Today on the “Word on Fire Show” the 30-minute presentation/discussion between Bishop Robert Barron and Brandon Vogt was on the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition, giving a bit of spotlight to St. Bonaventure and Blessed John Duns Scotus. You can watch the video here.
Our first reading today is taken from the 1st missionary trip of St. Barnabas and St. Paul. In Acts 13 and 14, the intrepid disciples go from Asia Minor to Cyprus, back to the mainland at Antioch, and other nearby cities. They met success, resistance, and out-and-out rejection as they proclaimed the Good News of Jesus as Lord and Savior. Their basic strategy when speaking to the Jewish community seems to be to connect the whole of salvation history as coming to fulfillment in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. But what about when speaking to the Gentile community? Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 6th Sunday of Easter in Lectionary Cycle A. Following on from the gospel of the 5th Sunday, this gospel text is part of a larger section which includes the Last Supper and all that takes place after Jesus had washed the disciples feet, after Judas had left the table (“he took the morsel and left at once. And it was night” (13:30)), and after Peter’s protestations he would never betray Jesus. The section comes before the disciples see their master led away for trial; then be condemned to death on a cross. Their faith will be sorely tested. Jesus’ teaching, beginning in 14:1, was given to strengthen for the hours, days, months and years to come. O’Day suggests a broad outline of the context for our reading: Continue reading
friarmusings 