In today’s first reading we hear Isaiah’s great vision of peace and joy: “In days to come, the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the...
Mountain Climbing
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Friar Reflection
Millennial Fever
In today’s first reading we hear how an angel seizes Satan and imprisons him in the abyss for a thousand years. This passage has been the source of much speculation and endless calculation as...
Thanksgiving
Today, Thanksgiving, is a special day to give thanks. We as Christians gives thanks in a special way in the Eucharist. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek verb, “to give thanks.” Paul uses...
Song of Redemption
What if I simply came to the ambo for the homily and said “Oh, say can you see” and then paused. I feel pretty sure that what would come to your mind is the Battle of Ft. McHenry in Baltimore Harbor...
Living Through the End Times
This is the last week of our liturgical year in the Church. This week the readings all speak of the end times. We are fascinated with the end times, the end of the world, the final judgement, the...
Three vs. 144,000
“I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand.” (Rev 14:1) It is a famous verse from Scripture that quickly focuses on the “144,000”...
House of Prayer
In today’s Gospel Jesus performs a prophetic action in the Jerusalem Temple. Jesus “entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things.” Why does he do this? He...
The Lamb of God
In today’s first reading the seer John has a heavenly vision. “I had a vision of an open door to heaven, and I heard the trumpetlike voice that had spoken to me before, saying, ‘Come up here and I...
Busy About Something
One of my favorite films is the 1994 drama, The Shawshank Redemption. It is a movie I think I may have seen 10 or more times. The film tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker who spends nearly...
God’s Incredible, Unexpected Love
Zacchaeus was a notorious public sinner in Israel. He collaborated with the Romans by collecting tariffs and tolls. That made him a traitor to his own country in the eyes of all his neighbors. To...