Friar Daily Reflection
Out of Place
Have you ever been in a place where you feel as though you are out of place? Not unwelcomed in a broad sense, but a bit of an intruder. The realization can come upon you unexpectedly and you enter into a liminal space where time freezes and you quickly process what is...
Signs of the Times
In today’s Gospel Jesus challenges the people to recognize the “signs of the times” just as they can recognize the signs of the weather: “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain…and when you notice that the wind is blowing...
Conversion and Change in the Spirit
Today’s reading from Luke is taken from the 12th chapter that begins by saying there were thousands gathered to listen to his preaching. So many people that they were stepping on each other. What a disturbing image Jesus uses to describe what he is about: a blazing...
Mystery
In today’s first reading Paul talks about mystery: “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.” A mystery is not a problem to be solved but the plan and will of...
Be Ready; Active Waiting
The Gospel is full of images to symbolize a Christian’s attitude of conversion and active waiting: the prudent and foolish young women waiting for the return of the bride and groom, the sudden appearance of the kingdom, the separation of the sheep and goats, and...
In the beginning
The first reading today is taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians is a letter about the church - not necessarily just the congregation in the city of Ephesus but rather with the worldwide church. While in other letters Paul describes the church as...
Sent
Today we celebrate the feast of St Luke who wrote one of the four Gospels. Each of the writers gives their Gospel a specific tone or emphasis. Luke’s Gospel is very human and very concerned for the poor and common folks. Our first reading from the letter of Paul to...
Prayer of Blessing
In today’s first reading Paul opens with a prayer of blessing: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.” This prayer of blessing gives us our identity as Christians. This...
Law vs. Fruits
The change in the apostle Paul’s life was really quite dramatic. He had been a strict, zealous pharisee who dedicated his life to strict observance of the law in order to maintain a good relationship with God. As we know from his own letters, he even dedicated himself...
Grace and Freedom
As mentioned in reflection on last Friday’s first reading, the epistle to the Galatians, the apostles make clear that justification does not come by works of the law: “For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse.” The Church has, from its earliest times,...