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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“You’re gonna have to serve somebody”
The Solemnity of Christ the King (B); 11-21-2021 Dn 7:13-14. Ps 93. Rv 1:5-8. Jn 18:33-37 Deacon Jim McFadden On the last Sunday of the liturgical year, we are celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King. For us Americans, it’s not easy to comfortably ease into this feast because we don’t particularly like kings
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Catholic Trends/November 2021
The Nones: Where they Come from, Who they are, and Where they’re going. 27% of 18-29 identify themselves as being religiously unaffiliated. 18.8% of 30 year old do the same. Why the emergence? According to Ryan P. Burge, who published a book (of the lead intro.), “The reality is simply this: Americans used to be
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The Definitive Encounter with God
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time B); 11-14-2021 Dn 12:1-3. Ps 16. Heb 10:11-14,18. Mk 13:24-32 Deacon Jim McFadden Many decades ago as a graduate student at Tulane University in New Orleans, I was out for an evening jog in the grassy area near the dorms. Behind me, I hear this abrupt command: “Stop where
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Let’s Be like the Poor Woman
32nd Sunday in O.T. (B); 11-07-2021 1 Kgs 17:10-16. Ps 146. Heb 9:24-28. Mk 12:38-44 Deacon Jim McFadden If some roving reporter came up to our Lord today and asked, “Jesus of Nazareth: in one succinct sound-bite, what’s your message?” In response, he may have said, “My message is my life.” Whoa, Jesus
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As Peacemakers, Is it Time to Break up the Military-Industrial Complex?
In a world where we are so accustomed to open wars, preparation for war, and the threat of war for advancing political ambitions, the question arises are Catholics too comfortable with the status quo when it comes to the Military-Industrial Complex. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to be peacemakers, which means we
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Loyal Love
31st Sunday in O.T. B); 10-31-2021 Dt 6:2-6. Ps 18. Heb 7:23-28. Mk 12:28-24 Deacon Jim McFadden There is a legend contained in Talmud, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish ceremonial law, that records a fascinating story of a young gentile man who’s interested in converting to Judaism.
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Contemporary Esaus
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A Cry that Touches God’s Heart
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); 10-24-2021 Jer 31:7-9. Ps 126. Heb 5:1-6. Mk 10:46-52 Deacon Jim McFadden Today, we have the familiar story in the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, of Jesus healing the blind man, Bartimaeus. The eye is the organ of sight and this man simply can’t see, which causes him
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On the Road with Jesus
29th Sunday of O.T. (B); 10-17-2021 Is 53:10-11. Ps 33. Heb 9:14-16. Mk 10:35-45 Deacon Jim McFadden Jesus and his disciples are on the road. Since we are disciples of Jesus by virtue of our baptism, this setting is the Church’s journey as well: this road is about our life…about our entire history. Every
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The Lord’s Gaze
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); 10-10-2021 Wis 7:7-11. Ps 90. Heb 4:12-11. Mk 10:17-30 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel, taken from Mark, chapter 10, is a narrative divided into three scenes—all them punctuated by the gaze of Jesus. The first scene presents an encounter between Jesus the Teacher and a young man who
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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