Friar Daily Reflection
Witnesses
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles Peter declares, “We are witnesses...as is the holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” When the apostles were ordered not to teach in the name of Jesus, Peter and the others replied, “We must obey...
The Light of the World
This past Monday we experienced the movement from light to darkness to light as we experienced the solar eclipse. This experience can help us to understand today’s Gospel and the Easter Mysteries. Today’s Gospel proclaims: “And this is the verdict, that the light...
Confidence=Generosity=Encouragement>>Barnabas
The readings from the Acts of the Apostles which we hear during these weeks describes the life of the early church. The resurrection changed the lives of the first disciples in a profound way. The experience of the resurrection pushed them into a new style of life –...
Hail Mary
Today we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. As we hear in today’s Gospel the angel Gabriel greets Mary with the words “Hail Mary and then announces to her, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” The...
Emmaus
In the gospel reading for today we share the story of the two disciples on that first Easter heading home discouraged by the events that had unfolded with the death of Jesus. By the time that Cleopas and his unnamed companion had walked with Jesus the seven miles from...
Lasting Joy
In the gospel reading today we encounter a well-known scene. It is Sunday morning in the first light of the day, the third day since the crucifixion. Mary Magdalene is there to complete the burial rituals to honor the corpse of Jesus - only to discover an empty tomb....
Kerygma – Proclamation
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and the Eleven proclaim the kerygma, the mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. They first heard this Good News from the women returning from the empty tomb. When Mary...
Passover
Today’s Gospel recalls the Last Supper, the supper that Jesus celebrated with his disciples “before the feast of Passover.” The first reading brings out the meaning of the Jewish feast of Passover: “This day shall be a memorial feast for you.” The feast recalls and...
A Play in 3 Acts
Holy Week is a story told in three acts. Act 1: Love Portrayed. All Lent we have seen Love Portrayed: Jesus transfigured on the mountain top. The glory of God revealed and yet what would seem to be the final scene of the play is but the beginning. We’ve more to...
Taking a chance
Your average Catholic only needs to stand next to a born-again, evangelical Christian to understand how private we are about our life in faith. Of course, you’re thinking, “All that public praying and witnessing, that’s their thing. Our faith was more discrete, more...