The Sea of Galilee has a temperament of wind and storm that can turn on the unwary sailor. The seas and wind are building. Is this just the front of a more powerful trailing storm? It’s the dead of...
Before the Storm
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Friar Reflection
We Want Food!
In today’s first reading the Israelites murmur: “Would that we had meat for food.” They remember the “good old days” as they complain: “We remember the fish we used to eat without cost in Egypt…But...
Different Kinds of Pearls
Off the shores of the Philippines, a fisherman discovered a very large, misshapen pearl. It was not pretty. It looked more like an amoeba, with blobs and folds everywhere. He took the unusual find...
Poor Martha
Poor Martha…She works so hard while all her sister Mary does is sit around listening to Jesus. When she complains, Jesus tells her that Mary has chosen the better part. Poor Martha, she even no...
Things to Treasure
The parable of the “pearl of great price” and “treasure buried in a field” are well known. Did you know that these are unique to Matthew’s gospel? “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in...
Weeds and Wheat
In the “Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat” (Matthew 13:24-30) Jesus gives us His view of His disciples and of the church. They are a mix bag! Among His disciples and in the church are both weeds...
Small Beginnings
Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed and its growth into a tree. The point is that the Kingdom of Heaven starts with the smallest beginnings, but no one knows where it will end....
Parable of the Sower
“Hear the parable of the sower…” There are two ways to hear Jesus’ parable: 1.) the parable tells us something about Jesus, and 2.) the parable tells us something about ourselves. The parable...
…whom my heart loves
Today we celebrate the Feast of Mary Magdalene. She has been called “the Apostle to the Apostles;” a title started by Saint Augustine because she was the first one to bring news of the Resurrection...
Where you are planted
The parable’s focus on the seeds is an allegory for those who hear the word of the kingdom proclaimed. The parables describe the varying receptiveness to what they hear; all hear the same word. Yet...
Who are my mother and brothers?
If you have been following the daily Gospel readings, you have read about the growing opposition to Jesus. He has been performing miracles, casting out demons, curing the sick, and yet people are...
Signs of God’s Presence
“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” Some of the scribes and Pharisees in today’s Gospel ask to see a sign. What they are really asking for is another sign. Jesus has been healing and...