Friar Daily Reflection
Maybe in my lifetime
Today’s gospel from St. Luke is the narration of the Presentation in the Temple. The presentation that was required 40 days after Jesus’ nativity to complete Mary's ritual purification after childbirth, and to perform the redemption of the firstborn son, in obedience...
Holy Innocents
“A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.” Sadly, this passage is all too real today as we see the children massacred in Israel and the babies and children dying...
Seeing is Believing
Today’s readings reflect on the relationship between “seeing” and “believing.” In today’s Gospel passage from John, we hear that both Simon Peter and the “other disciple” went into the empty tomb but only this other disciple, “saw and believed.” In today’s first...
It is as He Said
Today’s readings have always struck me as oddly placed only one day after Christmas. It is the story of the protomartyr of the Christian faith - St. Stephen. While I know that the feast day is mentioned in the Christmas carol classic “Good King Wenceslas,” it does...
The Promise of Mercy
Today’s gospel is Mary’s prayer immediately following her encounter with her cousin Elizabeth in a scene known as the Visitation. It is part of a larger prayer known as the Magnificat and forms part of every evening prayer in the Church’s Divine Office. Mary’s prayer...
Joy and Service
In these last days of Advent, we hear how God prepared everything for Jesus’ birth. Mary surrendered herself to the will of God and her part in the history of salvation. Her openness to life went far beyond just accepting motherhood, it included an openness to all...
To Whom the Word Came
Today’s gospel is a familiar part of the Christmas story - the Angel Gabriel inviting Mary into the plans of God for redemption and salvation of the world. Given our proximity to Christmas, I suspect we quickly want to jump ahead in time and move our thoughts and...
Pray and Waiting – In Faith or in Doubt
Advent is a time of waiting, time to renew our lifestyle and our form of waiting. Advent waiting is a form of life, not just a passing season. Advent is living in hope and joy. Some people wait filling their time with frenetic, useless activities, some wait full of...
Emmanuel
In today’s Gospel the great promise or vision of Isaiah the prophet is fulfilled: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel…” (Matthew 2:23; Isaiah 7:14). Matthew gives us the meaning of this Hebrew phrase (emmanu-El),...
Just Passing Through or Real Conversion
During most of the pandemic I lived in the Bronx and worked in Harlem in a support program for homeless and street people. Three times a week, I had to take the Metro North train or the subway into Harlem. Many of the larger subway stations have musicians on the...