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…
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…
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…
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); September 27, 2026 Ez 18:25-28. Ps 25. Phil 2:1-11. Mt 21:28-3 Deacon Jim McFadden In a past issue of the Catholic Herald (September/October 2020), the newsmagazine for the Diocese of Sacramento, there is a…
