Reflections from news and commentary of the day
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Monday, August 10, 2026
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Iran Issues List of Demands, Dampening Hopes of Reopening Strait of Hormuz - The New York Times
Iran Issues List of Demands, Dampening Hopes of Reopening Strait of Hormuz - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/08/world/middleeast/iran-us-oman-strait-of-hormuz.html
Iran Issues List of Demands, Complicating Efforts to Reopen Strait
The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States met certain conditions.
Friday, August 7, 2026
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Fr. Bob's Reflection for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Guest Post
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to His disciples, “Give them some food yourselves.” Looking out at the thousands gathered before them, the disciples are overwhelmed. They respond, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have.”
And Jesus simply says, “Bring them to Me.”
There is an important lesson here for all of us.
The disciples see only the size of the problem. There are too many people and there is not enough food. Yet Jesus does not excuse them from the task. Instead, He invites them to participate in the miracle.
They bring Him what little they have. Jesus blesses the loaves and fish, but then He does something surprising. He places the food back into the hands of the disciples and tells them to distribute it to the crowd.
The message is clear: God chooses to work through us. He invites us to take part in His work of healing, compassion and care for others.
A beautiful example of this came from a story in New York City. Three times a week, a blind woman boarded a city bus. The driver greeted her warmly and saved a seat for her, near the front. They talked about family, life and the challenges they faced.
When they arrived at her stop, he helped her off the bus and safely across a busy street. Then he returned to the bus. Yet the woman remained standing where he had left her. She waited until she heard him honk the horn three times. Only then did she smile, wave and continue on her way.
A blind woman and a bus driver – hardly important figures by the world’s standards. They possessed no wealth, influence, or power. Yet each offered what little they had: kindness, concern and compassion. Christ blessed those small gifts and used them to nourish both of them.
How often do we feel like the disciples? We look at the challenges around us and ask, “What can I possibly do?”
Parents worry about raising children in a difficult world. Workers struggle to remain honest amid pressure and competition. Spouses try to heal relationships that seem fragile or strained. Others carry burdens of grief, illness, loneliness, or uncertainty.
And their response is often the same as the disciples: “Lord, all I have are five loaves and two fish.”
But Jesus says to each of us what He said to them:
“Bring them to me. Bring me your fears and anxieties. Bring me your hopes and dreams. Bring me your struggles and disappointments. Bring me your burdens and your crosses. Bring me whatever you have.”
We often concentrate on what little we can do, rather than what Christ can accomplish through us. We see limitations. Jesus sees possibilities. We see the shortage. Jesus sees the abundance.
The miracle of the loaves and fishes reminds us that God does not ask us to solve every problem on our own. He asks only that we place what we have into His hands.
And when we do, He blesses it. He multiplies it. He uses it in ways we never imagined.
So, my friends, do not focus on how little you have. Instead, focus on how much Christ can do. Bring Him your burdens, your hopes and your crosses – and trust Him to make them enough.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Robert Warren, S.A.
Spiritual Director
Meet The Hillbilly Thomists | Word on Fire Institute
Meet The Hillbilly Thomists | Word on Fire Institute
https://community.wordonfire.org/c/news-updates/meet-the-hillbilly-thomists
The Hillbilly Thomists will join us for our next seminar to explore the ways in which art—especially music—can be used in evangelization.
This band of friars has been playing American folk music together for many years. They released their first album, The Hillbilly Thomists, in 2017 and reached the #3 spot on the Billboard chart in bluegrass. They found additional success with the release of Living for the Other Side (2021), Holy Ghost Power (2022), and Marigold (2024). They have gone on tour and even had an opportunity to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and have shared the gospel through their music with audiences all across the United States.
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Monday, August 3, 2026
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Saturday, August 1, 2026
[Salon] For $100, 000 per month, YOU TOO can get early access to Trump's AI slop on Truth Social
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/01/trump-truth-social-early-access
Trump offering early access to online posts in move seen as corruption
Truth Social, where Trump’s account is by far the largest, to offer users early access for up to $100,000 per month
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