The Friar
These podcasts feature homilies given at Mass and commentaries on various eclectic topics.
Episodes
Over and over God has set things up for us that we might know and be aware of his love for each one of us. And, at least for me, it feels like over and over again I sin. Yet fortunately for all of us, Jesus is a God who forgives.
Continue reading Homily for Sunday, April 11, 2021 at The Friar.
Do you remember these two sports calls? Here’s the first. “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” How about the second? “Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it, he underhands to first -- and the Boston Red Sox are the world champions. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball’s world championship. Can you believe it?” Both of these are sports quotes. The first, especially if you lived in the United Sta...
“They recognized them as the companions of Jesus.” Would it be the case that you would be recognized as a companion of Jesus? The other day it was about recognizing Jesus. But today it is about being recognized. The way in which Peter and John are recognized goes from what may appear to be insulting (“perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men”)to complimentary, as those recognized to be companions of Jesus.
“There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” The name of Jesus. One thing that feels to me like it has changed is the ease at which people use the name of Jesus in a derogatory way. It is a curse word among too many today. But in today’s reading, the name of Jesus is the name that saves. We read, “It was in the name of Jesus Christ the Naz...
Peace. It seems to be so elusive today. We seem so angry. We seem at each others' throats. There seem to be so much violence in the world. Shootings, Domestic violence, wars. It is no surprise that Jesus wishes peace to his disciples and to us.
Continue reading Homily for Thursday, April 8, 2021 at The Friar.
Today I am going to suggest using a phrase from today’s gospel as something to think about as you settle into five minutes of silence with Jesus. “They had come to recognize him.” Think about that phrase for a minute. “They had come to recognize him.” It is the passage of the gospel that immediately follows the story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus who did not know Jesus despite walking with him. You may recall they recogniz...
So the past couple of days I introduced the concept of silent prayer. Sometimes this is called mental prayer, sometimes it is contemplative prayer. Today, this very day, it is time to give this a try. So here’s what I suggest you do.
Continue reading Spend 5 with Jesus: Let’s try it at The Friar.
Mary. Jesus is recognized when he calls Mary by name. Such is a tremendous truth in our faith. We are always called by name. In fact, one of the first questions a priest asks the parents is "What name have you given your child?" Listen carefully because today Jesus will be calling you by name.
Continue reading Homily for Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at The Friar.
The techniques used in mindfulness meditation are helpful to the process of prayer. For this reason, I am not critical of those who engage in mindfulness meditation, but if they stop at the end of mindfulness meditation, I would suggest it is like looking at the cake for desert, getting ready to eat it, but never really enjoying the cake by eating it. At any rate, the purpose of meditation is always to place Jesus as the center.
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