In Sermons: showing 931-945 of 1,305

The World Turned On Its Head

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 1, 2013

The world sees a phrase like "you are just, O Lord" and "sinlessness" and thinks they are a foreign tongue. But we need to turn the world on its head so they can see the need for forgiveness, and its availability.

17th Sunday after Pentecost EF A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 4: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, 3 eager to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46

Denomination: Catholic

Sinners Forgiving Sinners

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 1, 2013

The Parable of the Prodigal Son has a happy ending only because the prodigal remembered the kindness and love of his Father.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Course 2013 Sinners Forgiving Sinners Of all the parables of Jesus, this one of St. Luke’s is the favorite among God’s people, because we are a Church of prodigals, an assembly of sinners redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is His Precious Blood and Body ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Catholic

Jesus Prays That Our Faith May Not Fail Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 30, 2013

We understand that we are sinful and weak, but like the martyrs, we pray that our faith may not fail so we may witness to Christ in His Church.

Thursday of the 22nd Week in Course Light of Faith There are little coves along the Sea of Galilee that are fronted by natural amphitheaters. At one of these, Jesus, pressed by the crowds, got into Peter’s boat and put out a couple of meters so more could hear him. He spoke the Word of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Faith, Born Of An Encounter With The Living God Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 24, 2013

Faith gave John the Baptist both perseverance and effectiveness.

Today Mark introduces us to one of the most corrupt men of his day, King Herod. This Herod, Herod Antipas, was one of the surviving sons of Herod the Great, the Idomenean who had tried to kill the infant Jesus three decades earlier. We could call him “Herod the Lesser,” because he was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:17-29

Denomination: Catholic

God In The Cheap Seats

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 24, 2013

Avoid hubris, embrace humility, like Jesus and Mary.

22nd Sunday in Course 2013 The Greater You Are, the More You Must Humble Yourself “Blazing fire, wind, darkness, gloom, the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers entreat that no further messages be spoken.” The God behind these signs, the God revealed in both ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: Catholic

Fire On The Earth

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 17, 2013

We should understand that the fire Jesus wanted on the earth both purifies and activates Christians for mission.

Twentieth Sunday in Course 2013 Fire on the Earth Fire on the earth, a baptism with which to be baptized, a shameful cross to be endured–those were the destinies that drove Jesus on as He fulfilled the Father’s will. Moreover, in our own ways those are the destinies that beckon us to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53

Denomination: Catholic

Mary, Ark Of The Covenant

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 11, 2013

The woman of the Visitation and the woman of the Book of Revelations are one person, the Mother of Jesus.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2013 The New Ark In the year 1981 a feature movie was released that immediately made Harrison Ford a household name, and that reminded the general public of something from the Bible. The movie was called “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and the Ark in ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Faith, Incarnation And Dominic Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 8, 2013

As Dominic fought Catharism in the twelfth century, so we can witness to the Light of Faith in ours, to the Word made flesh.

Feast of St. Dominic 2013 (II) The Church was in disarray. Clergy often led dissolute lives; many quietly took wives or mistresses and had children. Preaching was mediocre; Mass attendance was spotty and only rarely was there true beauty, especially in the music. Sound familiar? It happens ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:24-35

Denomination: Catholic

In Season And Out Of Season

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 2, 2013

The word "season" has a double meaning, and both help us to understand our mission.

Feast of St. Dominic 2013 In Season and Out of Season Today’s saint, Dominic is a giant among men. He illustrates what St. Paul means by preaching the word of God both in and out of season. In his case he preached mostly out of season, resisting the Albigensian heresy. So let me share ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:4-5

Denomination: Catholic

Excommunicate The Lot Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 27, 2013

Why can't we separate the sinners--especially public sinners--from the good guys?

Saturday of 16th Week in Course 2013 “Excommunicate the Lot?” “Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” Let’s get the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Catholic

The Overshadowing Cloud

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 26, 2013

We need to discover and appreciate the parallel between the Ark of the Covenant and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Memorial of St. Alphonsus “The Overshadowing Cloud” Matthew: Jesus said to His disciples: 47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 40:16-38

Denomination: Catholic

Moms Want Their Children To Do Well

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 20, 2013

The mother of the sons of Zebedee asked Jesus for a special gift that was not His to give.

Feast of St. James 2013 Matthew 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Catholic

Let Any One Who Thinks That He Stands Take Heed Lest He Fall Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 15, 2013

Training and exercise in the spiritual life, and self-mastery, are a requirement for sanctity and effectiveness.

“let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” In nomine Patris. . . Over the last several months, my wife and I have learned a great deal about standing and falling. One seldom thinks about knees until one stops working perfectly. A knee really gets attention when ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

Denomination: Catholic

The Yoke And The Burden

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 13, 2013

What does it mean that Jesus imposes a light yoke and easy burden?

The short passage we just heard from St. Matthew can be interpreted on many levels, but I’d like to focus on what the original meaning probably was. The image given is of a pair of oxen, tied together with a heavy wooden yoke, and harnessed to a plow. Jesus promises a yoke that is easier, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Catholic

Flesh And Spirit And Cleverness For The Gospel

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 7, 2013

We must listen to the Spirit of God rather than our weak minds and wills so that we can bear the fruits of the Spirit and with cleverness spread God's kingdom.

Today’s Scripture readings offer a number of challenges and difficulties to the Christian. On the face of it, it appears that Jesus is applauding a dishonest steward’s actions in cheating his employer. Worse, He seems to be telling His disciples that the ends justify the means. Of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Catholic