Friar Daily Reflection
Become Wise
Today’s reflection is based on Matthew 25:1-13, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and is part of our parish elementary school Friday Mass celebration. I grew up in Florida, where hurricanes were simply part of life. Back then storm tracking wasn't nearly as good as it...
Vigilance
The attitude of constant vigilance is basic for a truly Christian life. Jesus uses two parables today to call us to a life of vigilance: the vigilant master of the house guarding against thieves and the prudent, faithful servant. It is very easy for us to adopt an...
Hypocrisy
Jesus calls us as disciples to draw people to God. Our good deeds can draw people to God, but bad deeds or hypocrisy can drive people away from the church and even from God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us to let our light shine: “You are the light of the...
The Weightier Things
In this section of Matthew’s Gospel Jesus is in constant debate and conflict with the scribes and pharisees. As the religious leaders of Israel, they should have been calling the people to holiness and a deeper relationship with God. They set up a form of relating to...
Come and See
In today’s Gospel Jesus invites his first disciples and invites all of us to “Come and See.” Philip finds Nathanael and tells him we found the one foretold in the Scripture (“the Law, and also the prophets”). It is: “Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael is...
Dry Bones
Today’s first reading is the prophet Ezekiel’s great vision of dry bones. As we hear at the beginning of today’s reading “and of the LORD came upon me and led me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the center of the plain, which was now filled with bones.”...
The Preparation
Jesus is teaching in the temple when the religious leaders, the pharisees and chief priests, ask him with what authority he bases his teachings. He does not answer their questions directly. Rather he responds with some parables or teachings regarding the reign of God....
The Harder Deal?
How many times have you heard today's Gospel of the landowner who went out to hire laborers for his vineyard? Most often we hear it as a contrast between God's generosity and our sense of fairness. Sometimes it's the ‘it's never too late’ homily. Both are good ways...
Riches As Our Goal
I have often wondered why the disciples were so startled by Jesus’ statement that being rich and being Christian are generally incompatible. None of them were rich. Why were they so disturbed by this statement? Why was Jesus’ encounter with the good, young, rich man...
The grace of restlessness
A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” (Mt 19:16) Jesus answered the young man. “When the young man heard [Jesus’] statement, he went away sad…” (v.22) In the online notes , the US Catholic Bishops note that...