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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
17th Sunday in O.T. (B); July 25, 2021 2 Kgs 4:42-44. Ps 145. Eph 4:1-6. Jn 6:1-15 Deacon Jim McFadden In early June we celebrated Corpus Christi Sunday—The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Church re-visits the meaning of the Holy Mass and the Eucharist by re-reading the sixth chapter of John’s…
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…
The Cross is the Way Home 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 30, 2026 Jer 20:7-9. Ps 63. Rom 12:1-2. Mt 16:21-27 Deacon Jim McFadden After establishing Peter as the rock of his Church, Jesus then begins to speak…
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 23, 2026 Is 22:19-23. Ps 138. Rom 11:33-36. Mt 16:13-20 Deacon Jim McFadden Midway through his public ministry, Jesus ventured with his disciples to the northern reaches of the Promised Land, to the…
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 16, 2026 Is 56:1,6-7. Ps 67. Rom 11:13-15,29-32. Mt 15:21-28 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel (Mt 15:21-28) presents us with a unique example of faith in Jesus’s encounter with a Canaanite woman,…
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