In today’s first reading Paul calls upon us to prepare for “spiritual warfare.” “Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power…For our struggle is not with flesh...
Spiritual Warfare
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Friar Reflection
When no one is watching
Today’s first reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. If one step’s back for “the big picture,” it deals, not so much with a congregation in the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor, but with the...
Small Beginnings
The following lessons are taught in this parable. The kingdom of heaven starts from the smallest beginnings. The leaven, yeast was very small but it changes the whole character of the dough. All...
Living in the Light
In today’s first reading, believers are reminded to speak “as is fitting among holy ones” and warned with a list of items which are considered “out of place.” Instead, we are admonished to speak...
Signs of the Times
“Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.” I remember hearing this saying many times growing up from my father. Although my father had been in the Navy, he was...
Fire and Change – Authentic Christian Life and Witness
At first glance Jesus’ words today are disturbing and even seem contrary our general image of a peace-loving, sweet-sounding Jesus. Fire produces change – deep, profound changes. In many ecosystems...
Later May Be Too Late!
The author Jay Cournier in reflecting on the word later says this: Many of us have become “later” people. Later is that time that will never come, I will call you later, let’s get together later, I...
One Generation to the Next
The refrain from today’s psalm proclaims: “Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.” The words of psalm are taken from Psalm 145, verses 10-18. The words proclaim the...
Rich in Mercy
“God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ.” In this important passage from Ephesians Paul...
Holy Ones
Today we begin reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul greets us Christians as “the holy ones…and faithful in Christ Jesus.” Paul tells us that through our baptism we have become “holy...
The Hand that Reaches
The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees!… You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” (Luke 11:42). Not for all the tea in China would I watch a horror movie. Even at my age they...
Freedom
“For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” Paul’s letter to the Galatians is the great letter of Christian freedom. Paul declares that Christ...