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…
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Communion of Saints–Me,Too?
Feast of All Saints (B); November 1, 2018 Rev 7:2-4,9-14 Ps 24 1 Jn 3:1-3 Mt 5:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. Francis H.S./SJB French theologian Leon Bloy once wrote “The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in a life is not to become a saint.” Troubies, on the
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A Servant’s Heart
A Servant’s Heart 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B); 10-21-18 Is 53:10-11; Ps 33; Heb 3:14-16; Mk 10:35-45 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist CC. If you look at exercise video ads, the sell typically looks like this: work hard, sweat a lot (i.e., suffer), and the prize you get is a
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The Glance of Christ
28th Sunday in O.T.; October 14, 2018 Wis 7:7-11 Ps 90 Heb 4:12-13 Mk 10:17-30 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. Have you ever been in a room full of people and suddenly your eyes meet the eyes of another person, and you’re a little embarrassed—you want to go over to the
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We’re Not Meant To Be Alone
27th Sunday in O.T. (B); October 7, 2018 Gn 2:18-24 Ps 128 Heb 2:9-11 Mk 10:2-16 Deacon Jim McFadden During the ‘60s, the rock group Three Dog Night, had a pop-hit, One is the Loneliest Number, that addresses the pain associated with isolation. That’s why solitary confinement in maximum security prisons is so soul-deadening
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Let’s Get Serious!
26th Sunday in O.T.; Sept. 30, 2018 Num 11:25-29 Ps 19 Jas 5:1-6 Mk 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison; SJB In 2010 there was a film, 127 Hours, starring James Franco, about the outdoorsman Aron Ralston who fell into a crevice while on a canyoneering venture in southeastern
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Following Jesus Is Not Easy
Following Jesus Is Not Easy 24th Sunday In O.T.; September 16, 2018 Is 50:5-9a Ps 116 Jas 2:14-18 Mk 8:27-35 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. Today’s Gospel presents us with a scene we know well: Jesus is on his way towards Caesarea Philippi and he asks the disciples: “Who do
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Ephphatha!
23rd Sunday in O.T. (B); September 9, 2018 Is 35:4-7a Ps 146 Jas 2:1-5 Mk 7:31-37 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison In this week’s Gospel, taken from Mark, we have Jesus healing a deaf man who also has a speech impediment. As always, we have to look at the surface, literal description
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What Makes a Good Christian?
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time; Sept. 2, 2018 Dt 4:1-2,6-8 Ps 15 Jas 1:17-18,21b-22,27 Mk 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. One of the great tensions in the spiritual life is between observing the Law and abiding by the Law of Love. Are we a religion of the Law with
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The Real Presence
21st Sunday in O.T. (B); August 26, 2018 Jos 24:1-2a,15-17b,18b Ps 34 Eph 5:21-32 Jn 6:60-69 Deacon Jim McFadden Today, we come to the end of that extraordinary Eucharistic discourse, which has been our focus for the last several weeks. Jesus is speaking at the Capernaum synagogue and his speech is the most remarkable
homilies
Mary Kept and Pondered
Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, January 1, 2026 Nm 6:22-27. Gal 4:4-7. Lk 2:16-21 Deacon Jim McFadden There is an old tradition that Luke the evangelist knew the Blessed Mother and he wove her memories into his…
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…
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