Eccl 11:9-12:8 Ps 90. Lk 9:43b-45 Deacon Jim McFadden During the ‘60s, folk-singer Jim Croce, who unfortunately died a premature death in a plane crash, sang a song, Time in a Bottle, in which he intoned, “I’ve looked around enough to know that you are the one I want to journey through time with.” Though…
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time; September 22, 2024 Wis 2:12,17-20. Ps 54. Jas 3:16-4:3. Mk 9:30-37 Deacon Jim McFadden Sometimes during the public ministry of Jesus, the Apostles come across as clueless. The Gospel account from Mark begins with the Second Prediction of the Passion in which Jesus teaches and tells his disciples that…
24th Sunday in O.T. (B); September 15, 2024 Is 50:5-9a. Ps 116. Jas 2:14-18. Mk 8:27-35 Deacon Jim McFadden We know this scene well: Jesus is the area of Caesarea Philippi and asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mk 8:27). After the report of the common consensus, he probes further…
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); September 8, 2024 Is 35:4-7a. Ps 146. Jas 2:1-5. Mk 7:31-37 Deacon Jim McFadden In this Sunday’s Gospel passage (Mk 7:31-37), we have the episode of the miraculous healing by Jesus of a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. The evangelist Mark begins his narrative…
22nd Sunday in O.T. (B); August 31-September 1, 2024 Dt. 4:1-2,6-8. Ps 15. Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27. Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Deacon Jim McFadden In the beginning of my teaching career, I worked with a dear colleague, a consecrated religious sister who had a huge sign that went from end of the classroom to…
21st Sunday in O.T. (B); August 25, 2024 Jos 24:1-2a,15-17b,18b. Ps 34. Eph 5:21-32. Jn 6:60-69 Deacon Jim McFadden Today, we bring to closure our extraordinary Eucharistic discourse, which has been our focus for the last several weeks as we’ve pondered the precious revelation of the sixth chapter of John’s gospel. Previously, Jesus had…
20th Sunday of O.T. (B); August 18, 2024 Prv 9:1-6 Ps 34 Eph 5:15-20 Jn 6:51-58 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel (Jn 6:51-58) is in many ways the climax of the discourse given by Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum after he had fed thousands of people with the five loaves and two fishes the…
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); August 11, 2024 1 Kgs 19:4-8. Ps 34. Eph 4:30-5:2. Jn 6:41-51 Deacon Jim McFadden God is always present, always available which we’re reminded in Deuteronomy 4: “For what great nation is there that has gods to close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us…
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); August 4, 2024 Ex 16:2-4,12-15. Ps 78. Eph 4:17,20-24. Jn 6:24:35 Deacon Jim McFadden This Sunday we continue our reflection on the 6th chapter of John’s gospel. After the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the people went in search of Jesus. At first blush, that seems like…
17th Sunday in O.T. (B); July 28, 2024 2 Kgs 4:42-44. Ps 145. Eph 4:1-6. Jn 6:1-15 Deacon Jim McFadden In early June we celebrated Corpus Christi Sunday—The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Church re-visits the meaning of the Holy Mass and the Eucharist by re-reading the sixth chapter of John’s…
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); October 11, 2026 Is 25:6-10a. Ps 23. Phil 4:12-20. Mt 22:1-14 Deacon Jim McFadden The parable we hear in today’s Gospel tells us a lot about the Kingdom of God, which is likened…
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (A); October 4, 2026 Is 5:1-7. Ps 80. Phil 4:6-9. Mt 21:33-43 Deacon Jim McFadden The parable about the mismanagement of the vineyard tells us a lot about the Kingdom of God, the choices we…
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); September 27, 2026 Ez 18:25-28. Ps 25. Phil 2:1-11. Mt 21:28-3 Deacon Jim McFadden In a past issue of the Catholic Herald (September/October 2020), the newsmagazine for the Diocese of Sacramento, there is a…
