Friar Reflection

Repentance

In today’s Gospel Jesus sends out the Twelve to expand his mission of healing and repentance.  Jesus calls the Twelve and sends (apostello) them out on mission.  The vocation or “calling” of these...

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Perseverance

Perseverance

Today’s first reading is taken from Hebrews 12 beginning with verse 4. This long passage of exhortation that follows needs to be understood in the context of yesterday’s reading which included...

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Witnesses

This past September was my US Naval Academy 50th Class Reunion. As part of that celebration, we had a memorial service. My class graduated and commissioned some 900 Naval and Marine Officers, all of...

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Healing and Rejection

What an amazing story in today’s Gospel reading. What a challenge for us all. Jesus crosses to the far side of the Sea of Galilee which at the time was not part of Israel. Jesus goes out into this...

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Light and Future

The combination of these two very short parables is absolutely astounding. With these two simple, succinct teachings, Jesus outlines for us our mission as Christians and our future before God. Both...

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Blasphemy

In today’s Gospel some of the Jewish scribes demonize Jesus.  They accuse him of being in league with the devil.  They cannot deny that Jesus has been performing healings and exorcisms, so they...

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Love

Jesus spent a lot of time talking about love, especially in the Gospel of John. His actions, healings, meetings, and miracles are aimed at showing God’s love. So, when he is not talking about love,...

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Our High Priest

In today’s first reading from Hebrews, we hear that Jesus is our high priest.  The reading proclaims that Jesus is our heavenly high priest: “It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:...

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