Friar Daily Reflection
Vocation or Call
Today we begin reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans. This letter is a very rich but also a very complex letter. Ultimately it is well worth the effort of “wrestling with Paul” as Paul reflects on vocation or calling, the Gospel, justification, and true Christian...
Prince of Demons
In today’s Gospel Jesus has literally been demonized by some opponents after he has just performed an exorcism. His opponents cannot deny that he has performed a healing and exorcism that was just described in the previous verse: “He was driving out a demon that was...
Persistent Prayer
Jesus teaches about “persistence” in prayers in today’s Gospel. He gives the example of a friend who will give loaves if not because of “friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.” Jesus is not teaching that we need to...
God is still waiting
Today’s first reading is again from the Book of Jonah. From yesterday’s reading, we recall: “10 When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.” (Jonah 3:10)...
“…the people of Nineveh believed God”
Today’s first reading (Jonah 3:1-10) is from the Book of Jonah. There is a large gap in the storyline from yesterday's reading and reflection. Long story short, the crew of the ship that was giving passage to Jonah, throws him overboard into the tempest. John is...
Love Your Enemy
Today we begin reading from the book of Jonah. In today’s first reading God commands Jonah: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh and preach against it.” Instead of heading east toward Nineveh, Jonah flees west to Tarshish. God sends a storm and a large fish to...
Courage and Urgency
“To the Lord our God belongs justice; to us, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, to be shamefaced, as on this day” (Baruch 1:15) These words from the prophet Baruch are not just a historical lament of the first wave of exiles to Babylon. It is not a...
Word of God
In today’s first reading from Nehemiah, we have a solemn reading of the Word of God. It is the first day of the seventh month which is perhaps the day of the solemn renewal of the covenant. Ezra, the scribe, solemnly processes in front of the assembly. He opens the...
Follow Me
In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches the cost of discipleship, the cost of following him. Three people come forward wanting to follow Jesus. The first one makes the bold claim: “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus accepts him but also warns him of the cost of...
Magisterium
In today’s first reading, St. Paul’s words to Timothy are both tender and firm. “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it.” (2 Timothy 3:14) They are the words of a spiritual father urging his son in the faith to...