Friar Reflection

I Forgive You

The key question in today’s Gospel is about forgiveness and who has the authority and the power to forgive sins.  Some of the Jewish scribes maintain: “Who but God alone can forgive sins?”  Jesus...

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Flesh and Blood

Jesus is one of us!  Our first reading proclaims this perhaps surprising and even shocking message.  Jesus, the Son of God, is one of us, our “flesh and blood.”  He shared not only the life that...

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God Speaks

God wants to speak to us, are we listening?  Today’s first reading from Hebrews proclaims how God has spoken to us in the Old Testament and now speaks to us in a unique way in Jesus Christ. “In...

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A Love Letter

Since Tuesday of this week (today is Friday), the first reading has been from the First Letter of John starting with the fourth chapter. John’s letters are sometimes a challenge to read and often...

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Amazing Fulfillment

All this week between the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord, the readings concentrate on who Jesus is. Who is this Prince of Peace, this Christmas Christ Child born rejected, persecuted, and poor...

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Passing By

Passing By

Today’s gospel (Mark 6:45-52) has some verses that have always, for me, lingered between odd and troubling: “When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and [Jesus] was alone on shore. Then...

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