16th Sunday in O.T. (B); July 18, 2021 Jer 23:1-6. Ps 23. Eph 2:13-18. Mk 6:30-34 Deacon Jim McFadden Mark’s gospel, the first written during the reign of Emperor Nero, is the shortest of all the Gospel accounts consisting of just 16 chapters. There is very little teaching like we see in Matthew’s gospel
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); 6-27-2021 Wis 1:13-15,2:23-24. Ps 30. 2 Cor 8:7,9,13-15. Mk 5:21-43 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel from Mark presents a beautifully crafted narrative, involving two miracles performed by Jesus, describing them as a march towards life. Initially the Evangelist speaks about a certain Jarius, the leader of the local
14th Sunday in O.T. (B); July 4, 2021 Ez 2:2-5. Ps 123. 2 Cor 12:7-10. Mk 6:1-6a Deacon Jim McFadden Why do we suffer? I’d like to reflect on this question focusing on the second reading from Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Corinthians. Towards the end of this missive, Paul had been talking about
11th Sunday of O.T. (B); June 13th, 2021 Ez 17:22-24. Ps 92. 2 Cor 5:6-10. Mk 4:26-34 Deacon Jim McFadden The recent cyber- attacks on our country—such as on Colonial Pipeline in May which led to gas shortages and even dangerous situations caused by panic buying and on JBS meet processing which lead to
12th Sunday of O.T. (B); 6-20-21 Jb 38:1,8-11. Ps 107. 2 Cor 5:14-17. Mk 4:35-41 Deacon Jim McFadden On the evening of June 17, 2015 Dylann Roof joined a Bible study meeting at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina and murdered nine African Americans with a Glock 41.45 caliber handgun. His vile
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ; 6-6-2021 Ex 24:3-8. Ps 116. Heb 9:11-15. Mk 14:12-16 ,22-26 Deacon Jim McFadden As an undergraduate at the University of San Francisco many decades ago, I was invited to a buddy’s home for supper. During the course of the dinner conversation, my friend’s Mom asked her
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (B); 5-30-2021 Dt 4:32-34. Ps 33. Rom 8:14-17. Mt 28:16-20 Deacon Jim McFadden In his Summa Theologica St. Thomas Aquinas claims that “it is impossible to believe explicitly in the mystery of Christ without faith in the Trinity.” The doctrine of the Trinity is what distinguishes Christianity
The Solemnity of Pentecost (B); May 23rd, 2021 Acts 2:1-11. Ps 104. 1 Cor 12:3-7,12-13. Jn 20:19-23 Deacon Jim McFadden In today’s first reading of our Liturgy, the coming of the Holy Spirit is presented in dramatic fashion—comparing it to “the rush of a violent wind” (Acts 2:2). What does this image tell us?
Ascension of the Lord (B); May 16, 2021 Acts 1:1-11. Ps 47. Eph 1:17-23. Mk 16:15-20 Deacon Jim McFadden The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord embraces two elements: on one hand our gaze is directed toward heaven where the glorified Jesus is seated at the right hand of God (cf. Mk 16:19);
6th Sunday of Easter (B); May 9, 2021 Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48. Ps 98. 1 Jn 4:7-10. Jn 15:9-17 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel—John Chapter 15—brings us back to the Last Supper, which contains our Lord’s final, lengthy discourses. Next to the Sermon of the Mount contained in Matthew’s Gospel, it’s the lengthiest account in the
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…
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…
4th Sunday of Advent (A); December 21, 2025 Is 7:10-14. Ps 24. Rom 1:1-7. Mt 1:18-24 Deacon Jim McFadden As we enter into the 4th Sunday of Advent, let us remember that salvation history has a trajectory which comes…
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