God proposes: he doesn’t impose
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…
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Jesus is Present in a New Way
The Ascension of the Lord; June 1, 2025 Acts 1:1-11. Ps 47. Eph 1:17-23. Lk 24:46-53 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we are celebrating the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven, which occurred 40 days after the Resurrection and is the culmination of the Easter season in which Jesus is “lifted up” to full participation in…
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Holiness is always “original”
5th Sunday of Easter (C); May 18, 2025 Acts 14:21-27. Ps 145. Rv 21:1-5. Jn 13:31-35 Deacon Jim McFadden A former teaching colleague of mine, a consecrated religious, had a sign in her classroom which blasted: “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” That raises…
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The True Shepherd Who Always Stays With Us
Fourth Sunday of Easter (C); May 11, 2025 Acts 13:14,43-52. Ps 100. Rv 7:9,14b-17. Jn 10:27-30 Deacon Jim McFadden In today’s Gospel from John, our Lord Jesus is presented to us as the true shepherd of the People of God. As such, the relationship that binds Jesus to us, the sheep of his flock,…
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“Do You Love Me?”
3rd Sunday of Easter (C); May 4, 2025 Acts 5:27-32,40b-41. Ps 30. Rv 5:11-14. Jn 21:1-19 Deacon Jim McFadden We continue to read from the pages of John’s Gospel which recounts the third time the Risen Christ appears to the Apostles. It is a meeting that takes place in the Sea of Tiberius (aka…
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The Source of our Joy
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Overcoming Fear Leads to Mission
Divine Mercy Sunday (C); April 26, 2025 Acts 5:12-16 Ps 118 Rv 1:9-13,17-19. Jn 20:19-31 Deacon Jim McFadden Jesus is Risen! What a joy to proclaim this wonderful message—one that is the ultimate “game changer”! The Resurrection is THE pivotal moment in all of Salvation History. Everything has changed; everything is relative to this…
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Anastasis! He is Risen, He is Alive!
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord; April 20, 2025 Acts 10:34a,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: The Resurrection of the Lord. Even though it is the pivotal event of our Faith, we are so familiar with this solemnity,…
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“Father, Forgive Them”
Palm Sunday (C); April 13, 2025 Lk 19:28-40 (procession). Is 50: 4-7. Ps 22:8-917-20,23-24. Phil 2:6-11. Lk 22:14-23 or 23:1-49 Deacon Jim McFadden In the Sermon of the Mount, which contains the crux of his proclamation of the Kingdom of God, Jesus instructed us on the Mystery of Forgiveness, which is an absolute imperative…
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The Ultimate Encounter-Clash
5th Sunday of Lent (A); April 6, 2025 Ex 37:12-14. Ps 130. Rom 8:8-11. Jn 11:1-45 Deacon Jim McFadden In today’s Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Lent is the Raising of Lazarus, presents a stark contrast between Jesus, who is the Lord of Life and the ruins of death. It is the context…
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Everything I Have Is Yours
4th Sunday of Lent (C); March 30, 2025 Jos 5:9-12. Ps 34. 2 Cor 5:17-21. Lk 1205:1-3, 11-32 Deacon Jim McFadden Today is Laetare Sunday, a time for rejoicing because the Father reveals to us that “Everything I have is yours” (Lk 15:31b). Lent is more than half over, and redemption and forgiveness and…
homilies
The wicked tenants: Ungrateful and greedy
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…
the road home
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…
