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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We’re Meant to be Together
27th Sunday in O.T. (B); 10-03-2021 Gn 2:18-24. Ps 128. Heb 2:9-11. Mk 10:2-16 Deacon Jim McFadden During the ‘60s the rock group Three Dog Night, had a pop-hit, One is the Loneliest Number, that addresses the pain associated with isolation. We heard this in the first reading that Adam was living in the
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What’s at Stake?
26th Sunday of O.T. (B); 9-26-2021 Wis 2:12,17-20. Ps 54. Jas 3:16-4:3. Mk 9:30-37 Deacon Jim McFadden Last Sunday we reflected upon the basic spiritual struggle of making the transition from the Ego-Drama (self-worship) to the Theo-Drama (worship of the one true God). This transition is no mean task because the drive to be
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The Messiah: the Things of God
24th Sunday in O.T. (B); 9-12-2021 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 by asking
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Whom Do You Serve?
25th Sunday in O.T. (B); 9-19-2021 Wis 2:12,17-20. Ps 54. Jas 3:16-4:3. Mk 9:30-37 Deacon Jim McFadden Swiss theologian Urs von Balthasar framed the basic spiritual struggle as the transition from the Ego-Drama (self-worship) to the Theo-Drama (worship of the one true God). Making this transition is the path of discipleship in which we
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Ephphatha: Are We Open to the Word?
23rd Sunday in O.T. (B); 9-5-2021 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. As always, we start with the surface, literal description
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What Makes an Authentic Christian?
22nd Sunday in O.T. (B); 8-29-2021 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 Several decades ago, I had a dear colleague, a consecrated religious sister who had a huge sign that went from one end of her classroom to the other. As one entered the classroom, you were greeted with
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“Master, to whom shall we go?”
21st Sunday in O.T. (B); 8-22-2021 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. Jesus is speaking at the
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Mary the Warrior
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; 8-15-2021 Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab. Ps 45. 1 Cor 15:20-27. Lk 1:39-46 Deacon Jim McFadden Today, we have the privilege of celebrating The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary which falls on a Sunday. Our first reading is taken from a very dramatic reading from the Book
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The Eucharist: Food for the Journey
19th Sunday in O.T. (B); 8-8-2021 1 Kgs 19:4-8. Ps 34. Eph 4:30-5:2. Jn 6:41-51 Deacon Jim McFadden Homer’s Odyssey…Herman Melville’s Moby Dick…Jack Kerouac’s On the Road—all have something in common: as the main characters make their way through their respective narrative, they point to the journey of life and remind us that we
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Jesus: the Giver and the Gift
18th Sunday in O.T. (B); 8-1-2021 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. The crowd seems to be following Jesus from one side
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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