Shepherds were very common in Jesus’ time and in the area where Jesus went about preaching and teaching. So, it made sense to use them as concrete images for his teaching. In the Old Testament...
The Good Shepherd
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Friar Reflection
The Call of St. Paul
Today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles is the story of St. Paul’s call or conversion. We have three accounts of Paul’s conversion in Acts (9:1-18; 22:3-16; 26:2-18) as well as Paul’s...
The Bread of Life
In today’s Gospel Jesus once again solemnly declares: “I am the bread of life.” Jesus himself gives the gift of eternal life to those who come to him and believe in him. Jesus fulfills our deepest...
The Will of the Father
When I was in college I had my favorite hamburger chain. It had bigger burgers, more toppings and it was made to order. When I would come home every three years from Peru for vacation in the States,...
Bold St. Stephen
The Acts of the Apostles is an astounding and inspiring testimony of faith of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. Today we look at St Stephen, the first martyr. His preaching was bold and...
The Work of Gop
Today’s Gospel is the beginning of what is commonly called the “Bread of Life Discourse.” In this discourse Jesus declares: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and...
Fighting God
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear the sage advice of Rabbi Gamaliel, a Pharisee and renowned teacher of the law in Jerusalem. He was also the teacher of St. Paul as he...
Bold Witness
The Acts of the Apostles is an astounding and inspiring testimony of faith of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. The apostles moved from being terrified hidden disciples of Jesus just after...
Love of God
In today’s Gospel we hear perhaps the most famous passage in all of Scripture, John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not...
Being Born Again
This second week of Easter time we are looking at the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus in the readings from the Gospel. Nicodemus was a pharisee. He was well educated, respected, and had an...
Born Again
What is necessary for salvation? This question is faced by all of us, including the Jewish Pharisee Nicodemus. Today’s Gospel begins not with Nicodemus asking this question but acknowledging the...
Recognition
Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus in the garden. The folks walking to Emmaus did not recognize Him on the road. In today’s gospel the apostles don’t recognize Jesus. There seems to be a lot of...