Friar Daily Reflection
Vanity
In today’s first reading Qoheleth declares: “Vanity of vanities...All things are vanity!” The Hebrew word Qoheleth means “speaker” or “preacher.” His message seems to be very pessimistic: “Vanity of vanities...vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” “What...
Kingdom of God
In today’s Gospel Jesus sends out the Twelve to preach the Gospel. They are to “to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Their message and ministry are the exact same as Jesus’ message and ministry: “Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:...
Sacrifice and Love
When Jesus encountered the scribe who asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus answered to which the scribe’s response was: “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 33 And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all...
Light
If you have ever been in a blackout, you know how important light is. We stumble and grope about if we don’t have light. As we get older, we notice it gets harder and harder to see if there is not enough light. Light is vital to our daily wellbeing. In Jesus’ day...
Sharing Forgiveness and Love
Today’s Gospel tells us of an encounter that Jesus had with two people at a dinner invitation. First was the uninvited woman who manages somehow to get into the house and secondly the host. The woman is identified as a sinful woman. So, her sins must have been of a...
You and Your Generation
Jesus looks out on the folks of his generation and see resistance to God’s plan. Even though his presence was announced by the John the Baptist and despite his own presence there, the people resisted God’s action in their lives to save them. They are like a bunch of...
Moving Parts
Historically, humans have always formed tribes, clans, and eventually cities, nations, and empires, driven by the need for cooperation, structure, and survival. It’s a natural part of human development. It serves as a way of managing resources, cooperation, and...
Worthy
Whether it is a business meeting, a social gathering, a volunteer organization planning meeting or any number of similar situations - and you discover you are not invited. Our reactions vary depending on our expectations, track record on previously having been...
Driven
What drives you? What is your passion? What are the parts of your life that are intrinsic to who you are? This is more than a question of identity. I am a Catholic priest, a Franciscan friar, a Naval Academy graduate, former nuclear submariner, and the list can go on....
Judgement: Love Your Enemies
Today we continue to listen to the Sermon on the Plain from Luke’s Gospel. Now Jesus announces how deep our conversion must go. Look at how we try to justify our hatred of others, and our actions based on that hate. In English the main phrase is translated ‘love your...