’s Gospel passage from John, we hear that both Simon Peter and the “other disciple” went into the empty tomb...
It is as He Said
Today’s readings have always struck me as oddly placed only one day after Christmas. It is the story of the protomartyr of the Christian faith - St. Stephen. While I know that the feast day is...
The Promise of Mercy
Today’s gospel is Mary’s prayer immediately following her encounter with her cousin Elizabeth in a scene known as the Visitation. It is part of a larger prayer known as the Magnificat and forms part...
Joy and Service
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...
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...