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…
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. …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); October 18, 2026 Is 45:1,4-6. Ps 96. 1 Thes 1:1-5b. Mt 22:15-21 Deacon Jim McFadden We’ve just heard one of the famous passages of the entire Gospel: “Render to Caesar the things that are…
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…
