In Sermons: showing 826-840 of 1,305

In What Sense Is Mary The Mother Of God Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 29, 2014

We will understand better the term Mother of God if we realize that the January 1 feast is really a feast of Our Lord Jesus.

Solemnity of Mary Mother of God–January 1 (Thirteen Days of Christmas) To begin every New Year, the Church gives us a great gift, the Solemnity of Mary in her title “Mother of God.” But even though the feast has Mary in the title, like every Marian celebration, it is really a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:16-21

Denomination: Catholic

Just Like Jesus And Mary Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 28, 2014

We need to understand what it means for the Word to become flesh, and dwell among us.

Seventh Day in the Christmas Octave (December 31) Thirteen Days of Christmas Every so often you’ll find a columnist or author complaining or inferring that God has no sense of humor, or that the Church is too serious. Today’s readings, on this last day of the year, prove that to be ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Catholic

Love, Not Concupiscence Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 27, 2014

We should understand how we can be distracted from our true Goal, God.

Sixth Day in the Christmas Octave (December 30) Thirteen Days of Christmas If you have been following this series of homily-sermons, which I have called “Thirteen Days of Christmas,” you probably realize something. Although this is the sixth day in the Christmas Octave, it is the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-17

Denomination: Catholic

Propagating A Family Like An Olive Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2014

Raising a family is like building an olive orchard, and it is hard work.

Feast of the Holy Family (Sunday after Christmas) Thirteen Days of Christmas Since the family is the basic unit of society, the Church, and her Scripture, has much to say about it. Our psalm today uses agricultural metaphors for the family: the husband will eat the fruit of his hands, the wife ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

No Traitor, But Servant Of God Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 25, 2014

St. Thomas of Canterbury lived a life in service to God, a service in love and defense of His Church and people.

St. Thomas of Canterbury Mass (December 29) Thirteen Days of Christmas There is no doubt what happened on December 29, 1170, but what one thinks of it depends very much on a connection to the people and places of twelfth century England. On that day, four English knights of Norman descent came ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:4-6

Denomination: Catholic

The Holy Innocents As Witnesses To Christ Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 24, 2014

The massacre of the Holy Infants was a tragedy that God turned into a victory.

Holy Innocents Mass (December 28) Thirteen Days of Christmas Saint Matthew is the only evangelist who records what might be called the “Joseph Gospel.” He gives us the account of the angel appearing in a vision to Joseph, confirming Mary’s story that she was pregnant by the Holy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Catholic

Little Children, Love One Another Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 23, 2014

John believed, and spent the rest of his life preaching agape love.

St John’s Day Mass 2014 (December 27) Thirteen Days of Christmas Tradition tells us that of the three first witnesses to the empty tomb, St. John lived the longest. That is not surprising, since Tradition also holds that he was the youngest, perhaps a teenager during Jesus’s ministry. ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Wenceslas And Stephen And Paul Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 22, 2014

To understand the strange hymn "Good King Wenceslas" we must return to the Scriptures and understand the role of deacons in the early Church, and all of us today.

St Stephen’s Day Mass 2014 Thirteen Days of Christmas “Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen, when the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.” I checked on the Internet, and found the titles of thirty-three hymns for St. Stephen’s Day, the day ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

A Different Kind Of Messiah Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 22, 2014

Jesus Christ was not the Messiah expected by the Jews, but He was exactly what mankind needs.

Christmas Day Mass 2014 Thirteen Days of Christmas “A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; his scepter of power rests upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel.” These words from today’s Introit chant are the keynote for our Christmas ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:5-6

Denomination: Catholic

The Shepherds At Dawn Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 21, 2014

We should emulate the shepherds, and be thankful for their witness.

Christmas Dawn Mass 2014 Thirteen Days of Christmas “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; the Lord is God and He has enlightened us.” These words of today’s Gradual psalm are the centerpiece of the Christmas dawn Mass Scripture readings. St. Paul tells us that the ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:4-7

Denomination: Catholic

Wonder Counselor To Prince Of Peace Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 21, 2014

How do we make Christ present again in our world as Wonder Counselor, God Hero, Prince of Peace?

Christmas Midnight Mass 2014 Thirteen Days of Christmas “Why do the nations rage? Why do the peoples think foolishness?” These words of the second psalm are sung in today’s Introit. They are Messianic words that follow the antiphon which the Church has always put into the lips ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

The Time Has Come Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 20, 2014

The prophecy to David foretells the coming of the king whose reign will never end.

December 24, 2014 Eve of the Nativity Today we begin what I call the “thirteen days of Christmas.” This is the final day of the pre-Christmas novena, nine days in which the Church looks forward to the Christmas solemnity. The Church gets as excited as a five-year old child today. In ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:10-16

Denomination: Catholic

Not From A Distance Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 14, 2014

God is not distant from us; in Christ, He is us, and He gives us the grace to forgive and be healed.

4th Sunday of Advent 2014 Extraordinary Form About a quarter century ago Bette Midler recorded a song by Julie Gold called “from a distance.” The idea behind the lengthy lyrics is that if you get far enough away from planet earth, it all looks green and blue and serene. You ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

The Obedience Of Faith

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 13, 2014

Faith is critical, but it was not enough in the life of Mary, and it is not enough in our own life. What is needed is the obedience of faith.

Fourth Sunday in Advent 2014 My most intense memory of today’s Gospel–which unlike the rest of this year is taken from the writings of St. Luke–is of singing it at a Mass celebrated where the angel appeared to Mary. It was in Nazareth, in 2005, with a pilgrimage group. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:25-27

Denomination: Catholic

Discerning A Turning Point In History Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 13, 2014

Christians must discern whether changes in the culture are actually movements of the Spirit, or not.

Thursday of the 3rd Week in Advent 2014 Joy of the Gospel Yesterday we began the second phase of our Advent preparation. We ceased calling on Christ to return in glory, and we began our proximate preparation for the commemoration of the humble birth of the righteous branch who grew up to reign as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Catholic