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…
Category: Homilies
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Our Leader is a Lamb
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); January 18, 2026 Is 49:3,5-6 Ps 40 1 Cor 1:1-3 Jn 1:29-34 Deacon Jim McFadden Ever since we were kids, we’ve learned to follow the leader. As children, the leader makes a simple challenge: “can you do what I can do?” As we get older following the leader can…
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“The Heavens Were Opened”
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (A); January 11, 2026 Is 42:1-4,6-7. Ps 29. Acts 10:34-38. Mt 3:13-17 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we are celebrating the Baptism of our Lord Jesus. Baptisms have a special place in my heart as it is one of my cherished ministries as a deacon. Many years ago on a…
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Am I a Christian Who Worships?
The Epiphany of the Lord (A); January 4, 2026 Is 60:1-6. Ps 72. Eph 3:2-3. Mt 2:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we have observed his star in the East, and have come to worship him” (Mt 2:2). These men, traditionally described as…
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The Holy Family Were Refugees
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; 12-28-2025 Sir 3:2-6. Ps 128. Col 3:12-21. Mt 2:13-15, 19-21 Deacon Jim McFadden On this first Sunday after Christmas, the Liturgy invites us to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth. We are very accustomed that every nativity scene shows the infant Jesus together…
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a God who gathers
Christmas (A) ; 12-25-2025 Is 52:1-7. Ps 97. Heb 1:1-6 . Jn 1:1-18 Deacon Jim McFadden Christmas celebrates God’s overwhelming desire to be united with us. Sometimes we wonder, why does he bother? He’s perfect—he doesn’t need anything since he is the great I AM. The Psalmist wondered the same thing, when he intoned,…
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HERE I AM
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; 12-08-2025 Gn 3:9-15,20. Ps 98. Eph 1:3-6,11-12. Lk 1:26-38 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s readings present us a stark choice. In the first reading from the book of Genesis, there is a man, who, at the very beginning of his origins, says “no” to God. And, in the Gospel reading…
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John the Baptist Doesn’t put up with duplicity
2nd Sunday of Advent (A); December 7, 2025 Is 11:1-10. Ps 72. Rom 15:4-9. Mt 3:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden On the second Sunday of Advent, Matthew calls us to encounter the intriguing figure of John the Baptist, a gritty, down-to-earth, ‘in your face’ prophet. The text says that John “wore a garment of camel’s…
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“Turn your swords into plowshares
1st Sunday of Advent (A); November 30, 2025 Is 2:1-5. Ps 122. Rom 13:11-14. Mt 24:37-44 Deacon Jim McFadden The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of our preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Today’s readings offer us a vision, which suggests that Advent is a time of hope and challenges. This vision…
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My own special possession
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); November 16, 2025 Mal 3:19-20a. Ps 998. 2 Thes 3:7-12. Lk 21:5-19 Deacon Jim McFadden “And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my own special possession…and I will have compassion on them” (Mal 3:17): these words come to us from the last page of the…
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why be catholic?
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica; 11-09-2025 Ez 47:1-2,8-9,12. Ps 46. 1 Cor 3:9c-11,161-7. Jn 2:13-22 Deacon Jim McFadden Today we celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, which was dedicated by Pope St. Sylvester in 324 who was the 33rd pontiff (314-335). Sylvester honored the episcopal seat of the pope as the bishop…
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…
