Friar Daily Reflection
Jesus’ Invitation
In today’s Gospel Jesus gives an invitation to each one of us: “Come to me…” This invitation is to all who “labor and are burdened.” What is the source of these burdens? It can be many things in our daily lives such as addiction, depression, suicidal thoughts. Our...
The Wrath of God
Last week all of our first readings were from the Prophet Hosea. Any one of the reflections could have begun: “In today’s first reading the Northern Kingdom of Israel is being warned about the choices they have made and are making - and the consequences of those...
Woe to you!
When I was a year or two short of being a full-fledged teenager, I was invited to attend my first funeral. It was not a Catholic funeral - and as I came to know - nothing like a Catholic funeral. It was a fundamentalist, born-again, raucous affair for a person who by...
Prayer and Justice
Isaiah’s words in today’s first reading are very shocking: “When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; Though you pray the more, I will not listen.” Isaiah is warning the people that God is refusing to listen to their prayers. Why? Because of their...
The Garden
In today’s first reading, we bring a week of Hosea to a close. The choice of readings paints an image of life with and without God. Monday: God spoke words of faithful, loyal love. “I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love...
Mercy of God
Today we continue to read from the prophet Hosea. This book is a love story, although sometimes it may seem like a soap opera. It is the story of a spouse who is unfaithful but is forgiven and welcomed back. Sometimes this unfaithful spouse is Hosea’s wife,...
Twelve Apostles
Today’s Gospel describes the first commissioning of the Twelve Apostles. Jesus actually sends his disciples twice, once in today’s reading (10:1-7) and the second time in the so-called the “Great Commissioning” at the end of the Gospel (28:16-20). In today’s Gospel...
Reap the Whirlwind
In today’s first reading, the Northern Kingdom of Israel is being warned about the choices they have made and are making - and the consequences of those choices should they continue. As a whole, Hosea accuses Israel of three sins in particular. Instead of putting...
Hope
Amid his daughter’s sickness the synagogue official had hope. His faith formed the central part of his life. He organized everything around that center point of faith. His faith and hope pushed him to action. He sought out Jesus and brought him back to his home. With...
The Public Sinner
When we think of Jesus’ miracles, we usually think of the curing of sick people, the calming of the storm, or the raising of the dead. Today we see another miracle. Matthew was a tax collector for the Roman government. Probably a collection of road toll taxes or...