Friar Daily Reflection
Glory to God
Can we trust God or is God fickle? St. Paul tells us in today’s first reading that “… the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” In this section of Romans (chapters 9-11), Paul has been reflecting on the rejection of Jesus by most of his fellow Jews. This...
Love and Law
In the Old Testament the sabbath was the Lord’s Day, a day of resting in the Lord. It was a day centered on renewing one’s relationship with God. Work was specifically not allowed. There are 39 types of activities prohibited on the sabbath by the Old Testament. The...
All Souls
In today’s first reading we hear the comforting words, “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. Death is a great mystery that each of us must face. When someone close to us dies it is quite natural and human to feel emptiness...
Blessed are you…
Who are the saints of God? Paul often refers to the members of the community addressed in his letters as “saints,” “holy one” or “called to be holy” (Philippians 1:1; Romans 1:6). You and I, through our baptism, have become “holy ones” or saints. This is both who...
Suffering and Glory
The first reading for today begins as St. Paul tells us: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” (Rom 8:18) I suspect that when we hear that, we are able to solemnly nod, hoping that once we...
Into the Presence of God
In tomorrow’s first reading from The Letter to the Romans, St. Paul tells us that you, me and all creation is suffering in this world that is as imperfect and incomplete as we are. God created the world and proclaimed it to be good. Then God created humanity and...
Amazing Grace
The well-known hymn, “Amazing Grace” is based on today’s first reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans. The King James Version of today’s reading is: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our...
Being Fire
Jesus uses an uncomfortable image today: burning fire. Jesus Christ is the fire that changes all of creation. He burns out division and death, the fruits of sin. He is the beginning of the recreation of the whole world. Jesus can see that new creation and he says very...
Sin and Grace
In yesterday’s reading St. Paul writes that “Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death and thus death came to all men, inasmuch (houtōs) as all sinned.” If you are interested in how the translation of the simple Greek word “houtōs” affects...
Vigilance – Preparedness – Service
Today’s Gospel is very short, but it sets out for us a basic Christian attitude towards life. The servant who is waiting through the night for the return of the master should not be dressed in pajamas and comfortably asleep. A sleeping servant could answer the knock...