In today’s Gospel two blind men cry out to Jesus; they want to be healed: “Son of David, have mercy on us!” Their cry for healing has long been a part of our liturgy. At the beginning of the...
Two Blind Men
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Friar Reflection
The Entrance into The Kingdom
It is easy for us throw back our feet and have an attitude of resting up. Often, we tell ourselves that we are baptized and that’s it. We think I have been saved and justified. We tell ourselves: I...
There is one person…
Today is the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. St. Andrew is the patron saint of several countries, notably Scotland and Russia - as well as patron of many other activities, including the Russian...
Announcing Our Faith
Andrew is known as the first apostle to be called. Each of the evangelists remembers the apostles' first call in slightly different ways. According to the Gospel of John, Andrew was among the...
Jesus Prays
In today’s Gospel we not only see Jesus at prayer but we hear the words of his prayer: “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” Jesus, the Son of God, gives praise to his heavenly...
Branch and Fruit
In today’s first reading, the Prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel in the 8th century before Christ. In earlier verses, he has reminded them of their responsibilities as the qahal...
The Last Thing and the Center: Reigning in the Lamb of God
We have arrived at the second to the last day – tomorrow is the very last day of the liturgical year. John’s vision in the first reading speaks of the second-to-last-things that will happen. We tend...
Thanksgiving – Be Careful What You Wish For
Be careful what you wish for There was once a stonecutter who was very happy with his life and work. He had a wonderful family whom he loved; he made a good living cutting and preparing stone for...
Remaining Faithful
Yesterday’s gospel, when combined with the gospel for today, forms the gospel reading from the recent 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time when Jesus and the disciples stand before the awesome sight of the...
Teacher, when…
A common question of Christians throughout the ages is when? So, the question in today’s Gospel: “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to...
Sign of the Cross
“I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” In today’s first...
The Word of God and Visitation
There is a lot of weeping in today’s readings. John weeps in his vision because there is no one to open the scrolls of the Word of God. It must have been deeply disturbing for John to see the Word...