Mary Kept and Pondered
Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, January 1, 2026 Nm 6:22-27. Gal 4:4-7. Lk 2:16-21 Deacon Jim McFadden There is an old tradition that Luke the evangelist knew the Blessed Mother and he wove her memories into his…
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“Tell John What You See and Hear”
3rd Sunday of Advent (A); December 11, 2022 Is 35:1-6a,10. Ps 146. Js 7:5-10. Mt 11:2-11 Deacon Jim McFadden Our Gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Advent is taken from the 11th chapter of Matthew, where we’re moving right into the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, which occurs in the middle of Matthew’s Gospel. So,
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“Here I am”
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; 12-08-2022 Gn 3:9-15,20. Ps 98. Eph 1:3-6,11-12. Lk 1:26-38 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s readings present us a stark choice. In the first reading from the book of Genesis, there is a man, who, at the very beginning of his origins, says “no” to God. And, in the Gospel reading
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The One Who Baptizes with Fire
2nd Sunday of Advent (A); December 4, 2022 Is 11:1-10. Ps 72. Rom 15:4-9. Mt 3:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden On the second Sunday of Advent, Matthew calls us to encounter the intriguing figure of John the Baptist, a gritty, down-to-earth, ‘in your face’ prophet. His clothing is coarse: “John wore clothing made of camel’s
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“Turn your swords into plowshares”
1st Sunday of Advent (A); November 27, 2022 Is 2:1-5. Ps 122. Rom 13:11-14. Mt 24:37-44 Deacon Jim McFadden The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of our preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Today’s readings offer us a vision, which suggests that Advent is a time of hope and challenges. This vision
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Jesus, the Lord of our Lives
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe; 11-20-2022 2 Sm 5:1-3. Ps 122. Col 1:12-20. Lk 23:35-43 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we come to the end of the liturgical year, the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The Gospel from Luke presents the kingship of Jesus as the culmination
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“My Own Special Possession”
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); November 13, 2022 Mal 3:19-20a. Ps 998. 2 Thes 3:7-12. Lk 21:5-19 Deacon Jim McFadden “And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my own special possession…and I will have compassion on them” (Mal 3:17): these words come to us from the last page of the
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Life Belongs to God
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); November 6, 2022 2 Mc 7:1-2,9-14. Ps 17. 2 Thes 2:16-3:5. Lk 20:27-38 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel reading offers us an uplifting teaching of our Lord Jesus on the resurrection of the dead. Jesus is pitted in an argument with some Sadducees, who did not believe in
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Why Are the Saints Happy?
Why are the Saints Happy? All Saints (C); November 1, 2022 Rv 7:2-4,9-14. Ps 24. 1 Jn 3:1-3. Mt 5:1-12a Deacon Jim McFadden Last month I was watching an episode from HBO’s The Wire, in which a detective, by the name of Freeman (more of a description than a proper name), said to the
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To the Rich and Comfortable: “Come Down!”
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); 10-30-2022 Wis 11:22-12:2; Ps 145; 2 Thes 1:11-2:2; Lk 19:1-10 Deacon Jim McFadden Zacchaeus is the “chief tax collector,” the head honcho of those who were despised because he lined his own pockets with money extorted from his fellow Jews and who was a quisling of Rome as
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He “beat his breast”
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); October 23, 2022 Sir 35:12-14,16-18. Ps 34. 2 Tm 4:6-8; Lk 18:9-14 Deacon Jim McFadden Last Sunday, we reflected on why persistence in prayer is necessary to keep our relationship with God viable. Today we consider the second part of Jesus’ teaching about prayer in Luke 18. The parable
homilies
The Holy Family Were Refugees
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; 12-28-2025 Sir 3:2-6. Ps 128. Col 3:12-21. Mt 2:13-15, 19-21 Deacon Jim McFadden On this first Sunday after Christmas, the Liturgy invites us to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family…
a God who gathers
Christmas (A) ; 12-25-2025 Is 52:1-7. Ps 97. Heb 1:1-6 . Jn 1:1-18 Deacon Jim McFadden Christmas celebrates God’s overwhelming desire to be united with us. Sometimes we wonder, why does he bother? He’s perfect—he doesn’t need anything since…
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