In Sermons: showing 811-825 of 1,305

Deficiencies That Need Healing By The Gospel Of Joy Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 21, 2015

Both Christian and secular cultures will benefit by understanding the Joy of the Gospel, but the Church must approach different cultures with respect.

Thursday of the First Week in Lent Joy of the Gospel Today we hear from Jesus a restatement of the Golden Rule: “whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” And this is Torah, this is the prophetic message. We want people to treat ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Catholic

Don't Hold Back

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 14, 2015

Prayer, fasting and tithing are little gifts we give so that God's power can fill up our weakness.

First Sunday in Lent 2015 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” These words of Jesus, recorded by St. Mark for the Church at Rome, conclude the shortest of the accounts of Christ’s forty day retreat in the wilderness near ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:12-15

Denomination: Catholic

A More Just And Believing Society Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 14, 2015

Putting aside our self-will is the key to evangelizing our society.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2015 Joy of the Gospel What does it profit a human being to gain everything and lose himself in the process? These words are stark and challenging, like an ice-water drenching for our minds and hearts here at the beginning of Lent. I think of pop icons, both secular ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:22-25

Denomination: Catholic

Secularism And The Fight For The Family Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 7, 2015

The information-driven society is one that tries to secularize and pervert the human family into something it can never become.

Thursday of 5th week in Course 2015 Joy of the Gospel Jesus has such a sense of humor that some commentators have mistaken it for cruelty. Of course, Jesus never sinned, so thinking this comment about throwing the bread to the dogs is a real insult is wrongheaded thinking. In reality, Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: Catholic

Evangelization--Sacred Vs Secular Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 31, 2015

The pope encourages us to understand that non-Western cultures are suspicious of Christian evangelization because they confuse it with the spread of secularism and the culture of death.

Thursday of the 4th Week in Course 2015 Light of the Gospel St. Mark’s Gospel is rarely verbose. He always tells the story of Jesus using an economy of words, perhaps because the Church of Rome was too poor to supply him much in the way of writing supplies, or because it was often ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:7-13

Denomination: Catholic

God Will Not Be Outdone In Generosity

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 25, 2015

The revolutionary call of Jesus to us is to act with power and authority to bring God's love to the world.

Fourth Sunday in Course 2014 The Courage to Be Astonished When I consider the words of the Holy Gospel today, I wonder if any of us can really understand the feelings that overwhelmed the Jews who heard Jesus preaching on this day nearly two thousand years ago. It’s a bit like going to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Catholic

The Quality And Attitude Of Giving Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 24, 2015

Our gift to God must be totally disinterested, and focused on evangelization.

Thursday of the 3rd Week in Course 2014 Joy of the Gospel We receive in the same measure with which we give. That is the way in which our light shines before humankind. That is the way we attract others to the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of hope, the Gospel of Life. Jesus Christ, in the plan ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:23-25

Denomination: Catholic

Let Us Astonish Like Jesus

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 18, 2015

The teachings of Jesus were radical and astonishing; if we are to convert the world, especially Islamic adherents, we must be both loving and astonishing in our witness.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen. Today’s communion verse, which is taken from the Gospel lines just preceding these two healing stories from St. Matthew, are as follows: “the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-13

Denomination: Catholic

Evil Embedded In The Structures Of Society Leads To Death Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 17, 2015

The sacrifice of Christ needs to be imitated by the Christian, by loving service and working to put down evil.

Thursday of 2nd Week in Course Joy of the Gospel There is an innate drive in every human, once he has discovered the existence of a transcendent reality, a creative Being who can impact his life, to offer something to that Being. In pagan societies, where the forces of nature, or economics, or ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Harden Not Your Hearts Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 10, 2015

Not to share one's wealth with the poor is stealing from them.

Thursday in the First Week in Course 2015 Joy of the Gospel The two NT readings we have heard today are linked by a single notion expressed in the words “moved with pity.” Jesus looked on this poor leper and, in the Greek, became splagchnistheis. This is something we have all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Denomination: Catholic

Can We Refuse To See Our Brothers And Sisters? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 3, 2015

We cannot love God if we refuse to work for the betterment and evangelization of the poor.

Thursday after Epiphany 2015 Joy of the Gospel St. John’s letter is pretty stark today: “If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” Our love for our brothers ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

All Are Called To Right Thinking, Living And Worship Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 2, 2015

The Feast of Epiphany is a call to people of every background to come and worship the newborn Messiah of Everybody.

Solemnity of Epiphany (January 6) Thirteen Days of Christmas The twelfth day of Christmas is the sixth of January; on that day, traditionally, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Three Kings, or Epiphany. It is one of the big four festivals of the Church year, and traditionally it is even more ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Prophecy And Discernment Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 1, 2015

All Christians are anointed with prophetic gifts by our baptismal anointing, but before speaking for God, we must also practice discernment of spirits.

Feast of St. John Neumann (January 5) Thirteen Days of Christmas Today St. John speaks to us of “testing the spirits.” In theological language, derived from St. Paul, this is the spiritual gift of discernment. Let’s talk about its exercise in the first century: in the churches ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

The Holy Name Of Jesus Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 31, 2014

We should take time to consider the meaning of Jesus's name, and the respect we owe that name.

The Holy Name of Jesus (January 3) Thirteen Days of Christmas The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is placed at this time of year because January 1 is the Octave day of Christmas, and that day was the day Jesus, Son of Joseph, Son of Mary, underwent the ceremony of circumcision. At a boy’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Catholic

God From God, Light From Light Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 30, 2014

The anointing by the Holy Spirit makes all special knowledge worthless. Gnosis is not the way to salvation.

Feast of St. Basil and St. Gregory (January 2) Thirteen Days of Christmas Let’s be clear about something as we move into the new year. The word “Christ” in English is the same as “Christos” in Greek and “Mashiah” in Hebrew. It means ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:22-28

Denomination: Catholic