Friar Daily Reflection
From Unmarked Graves to the Light
The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees!… You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” (Luke 11:42). Back in the day, I would often go with friends to the movie theatre. I am forever fascinated by the movie previews they select. I always think that the...
What is Visible
Today’s first reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, one of the most challenging and complex of all the New Testament books. After opening his epistle, Paul provides a summary of covenant history in just a few verses. For what can be known about God is...
Vocation or Call
Today we begin reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans. This letter is a very rich but also a very complex letter. Ultimately it is well worth the effort of “wrestling with Paul” as Paul reflects on vocation or calling, the Gospel, justification, and true Christian...
Prince of Demons
In today’s Gospel Jesus has literally been demonized by some opponents after he has just performed an exorcism. His opponents cannot deny that he has performed a healing and exorcism that was just described in the previous verse: “He was driving out a demon that was...
Persistent Prayer
Jesus teaches about “persistence” in prayers in today’s Gospel. He gives the example of a friend who will give loaves if not because of “friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.” Jesus is not teaching that we need to...
God is still waiting
Today’s first reading is again from the Book of Jonah. From yesterday’s reading, we recall: “10 When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.” (Jonah 3:10)...
“…the people of Nineveh believed God”
Today’s first reading (Jonah 3:1-10) is from the Book of Jonah. There is a large gap in the storyline from yesterday's reading and reflection. Long story short, the crew of the ship that was giving passage to Jonah, throws him overboard into the tempest. John is...
Love Your Enemy
Today we begin reading from the book of Jonah. In today’s first reading God commands Jonah: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh and preach against it.” Instead of heading east toward Nineveh, Jonah flees west to Tarshish. God sends a storm and a large fish to...
Courage and Urgency
“To the Lord our God belongs justice; to us, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, to be shamefaced, as on this day” (Baruch 1:15) These words from the prophet Baruch are not just a historical lament of the first wave of exiles to Babylon. It is not a...
Word of God
In today’s first reading from Nehemiah, we have a solemn reading of the Word of God. It is the first day of the seventh month which is perhaps the day of the solemn renewal of the covenant. Ezra, the scribe, solemnly processes in front of the assembly. He opens the...