Job was nearly crushed by the pain of suffering. He tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell to the ground when he heard that his children had died (Job 1:20). And yet in the midst of such pain and...
Lessons from Suffering
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Friar Reflection
The Messiah of God
Who is Jesus? Each of us may give a slightly different answer. In today’s Gospel Jesus asks both a general question and a specific question. The general question is “Who do the crowds say that I...
Herod and His Circus
Probably the most important characteristic of a true disciple is the capacity to listen. Hearing and seeing alone are not enough. Listening is having the disposition to conform oneself to the...
Feast of St. Matthew
Today is the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle, the author of the Gospel of Matthew. He is identified as a tax collector for the Roman authorities (Mt 9:9 and 10:3) In similar passages both Mark 2:14...
The Mother of Jesus
Our family is always concerned about us. Our parents continue to worry about us even when we have grown up and moved away. I learned that I could not tell my mother not to worry about me, it was...
Can You Hear Me Now?
The title of Adam McHugh’s book says it all: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction. McHugh, an ordained minister and spiritual director writes about the state of listening in our...
Men and Women on the Road with Jesus
The resurrection is central in the life of each Christian. That is why Paul in the first reading says there is no Christian life without the resurrection. The resurrection is not a theoretical...
Joy and Sorrow
In today’s first reading Paul reminds us of the Gospel: “I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you.” Paul is writing in the 50’s before any of the canonical Gospels...
Life’s Difficulties, Grumblings, and the Cross
Today we celebrate the feast of the exaltation of the Cross. Exultation is a feeling/reality beyond happiness, beyond joy. In Jesus’ time the cross was an instrument of torture and execution that...
Equipping the Holy Ones
St. John Chrysostom (“golden tongue”) was known for his oratory skills. John gained popularity because of the eloquence of his public speaking at the Golden Church, Antioch's cathedral, especially...
The centurion and his servant
The gospel reading for today is the well known account of the Roman centurion encountering Jesus on behalf of his servant. Stories like this one from Jesus’ ministry were crucial during the debate...
Freedom
In today’s first reading Paul gives himself as an example as one who has given up his “freedom” and his “rights” for the sake of the Gospel: “Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself...