In Sermons: showing 736-750 of 1,304

Success Or Failure? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 20, 2016

We must realize that the whole of God's plan is greater than the part we play in it.

Thursday of Second Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel Sometimes I think of irony as God’s invention to help us cope with the effects of original sin. Just consider this rich guy, fat and happy, with what he thinks is everything he ever wanted. He dies, and the Douay-Rheims translation ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic

Don't Just Empty The House And Sweep It Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 14, 2016

Don't just empty your life of vices; fill it up with prayer, fasting, almsgiving and good work.

3rd Sunday in Lent 2016 Extraordinary Form “As the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, so are our eyes on the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us.” The words of the psalmist could and should integrate our meditation on God’s word today, because all the ills of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Realities Trump Ideas Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 13, 2016

Ideas disconnected from realities give rise to ineffectual forms of idealism and nominalism, capable at most of classifying and defining, but certainly not calling to action. What calls us to action are realities illuminated by reason.

Thursday of First Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel St. Luke’s Gospel tells the same story about Jesus’s teaching on prayer, but instead of saying the Father will give us “good things,” Luke says He will give us the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, that is the gift that keeps on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Catholic

Unity Over Conflict Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 6, 2016

Christ has made all things one in himself, and we must strive for unity if we are to have peace.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2016 Joy of the Gospel There really is only one choice in this life. We either choose to walk in the path set down by Our Lord or we don’t. Psalm 1, which we just prayed, says it very well: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:22-25

Denomination: Catholic

Arming Our Children Properly For Life

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 30, 2016

Even the best state schools are hobbled in their abilities to prepare children for life in a world that despises the Gospel of Christ, so we must arm them with Christian values in Christian environments.

Fourth Sunday in Course Catholic Schools Week 31 January 2016 How is it that the synagogue congregation that in one moment we hear listened to Jesus preaching and saying wonderful things about Him is just ten minutes later ready to run Him out of town and throw Him off a cliff? Of course, less ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:21-30

Denomination: Catholic

Politicians, Planning And The Gospel Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 30, 2016

Ultimately, to get anything real accomplished, we must succumb to the will of God in joy.

Thursday of Fourth Week in Course 2016 Joy of the Gospel Every human ruler, every human manager comes to office with wonderful plans for improvement in the domain of his rule. Just consider the political candidates for the presidency vying for our support: on one side we have candidates who spins ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:7-13

Denomination: Catholic

The Joy Of The Gospel And Pursuit Of Peace Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 23, 2016

The word of God helps us to pursue true peace.

Thursday of Third Week in Course 2016–St Thomas Aquinas Joy of the Gospel God made a promise to King David because of his faithfulness to worship of Him. David had succeeded to the leadership of all twelve tribes of Israel some time before this. He was secure from his enemies–for the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Denomination: Catholic

Stewards Of Children And Creation Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 16, 2016

The Church cannot be expected to change position on the evil of murder.

Thursday of Second Week in Course 2016 Joy of the Gospel The readings today remind me of the cynical epigram: No good deed goes unpunished. David was the champion of Israel, defeating the Philistines time after time. Still, king Saul, who was probably suffering from a long-lasting clinical ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Educating Our Children To Live In Christ Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 13, 2016

It is necessary for us to teach our children to run the race, and to run to win

Septuagesima Sunday 2016 Year of Mercy Run to win. We stand here together some seventy days before Easter to let St. Paul and St. Matthew and yes the Blessed Trinity all tell us the unvarnished truth: we are all works in progress, sinners becoming saints. We cannot stop running, or run with ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Neither A Slave Nor A Slave-Owner Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 13, 2016

We must stand up for the freedom of the Gospel and the rights of pre-born humans.

Thursday of First Week in Course 2016 Joy of the Gospel I can’t imagine what it is to be a slave, or, for that matter, like Lincoln, a slave-owner. But all of us have sinned, and many have been addicted to one sin or the other. That’s the worst kind of slavery. The nation of Israel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

The Joy Of The Gospel And Freedom From Slavery Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 9, 2016

We must spread the joy of the Gospel as we fight all kinds of enslavement.

Thursday of First Week in Course 2016 Joy of the Gospel I can’t imagine what it is to be a slave, or, for that matter, like Lincoln, a slave-owner. But all of us have sinned, and many have been addicted to one sin or the other. That’s the worst kind of slavery. The nation of Israel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Living The Lord's Prayer: Forgive Us Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 3, 2016

The practical love we show to the poor is critical for our discipleship.

Thursday after Epiphany 2016 Joy of the Gospel As we celebrate this day after Epiphany, we continue the readings from St. John that ornament our Christmas-Epiphany season. We also continue our review of the Pope’s long letter, the Joy of the Gospel, and we do so in this Holy Year of mercy. ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

End Of A Year Of Trouble; Beginning Of A Year Of Mercy Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 25, 2015

Let Christ's transforming spirit make us a community of mercy and love.

New Year’s Eve 2015 Joy of the Gospel The word “mercy” does not appear in either of our two readings today, yet our joy as we end a difficult year and continue the Holy Year of Mercy is to remember and celebrate the loving mercy of God. The “misericordia Dei” is what ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-21

Denomination: Catholic

Mary, Ark Of The Covenant Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 20, 2015

Every title we give to the Blessed Virgin Mary is an act of praise to God in Christ

Christmas Eve 2015 Joy of the Gospel Recently the Capuchin Franciscan preacher to the papal household, a Father Cantalamessa, gave his last Advent homily for the year, and, speaking of the Blessed Virgin Mary, said this of Catholics: “we Catholics have contributed to making Mary unacceptable ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:67-79

Denomination: Catholic

Praying That Politicians Relish What Is Right Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 12, 2015

The coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ encourages us to work to restructure society around the Law of God, especially as that pertains to our stewardship of earth.

Thursday of 3rd week in Advent 2015 December 17 Joy of the Gospel Today is one of those pivots that our liturgical year turns around. In the first part of Advent, we look forward to the return of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the general judgement and resurrection that He promised. In other words, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Catholic