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In this site, you will find homilies, reflections (original or from others), Catholic Factoids (stuff that’s currently in the news), Catechesis (which will be grounded in the Catechism), and videos (the library is limited, but very lively!) shared by Dc. McFadden.

Homilies —Articles —Reflections —Bible Studies

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HOMILIES

Homilies

The cross is the way home

The Cross is the Way Home 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 30, 2026 Jer 20:7-9. Ps 63. Rom 12:1-2. Mt 16:21-27 Deacon Jim McFadden After establishing Peter as the rock of his Church, Jesus then begins to speak to his disciples about his Passion. Along the path to Jerusalem , he openly explains to his friends what awaits him in the City of David, where he will “…suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (Mt 16:21). But his words are not understood because the disciples have a…

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August 30, 2026August 30, 2026

“Who Do You say that i am?”

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 23, 2026 Is 22:19-23. Ps 138. Rom 11:33-36. Mt 16:13-20 Deacon Jim McFadden Midway through his public ministry, Jesus ventured with his disciples to the northern reaches of the Promised Land, to the region of Caesarea-Philippi, near the present-day Golan Heights, and there he poses a most basic question as he strives to lead his disciples to take a decisive step in their relationship with him. Jesus’ entire journey with those who follow him, especially the Twelve, is a journey of educating them in their faith. First of all, he asks: “Who do…

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August 23, 2026August 28, 2026

“Lord, Help Me”

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 16, 2026 Is 56:1,6-7. Ps 67. Rom 11:13-15,29-32. Mt 15:21-28 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel (Mt 15:21-28) presents us with a unique example of faith in Jesus’s encounter with a Canaanite woman, a foreigner to the Jews. The scene unfolds as Jesus leaves God’s own holy land and enters pagan territory where he encounters the woman who comes to Jesus and calls out: “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon” (Mt 15:22b). The Lord, at first, seems not to hear her cry of pain…

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August 16, 2026August 28, 2026

“Come to the quiet”

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time; August 9, 2026 1 Kgs 19:9-13a. Ps 85. Rom 9:1-5. Mt 14:22-33 Deacon Jim McFadden 46 years ago John Michael Talbot released a remarkable faith-filled album, Come to the Quiet, which was a collection of serene meditations, focusing primarily on the Psalms, one of which was Psalm 131. We hear, “Lord, my heart is not proud. Nor are my eyes fixed on things beyond me. In the quiet, I have stilled my soul. Like a child at rest on its mother’s knee. I have stilled my soul within me…” “I have stilled my…

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August 9, 2026

Do I Feel Compassion or Do I Look Away?

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 2, 2026 Is 55:1-3. Ps 145. Rom 8:35,37-39. Mt 14:13-21 Deacon Jim McFadden This Sunday’s Gospel presents us the miracle of multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The account illustrates two opposite ways of thinking and behaving: namely, do I have compassion for others or do I look away? If we’re going to follow Jesus, then we have to embrace his logic, which means we take responsibility for others. The scene takes place in a deserted place, where Jesus had retired with His disciples. But being a popular magnetic figure, purported…

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August 2, 2026

just one thing

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); July 26, 2026 1 Kgs 3:5,7-12. Ps 119. Rom 8:28-30. Mt 13:44-52 Deacon Jim McFadden The Christian existentialist Soren Kierkegaard once said, “The saint’s life is about one thing.” The Dane didn’t mean that a saint’s life would be a monotonous existence—a “been there, done that” type of lifestyle. Rather, he meant that a truly holy person is in perfect union with the Ultimate Reality. So, we can ask ourselves: what is our “one thing”? That’s the question that was posed to a young King Solomon in our first reading. Solomon, the successor…

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July 26, 2026July 30, 2026

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SPIRITUAL RESOURCES

bible studies

Drawing from Scripture scholars, I have tried to convey their insights in way that is accessible to the ordinary person. Such topics covered have been the synoptic Gospels along with John, Acts of the Apostles, the Infancy Narratives, and Advent and Lenten reflections (cycles A, B, and C). Along this line, I’ve also offered a commentary on papal encyclicals, especially that of Pope Francis.

ARTICLES

Over the years, I have written for such publications as Shalom Tidings and Spirituality magazines. The recurrent and underlying themes are grounded in our relationship with our Lord Jesus: namely, how can we respond to our Lord’s invitation to an authentic I-Thou relationship with Him and with the One who sent Him?

HOMILIES

I prayerfully prepare the homily under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is the Doer and I am the instrument. In so doing, I focus on one major theme, which guards against wandering and freely associating. The spotlight is on the Lord, not on me, the homilist. In terms of length, the sweet spot seems to be eight minutes, no more than ten.

REFLECTIONS

This domain is a religiously grounded application of our Catholic
Tradition within the political, economic, and social domains. Often under the guise of Catholic Trends, I riff off of topics of contemporary interest that hopefully are consonant with our Social Justice Tradition.