If you would like to catch up on some recent posts, here is a place where you can easily access some posts you might have missed. I hope it helps… enjoy.
- An Antiphon for the Baptism of the LordThe solider baptizes his King, the servant his Lord, John his Savior; the waters of the Jordan tremble, a dove hovers as a sign of witness, and the voice of the Father is heard: This is my Son. Discover more from friarmusings Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe
- What does all this mean?This coming Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. As already mentioned, Matthew’s primary focus is not on the baptism itself, but on the events that immediately follow: the heavens opening up, the descent of the Spirit and the voice of God. But let’s return for a moment to consider the meaning of John’s baptism. … Continue reading
- An interim thoughtAt the beginning of the Edo Period, Daimyo Hideyoshi had grand visions of a Pan-Asia empire that included China. Under the leadership of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the country set clear restrictions that mostly isolated Japan from face-to-face contact with the world. The nation remained open to commercial trade but not to social corruption from outside influences. … Continue reading
- The VoiceThis coming Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. “And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Mt 13:17). The voice from heaven speaks the words that are repeated at the scene of the Transfiguration (Mt 17:5) and reveal God’s proclamation of Jesus’ full … Continue reading
- Japanese IsolationIn the previous post, in the broadest of terms, we traced the relationship of China (and by extension Korea) and Japan from pre-history up to the 17th century and the beginning of the Edo period of Japanese history. Also known as the Tokugawa period, this was a period in Japan’s history which experienced prolonged peace and … Continue reading
- The Baptism of JesusThis coming Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. The scene is filled with eschatological overtones. The heavens are opened, a voice comes from heaven, the Spirit is given. The Judaism of Jesus’ day tended to regard all of these elements as the revelatory gifts of God that happened in now-past OT times and that … Continue reading
- Overcoming Fear with Faith: A New Year’s ReflectionIt’s a new year and each time January brings a mixture of hope and anxiety. We have hopes for 2026, but we carry unresolved worries, unanswered questions, and fears that did not politely stay behind in 2025. The readings for today come at the right time. In the Gospel, the disciples are doing exactly what Jesus … Continue reading
- China and Japan: A HistoryAt the end of the previous post, a question was posited: “How did the currents of history bring the U.S. and Japan to this point in history when sanctions and an embargo were the final domino that moved the flames of war to become the firestorm that was the Asia-Pacific War from December 1941 until September … Continue reading
- All RighteousnessThis coming Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. 14 John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” 15 Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Righteousness (dikaiosýnē) is a … Continue reading
- The Start of the Asia-Pacific WarDepending on how one phrases and frames the question, one will arrive at different and often conflicting conclusions. While writing and posting the series on World War II in the Pacific (late August – early November, 2025) one of the recurring comments was that the United States started the conflict with its complete oil embargo on … Continue reading
- John and Jesus in DialogueThis coming Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. As John the Baptist mysteriously appeared in the wilderness, so too Jesus. John appeared proclaiming: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (3:2). It was a very public appeal to which people responded: “Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were … Continue reading
- Discerning the LightIn today’s Gospel, Matthew deliberately situates the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in a very particular place: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali… Galilee of the Gentiles.” This is not just geography. There is a meaning: Galilee was not Jerusalem. It was distant from the Temple, religiously mixed, politically suspect, and culturally porous. … Continue reading
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friarmusings 
Excellent way to catch-up without missing a post. Sometimes I miss 1-2 readings and I find them later when clearing my email.
I enjoy the reading and I like the idea of reading all on one email.
Thank you for sharing and posting for our reading and learning pleasure.
If it isn’t a burden to do so, I say yes please.
Sometimes my day gets busy and the only answer is to just delete all but essential emails. But then later in the week a post catches my eye and I want to look back to the beginning of the thread and see where it started. This week’s article on the Magnificat is an excellent example.