listen!
2nd Sunday of Lent (A); March 1, 2026 Gen 12:1-4a. Ps 33. 2 Tim 1:8b-10. Mt 17:1-9 Deacon Jim McFadden Our magnificent first reading is a short passage from the beginning of the 12th chapter of the book of…
Category: Homilies
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We Can See Clearly Now
4th Sunday of Lent (A); March 25, 2017 1 Sam 16: 1b,6-7,10-13a Ps 23 Eph 5:8-14 Jn 9:1-41 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison As we read today’s Gospel from John (9:1-41), it will be helpful to remember John’s audience and his purpose. John is writing at the end of the first century to…
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How to Deal with Temptation
1st Sunday of Lent (A); March 5, 2017 Gn 2:7-9, 3:1-7 Ps 51 Rom 5:12-19 Mt 4:1-11 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison Each year, the first reading and the Gospel of the First Sunday of Lent set before us the narrative of how to respond to temptation. What we see at the beginning…
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Love of Enemies
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); 2-19-17 Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48 Deacon Jim McFadden; SJB & Folsom Prison Last Sunday we reflected upon Jesus’ teaching not to seek revenge upon those who hurt us. Today, he goes further by calling us to love our enemies. How can…
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Being Salt and Light
5th Sunday in O.T. (A); February 5, 2017 Is 58:7-10 Ps 112 1 Cor 2:1-5 Mk 5:13-16 Deacon Jim McFadden; Folsom Prison What can salt and light teach us about God and his Kingdom? What can it teach you about living here in Folsom Prison? Jesus used very ordinary images to illustrate the Kingdom…
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Our Leader is a Lamb
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A); 1-15-17 Is 49:3,5-6 Ps 40 1 Cor 1:1-3 Jn 1:29-34 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. 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…
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Rejoice in the Lord
3rd Sunday in Advent (A); 12-11-16 Is 35:1-6, 10 Ps 146 Jas 5:7-10 Mt 11:2-11 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom & SJB In the middle of Advent we pause for a moment of rejoicing. It’s not rejoicing that comes from taking a rest amid the Advent journey, but it is joy that comes from…
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The Peaceable Kingdom
2nd Sunday of Advent; 12-4-16 Is 11:1-10 Ps 72 Rom 15:4-9 Mt 3:1-12 Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C. The 1st Sunday of Advent was about “becoming a peacemaker,” and never training for war again and what it is we’re waiting for and how to wait in hope. People who in…
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“Turn your swords into plowshares”
1st Sunday of Advent (A); November 27, 2016 Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison & SJB C.C. The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of our preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Today’s readings offer us a vision, which suggest that Advent is a…
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Wearing Down Injustice
29th Sunday in O.T. October 16. 2016 Ex 17:8-13 Ps 121 2 Tm 3:14—4:2 Lk 18:;1-8 Deacon Jim McFadden; SJB & (New) Folsom Prison This parable conjures up images of people petitioning God for a specific purpose, not getting what they want, not giving up, but turning up the volume until God caves in. Behind…
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Reclaiming the Language of Faith
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (C); October 2, 2016 Hb 1:2-3; 2:3-4. Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk 17:5-10 Deacon Jim McFadden; (New) Folsom Prison Can’t you just feel for the prophet Habakkuk? The poor guy faces violence and destruction and he yells out to God: “I cry for help but you…
homilies
Don’t Talk to the Divider!
1st Sunday of Lent (A); February 22, 2026 Gn 2:7-9, 3:1-7. Ps 51. Rom 5:12-19. Mt 4:1-11 Deacon Jim McFadden Each year, the Gospel of the 1st Sunday of Lent presents us with the narrative of Jesus in the…
Ash Wednesday: A Time for pruning
Jl 2:12-18. Ps 51. 2 Cor 5:20-6:2. Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Deacon Jim McFadden People of God, we come once again, to that great season of Lent, which is a great opportunity to prune away falseness, superficiality, and indifference to…
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