Friar Daily Reflection
Righteous Deeds
In today’s Gospel Jesus continues his teaching on “greater righteousness” that he called for at the beginning of the section with these words: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of...
Love and Hate
Last week our daily gospels were taken from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). A major theme was a series of three gospels was a description of progression in Christian discipleship in asking three foundational questions. Who is God shaping me to become? What effect...
Turn the Other Cheek
In today’s Gospel Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:28). In this section Jesus continues his authoritative interpretation of the Torah, the Scripture. He first quotes a Scripture text: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a...
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. As we hear in today readings this feast is a celebration of God’s love for us.: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.” This 2nd...
Greater Righteousness
In today’s Gospel Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount by calling his disciples to a “greater righteousness.” In his programmatic statement Jesus warns his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not...
The Foundation
Today is the third of three days reflecting on the daily gospels all taken from Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. They are not merely three disconnected sections of the Sermon on the Mount; they describe a progression in Christian discipleship: Monday, the question...
When the Beatitudes become visible
Today is the second of three consecutive days when I am presiding at the parish daily Mass. The three gospels are all taken from Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. What follows is really one longer reflection delivered over three days because these three Gospel...
Who are we becoming?
Today is the first of three consecutive days when I am presiding at the parish daily Mass. The three gospels are all taken from Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. What follows is really one longer reflection delivered over three days because these three Gospel...
Look What God Can Do with a Mustard Seed
Today is the final Mass for the parish elementary school. It is also a day when we have alumni present with us - graduates from the St. Francis Class of 2022 - who in just a few days will be the graduating high school class of 2026. It is appropriate that our gospel...
The Two Great Commandments
In today’s Gospel a Jewish scribe asks Jesus a question that I am sure all of us have asked at one time or another: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” A Jewish scribe is one who has studied the Scripture and perhaps even memorized it. He might feel a...