Yesterday at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass I heard the voices of children. I love to hear them calling out during Mass even during my homily. It is always a sign to me that our parish is alive when we...
Welcoming the Children
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Friar Reflection
Words of Encouragement
In today’s first reading we hear from the Prophet Haggai, who ministered in the post exilic period when the Jewish people, under a grant from King Cyrus of Persia, returned to Jerusalem. But it was...
Seek the Lord
In today’s Gospel we hear that Herod the tetrarch was seeking to see Jesus: “Herod kept trying to see him.” Why? Herod had heard all the wondrous things that Jesus was doing. People were saying...
The Presence of Mercy
In our first reading for today’s Mass, we encounter Ezra. You might ask, “...and who is Ezra?” The genealogy of Ezra (Ezra 7:1–5) traces his priesthood back to Aaron, brother of Moses. He is also...
The Possibility of Being a Saint
Few of us would consider ourselves Saints. We hesitate to call ourselves disciples of Jesus. When we think of saints, we think often think of individuals who were in some form, super human....
Let your light shine!
You have a flashlight and you walk into a darkroom. Do you immediately shut off your flashlight? Of course not! You use the flashlight to see in the darkness. Jesus gives us this practical or...
Memorial of St. Hildegard of Bingen
Today is the Memorial of St. Hildegard of Bingen. From the first reading from the Book of Wisdom we hear Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; For stern as death is love, relentless...
Love and Forgiveness
“So, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.” Love does not earn forgiveness, rather the experience of forgiveness leads to love. Jesus teaches this message...
To Be Compassionate like Mary
Today is Our Lady of Sorrows feast day. According to Tradition, Mary suffered seven sorrows in her life: 1) the prophecy of Simeon, 2) the flight into Egypt, 3) the loss of the child Jesus in the...
Exaltation and Love
Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. We are used to making the sign of the cross or seeing the cross displayed in our churches and homes. The prominence of the cross may lead us...
The Feast of St. John Chrysostom
Today is the Memorial of St. John Chrysostom (“golden tongue”), known for his oratory skills. John gained popularity because of the eloquence of his public speaking at the Golden Church, Antioch's...
Lord Make me an Instrument of Your Peace
There is a chapter of the TV show the “Simpsons” in which Bart befriends a Muslim boy and Homero, Bart’s father, conditioned by the prejudices of society is suspect of the Middle East Muslim family...