The Friar Podcasts - preaching prayer and spiritual reflections

We live in a society today where everything moves fast. Because of this, we can miss the most significant moments of our lives. The Resurrection is such a big event, the Church celebrates it over eight days, not just one.

According to the CDC, there is a loneliness epidemic going on in the United States. The antidote is connection to others, to having intimacy and friendship in our lives. The Resurrection of Jesus is the way this happens.

There is a fancy word to describe the basic summary of the faith: Kerygma. This Holy Week draws us in to celebrate all of this during the week we call holy.

Sometimes Holiness is about doing what seems to be impossible. For Saint John Baptist de la Salle, holiness meant transforming education.

Poor Moses. All the People Do Is Complain. And Yet He Still Gets Them to the Promised Land. 

We know what we should do. But we do not want to do it? Now what? This homily explores this challenge.

The homily explores the complexity of the decision by the Israelites to build and worship the golden calf.

How can we be joyful in the midst of sorrow? Today's homily explores that question.

Today's homily discusses the challenges of preaching when no one is listening. Going Behind the Word explores the life of the prophet Jeremiah more deeply.

Struggle and Consolation: The Connection Between Forgiving and Being Forgiven: Homily for Tuesday, March 22, 2022.  Struggle and Consolation. The homily today explores the connection between receiving forgiveness and giving forgiveness. Going Behind the Word provides information about Azariah.

This morning's homily discusses the first reading, a prime example of God's providence. Going Behind the Word explores the story of Queen Esther.

The challenge for these meditations is that for a long time they were not widely circulated or known, even though they were read to the brothers on their yearly retreat. But in recent times, they have come to be seen as more important to Lasallian spirituality than originally thought.

Lent is a time of year to focus on Repentance, Reflection, Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. I believe that if you really strive to work on all five of those things, you will get a lot out of Lent and feel a lot better about your spiritual life. Repentance is a big one, you repent every time you receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. From my own personal experience, I can tell you with full hones...

In today’s Gospel, Jesus educates his Disciples on how they are to pray. Jesus says that when praying “…Do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your father knows what you need before you ask Him”. Let’s break that down.

To understand the French School of Spirituality it is necessary to remember that life was more than a little chaotic for France, and for the Church. Still digesting the teachings of the Council of Trent, and responding to the secular threats posed by the Enlightenment, it is easy to see why the French School of Spirituality could be harsh in its understandings between the human person and God.

Today's Going Behind the Word is an extension of the homily which talked about the important value of temptation in our lives. The homily discusses how Jesus provides a model for each of us to overcome our temptations.

Every one of us is the result of a collection of relationships. Saint John Baptist de la Salle is no exception. From his good fortune of being born in a wealthy family which allowed him to be well educated, to is connection with people of faith and his study for a doctorate, Saint John Baptist de la Salle had a collection of influencers.

In the Gospel today Jesus talks about the importance of remaining faithful. He says that the sinners strive for righteousness. If someone feels they are making bad decisions, they have the free will to start making good decisions. Jesus is the ultimate sign for repentance and forgiveness.

In the Gospel today Jesus talks about the importance of remaining faithful. He says that the sinners strive for righteousness. If someone feels they are making bad decisions, they have the free will to start making good decisions. Jesus is the ultimate sign for repentance and forgiveness.

Don't Be Sad. For example, if you decide you get coffee too much and you are going to give that up for Lent, you are saving money for yourself. With that money you planned on spending, anyway, why don’t you take that money and save it as a donation for a charity?

It is said that nature abhors a vacuum, and that was certainly the case in France in the sixteenth century. A long civil war led to a chaotic society. The emptiness of the age led both the king and the Church to seek to fill this emptiness with money and power.

Going Behind the word discusses how the first reading is an example of the steps of a covenant in the biblical world.

When I reflected on the reading for today, the Gospel spoke about denying yourself to take up the cross and follow God. Lent is about focusing on others rather than yourself and repenting for your wrongdoings. Selflessness is a virtue that I have been working on throughout my life. It is something that my mother is proficient in. As I reflected on this gospel, it gave me the idea of something my p...

Today's homily discusses what would seem to be an obvious choice. We can choose life and prosperity or death and doom. Who wouldn't choose life? We do not choose life when we fail to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.

The homily today contrasts the fleeting aspects of life we put a lot of energy into succeeding at, with our faith which often does not elicit as much effort or discipline from us. In Going Behind the Word, we offer a quick refresher on the meaning of the Season of Lent.