As humans we tend to like to mark off the beginnings or endings of things: times, seasons – even life. I remember in June counting the days to the end of school and then in counting off the days to...
Sunsets – The End Days
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Friar Reflection
The True Meaning of Church
There is a beautiful Jewish legend about the place where the Temple was built. According to the legend, two brothers had adjoining farms. One older brother was married and had a family; the younger...
The Subtle Doctor
Today is the feast day of Blessed John Duns Scotus, a Franciscan friar from Scotland noted for his theological and philosophical work in the high-Middle Ages (late 13th and early 14th centuries)....
Ministers and Presbyters
This week we ask to reflect on our call to ministry and our vocations. Each of us through our baptism have become members of the Body of Christ and are called to be ministers of reconciliation and...
Not Why, But Why Not!
There is an old Egyptian tale about a boy named Miobi who came to a village where the people acted strangely. All the villagers did was moan and groan about almost everything. Nothing got done....
Knowing Jesus
In today’s first reading Paul talks about his life, his gains and his losses. He tells us he has been forced to reevaluate everything in the light of knowing Jesus: “But whatever gains I had, these...
Christ is Risen – He is Truly Risen
Today we remember all our family, friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ who have died. For many, this is the first day that we have been able to gather together as a community for this...
Every Man
From time to time, my dad would remind me that “every person you meet is your better in that you can learn something from them.” Good and sage advice. I wonder if he knew he was echoing Ralph Waldo...
Strangers, Sojourners, Upstarts – Fellow Citizens
Life can be difficult sometimes and often we feel like strangers to ourselves while we attempt to live our lives. There is a book written about the life of poor native farmers in the mountain area...
Spiritual Warfare
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...
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...