Following along in Matthew’s gospel, we recall the previous narrative was about the calming of the storm that beset the apostles while they and Jesus were crossing the lake. They arrive at their...
Go or Stay
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Friar Reflection
Peter the Rocky Apostle
Peter is given many different names in the New Testament. Jesus calls him “Rock” (Cephas) after Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. In the very next scene Jesus calls him Satan...
The Memorial of St. Irenaeus of Lyon
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may...
Jesus Welcomes Outcasts
What is God’s Will? Jesus shows us God’s Will through his words and actions. The leper in today’s Gospel challenges Jesus: “Lord, if you wish (will), you can make me clean.” In Jesus’ day people...
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
John and Jesus are similar and yet so different. Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. The Gospels picture John as the forerunner of Jesus, sent to prepare the way. In today’s second...
The Fruit We Bear
“…every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut...
Whose we are
Today is the Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, the latter of the two who is more popularly known as he was the central character of the movie, “A Man for All Seasons.” The film depicts...
Faults
When Jesus preached, He would often use words that were very familiar to the Jewish people. Many times, the Rabbis would warn against judging other people. They laid down that there were six works...
Treasure
What do you treasure the most? I’m sure all of us at our better moments will answer God, family, and others. Another way of asking this question is with a time management survey: where do I spend...
Our Father
Prayer, Babbling, In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us how to pray. First of all, He tells us not to “babble like the pagans.” These pagans think that they need to use all sorts of words, titles, and...
Rewards and Punishments
This is an interesting passage from Matthew. It would seem to suggest that one should banish all rewards or punishments from the idea of religion. If that were so it would be to suggest that...
Learning to be better
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said. You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you...