Today’s reading is from the “golden calf” incident recorded in the Book of Exodus. You know the story: Moses comes down from the mountain top carrying the 10 Commandments carved into stone tablets. He comes upon the scene of people dancing wildly around a statue of a golden calf. Today’s psalm has about as good a summary as you might want: Continue reading
Today’s gospel was part of the Gospel for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time but it is noteworthy that there was a shorter and a longer option. The shorter included the parable only, while the longer version included our gospel for today – an explanation of the parable. Continue reading
I grew up in Orlando during the last century – somehow that make me sound like one of the ancient ones. I have to admit, I am getting there. Anyway. In my youth Orlando had no “metropolitan area” and was a mid-sized with population of just a little over 52,000 people – and an annual county fair. The fair grounds were towards downtown in the area now west of I-4 and extending west to Paramour Ave. Continue reading
In today’s first reading we have the story of the Lord delivering manna to the people at the beginning of the Exodus. It has been about one month since their departure from Egypt and it seems like they have been complaining the whole time (see Monday’s reading!) Continue reading
As I am sure y’all know, the Barbie movie is out and it is exceeding box office sales well beyond expectations, and expectations were already pretty high. I have no comments or insights about the movie as I have not seen it… and am not likely to watch it in theaters. When it streams? A friend and I have a general pre-watch classification system for movie. Barbie falls in the “streaming online, weather is terrible, I’m stuck inside, and why not” category. But all that is neither here or there. This post is following the “breaking news” that Barbie’s pink is (a) not real world and (b) that her pink looks fake! Seriously, there was an article in this morning’s news. Continue reading
As I have noted here on other occasions, one of the ministries that we Franciscan Friars have is to support families during their interment at Quantico National Cemetery. We often have several interments each week and in the course of the ministry we have met many amazing and wonderful families. Today was no exception. Continue reading
Today is the Feast of St. James and the first reading is one of my favorite passages from St. Paul: “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor 4:7). It points out one of the great paradoxes of this life of discipleship: it leads to glory, but entails suffering along the way. What is this treasure? The context of Paul’s writing suggests three possibilities: Continue reading
In today’s first reading we see the plan of the Lord to rescue, to liberate the tribes of Jacob from enslavement in Egypt. And everyone has regrets. Pharaoh is realizing the implications of letting the Israelites go – maybe he should have let them go into the desert for three days as Moses first requested (Exodus 3:18). Pharaoh believes he has made a foolish choice and regrets it even in the moment – and will regret it more as the events of the Exodus unfold. Continue reading
Every once in a while you come across something that… well …. it just is. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band’s second album, Nevermind (1991). The unexpected success of the song propelled Nevermind to the top of several albums charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as the point when grunge entered the mainstream. It was met with wide critical acclaim, and described as an “anthem for apathetic kids” of Generation X. You can watch a video of the song here. But some of you are asking, “What if this were re-recorded in Classical Latin?” Well wonder no longer. Smells Like Teen Spirit in Classical Latin.
In today’s first reading we hear the instructions for Passover’s celebration. I am always particularly taken by the simple, yet complex, verse: “This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the LORD.” Continue reading
friarmusings 