22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time; 9-1-2019 Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29 Ps 68 Heb 12:18-19,22-24a Lk 14:1,7-14 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison At the mid-point of the 90’s blockbuster film Titanic, the Leonardi DiCaprio character, spread-eagled with his arms extended on the stern of the ship, boasts loudly, “I am the King of the World!” Contrast…
20th Sunday in O.T. (C); August 18, 2019 Jer 38:4-6,8-10 Ps 40 Heb 12:1-4 Lk 12:49-53 Deacon Jim McFadden; SJB In today’s first reading Jeremiah is in the middle of a national crisis, political power plays, and civic turmoil. Jeremiah, speaking in God’s name, advocates that the people surrender to the their enemy,…
The Father has given you the Kingdom 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); 8-11-2019 Wis 18:6-9 Ps 33 Heb 11:1-2,8-19 Lk 12:32-48 Deacon Jim McFadden Do you know how you can pick out a Christian? They are the ones who enjoy life. When we set our hearts on the Kingdom of God, we…
18th Sunday in O.T. (C); August 4, 2019 Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23 Ps 95 Col 3:1-5,9-11 Lk 12:13-21 Deacon Jim McFadden I first came across the Book of Ecclesiastes in the early ‘60s when I heard The Byrds “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, which was adapted from Chapter 3. I really enjoyed the song, it was…
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C); July 28, 2019 Gn 18:20-32; Ps 138:1-3,6-8; Col 2:12-14; Lk 11:1-13 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison Sixteen years ago I was facilitating a catechist class at Folsom Prison (Minimum Security), preparing some for Confirmation. One of the men, named ‘Juan’ was telling his story. He narrated…
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time; July 21, 2019 Gn 18:1-10a Ps 15 Col 1:24-28 Lk 10:38-42 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. This little story of Martha and Mary has a way of getting underneath our skin. Let’s face it: most of us are not contemplatives in the same way that say,…
15th Sunday in O.T. (C); July 14, 2019 Dt 30:10-14 Ps 69 Col 1:15-20 Lk 10:25-37 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison In nature the laws of physics apply everywhere—there’s no escaping them. Take the Law of Gravity. What would happen if you denied the reality of this Law?…
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time; 7-7-2019 Is 66:10-14 Ps 66 Gal 6:14-18 Lk 10:1-12, 17-20 Deacon Jim McFadden Brothers and sisters, a quick question: how many of you are missionary disciples? Hmmm, another question: how many of you are baptized. O.K., if you’re baptized, you’re meant to be a missionary disciple. Why? By virtue…
The Most Holy Trinity (C); June 16, 2019 Prv 8:22-31 Ps8:4-9 Rom 5:1-5 Jn 16:12-15 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison & SJB It’s difficult enough to believe in a single God, but have you ever tried to explain the Trinity to a non-believer? It’s not easy. Believing in three persons who is…
The Cross is the Way Home 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 30, 2026 Jer 20:7-9. Ps 63. Rom 12:1-2. Mt 16:21-27 Deacon Jim McFadden After establishing Peter as the rock of his Church, Jesus then begins to speak…
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 23, 2026 Is 22:19-23. Ps 138. Rom 11:33-36. Mt 16:13-20 Deacon Jim McFadden Midway through his public ministry, Jesus ventured with his disciples to the northern reaches of the Promised Land, to the…
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); August 16, 2026 Is 56:1,6-7. Ps 67. Rom 11:13-15,29-32. Mt 15:21-28 Deacon Jim McFadden Today’s Gospel (Mt 15:21-28) presents us with a unique example of faith in Jesus’s encounter with a Canaanite woman,…
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