Today’s Gospel is the beginning of what is commonly called the “Bread of Life Discourse.” In this discourse Jesus declares: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and...
The Work of Gop
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Friar Reflection
Fighting God
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear the sage advice of Rabbi Gamaliel, a Pharisee and renowned teacher of the law in Jerusalem. He was also the teacher of St. Paul as he...
Bold Witness
The Acts of the Apostles is an astounding and inspiring testimony of faith of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. The apostles moved from being terrified hidden disciples of Jesus just after...
Love of God
In today’s Gospel we hear perhaps the most famous passage in all of Scripture, John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not...
Being Born Again
This second week of Easter time we are looking at the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus in the readings from the Gospel. Nicodemus was a pharisee. He was well educated, respected, and had an...
Born Again
What is necessary for salvation? This question is faced by all of us, including the Jewish Pharisee Nicodemus. Today’s Gospel begins not with Nicodemus asking this question but acknowledging the...
Recognition
Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus in the garden. The folks walking to Emmaus did not recognize Him on the road. In today’s gospel the apostles don’t recognize Jesus. There seems to be a lot of...
The First Words
Today we hear the first words from the risen Christ for that first Christian community in Jerusalem. That community was in hiding due to fear of being arrested and also the community was in the...
God in the Pots
In the gospel reading for today we share the story of the two disciples on that first Easter heading home discouraged by the events that had unfolded with the death of Jesus. By the time that...
The Empty Tomb
We continue to celebrate Easter Week, the Week of Light. We look at Mary Magdalena, the first evangelist. She went to the tomb sure in her expectations to find death. She was full of sadness,...
Do Not be Afraid
In today’s Gospel we hear the story of the women’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus. Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” came to the tomb early in the morning and found it empty. As the ran...
In the Shadows
The gospel reading for the Wednesday of Holy week is always about Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. The day has the unofficial title of “Spy Wednesday.” The story is well known. Judas accepts 30...