1st Sunday of Lent (B); 2-21-2021 Gn 9:8-15. Ps 25. 1 Pet 3:18-22. Mk 1:12-15 Deacon Jim McFadden Each year the Church admonishes us to turn our faces once again to the mystery and heart of our faith: The Paschal Mystery of the living, dying, and rising of Jesus and our own living, dying,…
6th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B); February 14, 2021 Lv 13:1-2,44-46. Ps 32. 1 Cor 10:31—11:1. Mk 1:40-45 Deacon Jim McFadden The last few Sundays, we have encountered Jesus, the Divine Physician of our bodies and souls. He was sent into our world plagued by dissension, alienation, dysfunction, and social injustice of every sort—all…
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B); 2-7-2021 Job 7:1-7. Ps 147. 1 Cor 9:16-23. Mk 1:29-39 Deacon Jim McFadden Pope Francis often describes the Church as a “field hospital” of wounded, broken, sinful people who are in need of healing. While it is difficult to admit, all of us are spiritually sick who need…
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B); 1-31-2021 Dt 18:15-20. Ps 95. 1 Cor 7:32-35. Mk 1:21-28 Deacon Jim McFadden This Sunday’s Gospel reading (cf. Mk 1:21-28) narrates the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in which he breaks into the world of illusion and of the demonic through his powerful word and deed. Our world,…
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); 1-24-2021 Jon 3:1-5,10. Ps 25. 1 Cor 7:29-31. Mk 1:14-21 Deacon Jim McFadden Nearly twenty years ago, I was preparing an inmate at Folsom Minimum Security Facility for his confirmation on Christmas day, which was presided by then Auxiliary Bishop Richard Garcia (may he Rest in Peace). He…
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); 1-17-2021 1 Sam 3:3-10, 19. Ps 42. 1 Cor 6:13-15, 17-20. Jn 1:35-43 Deacon Jim McFadden The spiritual writer and poet John O’Donohue once wrote, “When you listen with your soul, you come into rhythm and unity with the music of the universe” (Anam Cara—Spiritual Wisdom of the…
The Baptism of the Lord (B); 1-10-2021 Is 42: 1-4,6-7. Ps 29. Acts 10:34-38. Mk 1:7-11 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism, which also concludes the Christmas season. Mark’s gospel describes what happens on the bank of the Jordan River. At the time that John the Baptist…
The Epiphany of the Lord (B); January 3rd, 2021 Is 60:1-6. Ps 72. Eph 3:2-3a,5-6. Mt 2:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden The Epiphany is a feast of light. In the first reading we hear, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (is 60:1). We look…
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; 12-27-2020 Sir 3:2-6 Ps 128 Col 3:12-21 Lk 2:22-40 Deacon Jim McFadden Holy Family Sunday gives us the opportunity to reflect upon what makes a family “holy.” Self-help books give a lot of advice as to what can make a family more cohesive, functional, healthier, and…
4th Sunday of Advent (B); 12-20-2020 2 Sam 7:1-5,8-12,14,16 Ps 89. Rom 16:25-27. Lk 1:26-38 Deacon Jim McFadden As Christmas is nearly upon us, the readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent focus our attention on the notion of a dwelling place for God. In the first reading from the second book of…
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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