Our opening reading today is from the 1st Letter of Peter. In just two short verses, the author provides a summary of the main themes and an outline of the whole letter: (1) God gave us a new birth,...
Refining Gold
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Friar Reflection
A Light in the Darkness
This morning in the parish we are celebrating a school Mass in which we celebrate the children of 2nd grade who recently celebrated their First Holy Communion, the students being inducted into the...
Poor in Spirit
In today’s first reading James has some challenging and even harsh words for the rich: “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.” The problem is not possessions or riches per...
Whose Side Are You On?
Today people seem to like to choose a side and exclude and even refuse to listen to those with whom they disagree. They watch only the news channels that agree with their position and refuse to...
Problem and Cure
The first reading for today is from the Letter of James. It is a passage structured in three parts: the problem is identified (4:1–3), its incompatibility with God is described (vv. 4–7), and the...
Mary, Mother of the Church
In today’s Gospel we hear the story of Mary, the mother of God, and the “disciple whom Jesus loved” standing at the foot of cross. Jesus speaks to Mary: “Woman, behold your son.” Then he says to...