29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); October 16, 2022 Ex 17:8-13. Ps 121. 2 Tim 3:14-4:2. LK 18:1-8 Deacon Jim McFadden At the start of today’s Holy Mass, we address a prayer to our Lord that offers us a key to understand today’s readings. We pray: “Create in us a generous and steadfast heart, so…
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); October 9, 2022 2 Kgs 5:14-17. Ps 987. 2 Tim 2:8-13. Lk 17:11-19 Deacon Jim McFadden Someone once said that “By the time you turn 75 years of age, the only words that should come out of your mouth is “thank you!” Being over that age group, I’d…
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (C); October 2, 2022 Hb 1:2-3;2:3-4. Ps 95. 2 Tim 1:6-8,13-14. Lk 17:5-10 Deacon Jim McFadden Habakkuk is really having a bad day. The poor guy faces violence and destruction and he yells out to God: “I cry for help but you do not listen! Why must I look…
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); September 25, 2022 Am 6:1a,4-7. Ps 146. 1 Tm 6:11-16. Lk 16:19-31 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Responsorial Psalm reminds us that God, “the maker of heaven and earth,” upholds the anawim, Old Testament code for the stranger, the widow, and the orphan—the most marginalized in a kinfolk society. …
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); September 18, 2022 Am 8:4-7. Ps 113. 1 Tm 2:1-8. Lk 16:1-13 Deacon Jim McFadden The parable in this Sunday’s Gospel passage (Lk 16:1-13) involves a shrewd, albeit dishonest steward who, charged with wasting his master’s goods, is about to be fired. He’s prepared to do anything to…
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time; September 11, 2022 Ex 32:7-11,13-14. Ps 51. 1 Tim 1:12-17. Lk 15:1-32 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel passage (Lk 15:1-32) begins with several people criticizing Jesus for hanging out with tax collectors and sinners and they scornfully say: “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (v. 2). Well,…
Friday of the 22nd Second week in Ordinary Time (C) 1 Cor 4:1-5. Ps 37. Lk 5:33-39 Deacon Jim McFadden Jesus’ parable of the the old wineskins/new wineskins is a call to metanoia, namely changing of one’s mind from an egoic consciousness to one where we interpret everything through the lens of Christ crucified. …
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); September 4, 2022 Wis 9:13-18b. Ps 90. Phlm 9:10,12-17. Lk 14:25-33 Deacon Jim McFadden Luke tells us that great crowds were following Jesus; he was a very popular man, a fascinating figure. If Jesus were physically with us today, he’d be all over the Internet, the focus of…
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); August 14, 2022 Jer 38:4-6,8-10. Ps 40 Heb 12:1-4. Lk 12:49-53 Deacon Jim McFadden In today’s first reading Jeremiah is in the middle of a national crisis, political power plays, and civic turmoil. (I know, somethings just don’t change.) Jeremiah has incurred the animosity of those in power…
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); August 21, 2022 Is 66:18-21. Ps 117. Heb 12:5-7,11-13. Lk 13:22-30 Deacon Jim McFadden Nearly 20 years ago an inmate at Folsom Prison approached me and said, “Deacon, I came across a number in Scripture that says only 150,000 people are going to be saved. If that’s so,…
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…
