2nd Sunday of Lent; March 17, 2019 Gn 15:5-18 Ps 27 Phil 3:17-4:1 Lk 9:288-36 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison & SJB The readings from today awaken a sense of wonder to a world beyond our own—a mystical consciousness. So, in the first reading—memorable, magical, strange—Abraham enacts a ritual in which God establishes…
1st Week of Lent (C); March 10, 2019 Deut 26:4-10 Ps 91 Rom 10:8-13 Lk 4:1-13 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison Brothers, we come, once again, to that great season of lent, which by its nature is a desert time, which is to say, a time of simplicity, purification, and asceticism. We notice…
8th Sunday in O.T.; March 3, 2019 Sir 27:4-7 Ps 92 1 Cor 15:54-58 Lk 6:39-45 Deacon Jim McFadden There are different levels of spiritual development. Though we hope that we are all moving in the same direction as we strive to realize our destiny, we are at different stages of the journey. If…
7th Sunday in O.T. (C); February 24, 2019 1 Sam 26: 2,7…23 Ps 103 1 Cor 15:45-49 Lk 6:27-38 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. The Sermon of the Mount, which may be construed as Jesus’ State of the Kingdom address, is in two parts: (1) the Beatitudes, which describes what…
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); 2-17-19 Jer 17:5-8 Ps 1 1 Cor 15:12,16-20 Lk 6:17,20-26 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. What is happiness? Where can it be found? Who is happy? These are ground-floor, basic, the ‘rubber hitting the road’ questions. There’s a lot riding on our responses. If…
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); 2-10-19 Is 6:1-8 Ps 138 1 Cor 15:1-11 Lk 5:1-11 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison One of my spiritual heroes is the Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer who once wrote that Christianity without discipleship is cheap grace. He walked the talk as he sacrificed his life in…
Pax et Bonum Mass; January 30, 2019 Matthew 5:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. Francis H.S. Prior to the offering of the Sign of Peace, the priest says aloud, “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the…
4th Sunday in O.T. (C); February 3, 2019 Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 Ps 71 1 Cor 12:31-13:13 Lk 4:21-30 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison The readings today relate the beginning of the two great prophetic careers of Jeremiah and Jesus. Jeremiah’s prophesies are driven by the revelation given on Mt. Sinai that Israel is…
The Wedding Feast of Cana 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time (C); 1-20-19 Is 62:1-5 Ps 96 1 Cor 12:4-11 Jn 2:1-11 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison & SJB St. Paul has compared the relationship between Christ and his Church as that of a bridegroom and his bride (cf. Ephesians 5:22-33). What that…
The Baptism of the Lord (C); January 13, 2019 Is 40:1-11 Ps 29 Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7 Lk 3:15-22 Deacon Jim McFadden In celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, it is a good occasion to reflect upon this most basic Sacrament of the Church. Since most of us have been baptized, it defines our relationship…
Good Shepherd Sunday (A); April 26, 2026 Acts 2:14,36-41. Ps 23. 1 Pt 2:20-25. Jn 10:1-10 Deacon Jim McFadden Today is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday, which presents us one of the most beautiful images that has portrayed our…
3rd Sunday of Easter (A); April 19, 2026 Acts 2:14,22-33. Ps 16. 1 Pt 1:17-21. Lk 24:13-35 Deacon Jim McFadden Why was it so difficult for the two disciples to recognize the Risen Lord? Jesus’ death scattered his disciples and…
Divine Mercy Sunday (A); April 12, 2026 Acts 2:42-47. Ps 118. 1 Pt 1:3-9. Jn 20:19-31 Deacon Jim McFadden During the ‘90s, a popular, albeit off-beat television show was the X-Files, featuring agent Fox Mulder, an investigator of the…
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