5th Sunday of Easter (C); May 15, 2022 Acts 14:21-27. Ps 145. Rv 21:1-5. Jn 13:31-35 Deacon Jim McFadden Near the end of the mesmerizing German film Downfall (2005), as Soviet troops close in on Berlin, the focus of the film shifts from the battlefield to the Fuhrer’s secret underground office, where Hitler and…
3rd Sunday of Easter (C); May 1, 2022 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 final pages of John’s Gospel which deal with the Resurrection appearances of Jesus. As we reflect upon them, let us immerse ourselves in the joy of the Lord’s…
He Knows us and We Know Him 4th Sunday of Easter (C); May 8, 2022 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, Jesus is presented to us as the true Shepherd of the people of God, who is the Church. As such, the relationship that…
Troubies, when St. Paul entered the seaport city of Corinth to proclaim the Good News, he didn’t say, “Hey, let me tell you about this dead carpenter from Nazareth, who had some cool moral insights that I think you’d like.” NO! Instead he busted into the city square and bellowed in Greek, “Anastasis! Anastasis!…
Divine Mercy Sunday (C); April 24, 2022 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…
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord 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, that we may…
Palm Sunday; 6th Sunday of Lent (C); April 10, 2022 Is 50:4-7. Ps 22. Phil 2:6-11. Lk 22:14-23:56 Deacon Jim McFadden In our Gospel reading for the Palm Sunday procession, Jesus sends his disciples into Jerusalem to prepare for his triumphal entry. As he enters Jesus will be greeted with joyful acclimations as the…
The Woman Caught in Adultery 5th Sunday of Lent (C); April 3, 2022 Is 43:16-21. Ps 126. Phil 3:8-14. Jn 8:1-11 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we have another richly textured and challenging Lenten reading. This week we have the story of the woman caught in adultery from John’s Gospel—a tale that has beguiled Christians…
4th Sunday of Lent (C); March 27, 2022 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…
3rd Sunday of Lent (C); March 20, 2022 Ex 3:1-8,13-15. Ps 103. 1 Cor 10:1-6. Lk 13:1-9 Deacon Jim McFadden Throughout the Catholic Church, today is the First Scrutiny for catechumens. Who are the catechumens? They are those who have inquired into becoming a member of the Catholic Church and, after a period of…
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…
