We have all heard the phrase “Cleanliness is Next to Godliness.” In fact, this phrase never occurs in the Bible. A phrase that does occur is the one in today’s Gospel: “Be merciful, just as your...
Be Merciful
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Friar Reflection
The Heart of the Law
Todays’ Gospel comes from the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus announces God’s plan or desire for all of humanity. God originally revealed himself to Israel through the Law which was meant to produce...
Praying and Doing
In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us about both prayer and action. Behind these two teachings is Jesus’ image of the one true God. Jesus teaches us to approach God not in fear and trembling but with...
A Second Chance
Today’s first reading begins with the seemingly benign statement: “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” Jonah is commanded: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh and announce to it...
The Word Goes Out
The first reading today is from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and is one of my favorite passages: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered...
Into the Presence of God
The first reading today is taken from the Book of Leviticus and is paired with the memorable passage from Matthew 25. Leviticus is likely the least read book of the Old Testament. It is long and...
True Fasting: Justice and Conversion
Prayer, fasting, and charity or almsgiving are three ancient pillars of Christian life that lead us to conversion throughout the whole year. They are very important during this season of Lent....
Turning Back
Lent is that moment, that time in the year, when we are asked to step back and take a look at what direction we should take in life. Do we act in the way the world tells us to act or do we act...
Sage Advice
The first reading is from the Book of Sirach (also known as the Wisdom of Ben Sira or as Ecclesiasticus - not to be confused with Ecclesiastes). The book is part of the Bible the Catholic Church...
Faith and Unbelief
“I do believe, help my unbelief!” This is the cry of the father in today’s Gospel. He asks Jesus to cure his son who seems to have a form of epilepsy. The father asks Jesus to do something with...
Peter the Rock?
In today’s Gospel Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus begins questioning his disciples to see if they truly know who he is. At first the disciples give the answers of...
Healing of a Blind Man
In today’s Gospel we hear the story of Jesus healing a blind man. While Jesus performed many miracles or healings there are a couple of elements that make this healing story stand out. First,...