Who were these 12 people that Paul encounters in today’s first reading? They were generically referred to as “disciples” in Acts 19:1. Many people assume, based on the following verses, that they...
Along the Continuum
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Friar Reflection
Love, Friendship, Chosen
Today’s Gospel repeats last Sunday’s Gospel. It is part of Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse, His “Last Will and Testament.” Jesus emphasizes what is the core of His message in this last address to His...
It Changes, Everything Changes
Life is constantly changing. Today we hear that Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, and the disciples of Jesus had to adjust to changes in their lives. We too face and adjust to changes. Obviously, we have all...
The Spirit and Truth
The gospel for today is part of a longer section of John’s Gospel known by various names, but is easily understood and seen as a final farewell to His disciples as his arrest in Gethsemane is...
Generosity
In his book Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life, the late Henri Nouwen writes this: “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find...
Martyr, Witness, Missionary
There are many different ways to be witnesses and/or missionaries. In the 1st reading from Acts we hear about Paul and his companions who are traveling missionaries. They have just traveled across...
Unconditional Love
In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes on specifying what He means by love. For Him, love is a free gift, a generous donation. Giving life implies an inner detachment, unlimited generosity, and total...
The Love of Christ
Many, many years ago there was a great wizard who longed for a wife and family. Though he was good and kind, he intimidated every woman he met, who feared that they could never be an adequate wife...
Salvation, Dissension
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” Today in our first reading from Acts we hear the story of the first great controversy in the church. Luke...
Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” As Christians and particularly as a Franciscans we are called to not only pray for peace but also to work for peace: “Lord, make me an instrument of...
Community
A new pastor was named for a small parish. The minister was told that it was a ‘dying” church: it wasn’t growing, the small congregation could barely pay its bills, its days were numbered. But in...
A Place For Us
In 2019, the year before the pandemic, long lines of climbers jammed the base of Mount Everest, leaving tons of garbage across the Himalayas. But, this year, with no visitors due to COVID-19, local...