The Solemnity of Pentecost (B); May 19, 2024 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? …
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (B); 5-12-2024 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 towards heaven where the glorified Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father…
6th Sunday of Easter (B); May 5, 2024 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. After having compared himself to the vine and us to the branches, Jesus then explains what fruit is…
5th Sunday of Easter (B); April 28, 2024 Acts 9:26-41. Ps 22. 1 Jn 3:18-24. Jn 15:1-8 Deacon Jim McFadden You may be familiar with the Co-Exist bumper sticker, which horizontally lists the great religions of the world: it uses the Islamic crescent moon for ‘C’, a peace sign for the ‘O’, the Hindu Om…
4th Sunday of Easter (B); April 21, 2024 Acts 4:8-12. Ps 118. 1Jn 3:1-2. Jn 10:11-18 Deacon Jim McFadden Two lovers look at one another and say without any reservation: “I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love and to honor you all…
3rd Sunday of Easter (B); April 14, 2024 Acts 3:13-15,17-19. Ps 42. 1 Jn 2:1-5. Lk 24:35-48 Deacon Jim McFadden The Easter season offers us a spirituality of hope. If Jesus can undergo such suffering and death and rise to new life, he can do the same thing in our life—right here, right now;…
2nd Sunday of Easter (Mercy Sunday); April 7, 2024 Acts 4:32-35. Ps 118. 1 Jn 5:1-6. Jn 20:19-31 Deacon Jim McFadden The seven weeks between Easter Sunday and Pentecost constitutes the Easter season. While lest well known than Advent or Lent—people will give you quizzical looks when you say “Happy Easter” well into May—the…
The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (B); 3-30-2024 8 Old Testament readings. Rom 6:3-11. Mk 16:1-7 Deacon Jim McFadden Tonight we celebrate with utter joy the Resurrection of Jesus, which confirms that Jesus is truly the Son of God, that his love for us has no limits, and that He is God…
Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper (B); March 28, 2024 Ex 12:1-8,11-14. Ps 116. 1 Cor 11:23-26. Jn 13:1-5 Deacon Jim McFadden We begin the Triduum, the most sacred time of our liturgical calendar. The Gospel has the account of the Washing of the Feet and St. Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians in…
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (B) Mark 11:1-10 (Procession) Deacon Jim McFadden Palm Sunday is the great doorway leading into Holy Week—the week in which the Lord Jesus makes his way to the culmination of his earthly existence. He goes to Jerusalem, where he will fulfill the promises of the Messianic…
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…
