Today’s Gospel (Mt 15:21-28) presents us with a unique example of faith in Jesus’s encounter with a Canaanite woman, a foreigner to the Jews. The scene unfolds as Jesus leaves God’s own holy land and enters pagan territory where he encounters the woman who comes to Jesus and calls out: “Have pity on me, Lord,…
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); Aug. 9, 2020 1 Kgs 19:9-13a. Ps 85. Rom 9:1-5. Mt 13:22-33 Deacon Jim McFadden The French mathematician and philosopher, Blaise Pascal, once said that the reason there is so much evil in the world is that a person cannot go into one’s study and be still…
18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (A); 9-2-20 Is 55:1-3 Ps 145 Rom 8:35,37-39 Mt 14:13-21 Deacon Jim McFadden During this unprecedented time of pandemic, we hear the refrain, “We’re all in this together.” Yes, we’re all being battered one way or another, which offers a modicum of comfort: misery loves company, I suppose. …
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); July 26, 2020 1 Kgs 3:5,7-12. Ps 119. Rom 8:28-30. Mt 13:44-52 Deacon Jim McFadden The Christian existentialist Soren Kierkegaard once said, “The saint’s life is about one thing.” The Dane didn’t mean that a saint’s life would be a monotonous existence—a “been there, done that” type…
16th Sunday in O.T. (A); July 19, 2020 Wis 12:13,16-19 Ps 86 Rom 8:26-27 Mt 13:24-43 Deacon Jim McFadden The parable of the weeds among the wheat continues Jesus’s use of parables to announce the Kingdom of God to the crowds. This one in today’s Gospel is a rather perplexing one: in the…
15th Sunday in O.T.; July 12, 2020 Is 55:10-11. Ps 65. Rom 8:18-23. Mt 13:1-23 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel is about the parable of the Sower, which has been painted by a number of artists, most notably Vincent Van Gogh. As you reflect upon the parable, I’d encourage you to have Van Gogh’s…
Corpus Christi Sunday (A); June 14, 2020 Dt 8:2-3,14-16 Ps 147 1 Cor 10:16-17 Jn 6:51-58 Deacon Jim McFadden On this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the idea of memory comes up frequently in our readings. This is a good thing because when we remember who God is, who we are, our relationship to…
The Most Holy Trinity (A); June 7, 2020 Ex 34:4-9 Dn 3 2 Cor 13:11-13 Jn 3:16-18 Deacon Jim McFadden Three months into the pandemic with its attendant economic contraction not seen since the Great Depression, we watched in horror as another black person, George Floyd, had his life taken from him in another…
Pentecost Sunday (A); May 31, 2020 Acts 2:1-11 Ps 104 1 Cor 12:3-7,12-13 Jn 20:19-23 Deacon Jim McFadden When I was a boy, the third person of the Trinity was referred to as the Holy Ghost. Associating ghosts with spooky movies or novels, I wasn’t too keen on interacting with a ghost, however…
Ascension of the Lord (A); May 24, 2020 Acts 1:1-11 Ps 47 Eph 1:7-23 Mt 28:16-20 Deacon Jim McFadden For the last two Sundays, we reflected upon Jesus’ Farewell Discourse which was his last will and testament; there, the nucleus of our Christian faith was on full display. Moreover, he promised us that…
Good Shepherd Sunday (A); April 26, 2026 Acts 2:14,36-41. Ps 23. 1 Pt 2:20-25. Jn 10:1-10 Deacon Jim McFadden Today is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday, which presents us one of the most beautiful images that has portrayed our…
3rd Sunday of Easter (A); April 19, 2026 Acts 2:14,22-33. Ps 16. 1 Pt 1:17-21. Lk 24:13-35 Deacon Jim McFadden Why was it so difficult for the two disciples to recognize the Risen Lord? Jesus’ death scattered his disciples and…
Divine Mercy Sunday (A); April 12, 2026 Acts 2:42-47. Ps 118. 1 Pt 1:3-9. Jn 20:19-31 Deacon Jim McFadden During the ‘90s, a popular, albeit off-beat television show was the X-Files, featuring agent Fox Mulder, an investigator of the…
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