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…
6th Sunday of Easter (A); May 17, 2020 Acts 8:5-8,14-17 Ps 66 1 Pt 3:15-18 Jn 14:15-21 Deacon Jim McFadden Many decades ago, a world famous psychoanalyst Erich Fromm wrote a remarkable book, The Art of Loving, which was a daring and challenging prescription to learn how to love on a daily basis. …
3rd Sunday of Easter (A); April 26, 2020 Acts 2:1322-23 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 shattered their hopes and dreams. Previously, they had been so full of hope and…
Divine Mercy Sunday (A); April 19, 2020 Acts 2:42-47 Ps 118 1 Pt 1:3-9 Jn 20:19-31 Deacon Jim McFadden Every Sunday at Holy Mass we commemorate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus; indeed, if that was not the case, the liturgy would be nothing more than a nostalgic remembrance. But during this period…
Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of Our Lord Acts 10:34,37-43 Ps 118 Col 3:1-4 Jn 20:1-9 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we are celebrating the apex of the liturgical calendar; indeed, it is the nucleus of our Faith: The Resurrection of the Lord. In the midst of a global pandemic that is bringing so much…
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…
