Friar Daily Reflection
Disturbed
I am a bit troubled by today’s readings. The gospel is this uncomfortable sequence in which Jesus, for the third time, has told his disciples “Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to...
Conversation with God and Moving Away from Pride and Privilege
Jesus gives a tremendous condemnation to the religious leader of the times. He recognizes what they teach as important but faults them on their lifestyle. They make themselves important through outwards signs of distinction and at the same time do not live the life...
A Litany for Our Life
What did you take away from today’s readings? Before reading on, take a moment. Click on the link and peruse the readings for today. What are the one or two notions or ideas that stand out for you? We’ll wait… The first reading is largely a confession of sin, a lament...
Ashes and Blessings
This past Ash Wednesday all were welcomed to receive ashes since all of us are both saints and sinners. As we receive ashes Jesus invites us to “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” or “Turn and put our faith and trust in God.” Before Jesus issues this invitation he...
Jesus Brings All People Together
As human beings, we tend to choose division, to choose our own personal needs over the needs of others and to impose our will on everyone else. This is called the way of sin. We Catholics called that original sin. The devil produces division and separation – division...
One Man’s Faith Shared Publicly
Today’s feast refers to Peter’s chair as the teaching chair of a professor or the presiding chair of a bishop. It is the chair of authority regarding teaching and doctrine. The importance of Peter’s teaching of faith comes from today’s Gospel. He is the first to fully...
Sign of Jonah
What is the sign of Jonah that Jesus mentions in today’s Gospel? He tells the crowd: “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man...
Power and Life
Today’s first reading is one of my favorite chapters of the Old Testament: Isaiah 55. It always reminds me of the parable of the Sower and the Seed from the gospels with the Word of God being sent into the world on good and poor soil alike. Starting in Isaiah 40, the...
The Judgment
Today’s readings teach us God’s will and the criterion on which we will be judged at the end of time. In the first reading from Leviticus God calls us to be his holy people: “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” The reading then goes on to detail what it...
Fasting
Today’s readings deal with the question of when to fast and how to fast. Jesus is challenged because his disciples do not undertake special fasting: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus replies that now, while he is still...