Friar Daily Reflection
An Eye for an Eye
In today’s Gospel Jesus gives his authoritative interpretation of the Scripture, the Old Testament. In the Sermon of the Mount Jesus introduces a text of the Old Testament with the words, “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors…” and then gives his...
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony was born into a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195 and died 36 years later in Padua, Italy as a Franciscan friar. After being ordained for the Canons of the Holy Cross he came to know a group of Franciscans who were visiting and preaching in his...
Reconciliation
Today’s reading comes from the Sermon on the Mount which is Jesus call for us to return to living in relation with God and others as we were created. Communion is at the center of Sermon on the Mount. The scribes and pharisees had built up a religious life that was...
Barnabas
Today is the memorial of St. Barnabas a fellow missionary with St. Paul. In fact, as we hear in today’s 1st reading Barnabas was the one to bring Paul from Tarsus to Antioch. Even before this after Paul’s conversion Barnabas was the one to encourage the Jerusalem...
The Mustard Seed
We have come to the last day of classes for this year, the beginning of summer vacation. As always, the Word of God comes to speak to us today and every day of our lives whether a common day or important day like the beginning of summer vacation. God never leaves us...
Behold, your mother
Today’s is the memorial of Mary, the Mother of the Church. This title and/or understanding of Mary is based on today’s Gospel. At the foot of the cross Jesus sees his mother and the Beloved Disciple. This leads to the following exchange: Jesus to his mother:...
Love in Action
We can express love in words but even more powerful is love in action. In today’s Gospel Jesus asks Peter three times, “Peter, do you love me?” This same Peter had three times denied Jesus: “Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, “You are not one of...
Jesus Prays
In today’s Gospel Jesus prays for us: “I pray not only for these [disciples], but also for those who will believe in me through their word…” We are the ones who have come to believe in Jesus through the word of the Gospel. The disciples went out to all the nations...
Living the Truth in the Midst of the World
We continue to listen to Jesus’ prayer at the end of the night of the Last Supper. These are his last words, recommendations, and prayers before his death, passion, and resurrection at the table of the Last Supper. Today we hear a central point in our mission as...
The Lord Praying for Us: Communion
This week we see Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper - specifically after the meal, after the washing of the feet – Jesus’ prayer for his disciples. At the Last Supper, Jesus gives us the eucharist and the challenge of service as ways of living as true...