In Sermons: showing 1,081-1,095 of 1,305

Reflecting On The Word Of God Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 8, 2011

To respond to Christ's command, we must take time to reflect on the Word of God and the words of God, so that we can spread that word to a world in desperate need.

Monday of 28th Week in Course 10 October 2011 Verbum Domini The gospel of God was promised long ago through the prophets of God in the holy scriptures. Some, like Jonah, Elijah and Michaeh ben Imlah, were verbal prophets whose words and deeds were later interpreted and written down by their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:29-32

Denomination: Catholic

The Power Of Rosary Prayer Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 7, 2011

Like Christians of old, we can pray the Scriptural prayer, the Rosary, to enter more directly into the mysteries of Jesus and His Mother.

28th Sunday in Course (in the Octave of Holy Rosary) 9 October 2011 “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for siblings to live together as one!” The words and chant are the Church’s gift to us on this Sunday. They are prescribed as the Gradual chant sung after the first ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:12-20

Denomination: Catholic

The Witness Of Francis Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 1, 2011

Francis stands out as an example of radical following of Christ, and an impulsive drive to rebuild the Church.

Monday of 27th week in Course Testimony of the Saints Saint Francis of Assisi 3 October 2011 (one day early) Tomorrow we celebrate the day of St. Francis of Assisi, and on this note I will take a long break from this series on the Testimony of the Saints, and, God willing, begin next week a series ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Catholic

Cosmas, Damian And Lorenzo Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 24, 2011

"Mere" laymen can have a long-lasting impact by doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

26 September 2011 Cosmas, Damian, and Lorenzo Ruiz The eighth chapter of the book of Zechariah is the last chapter that scholars attribute to the prophet, rather than one of his disciples. It was written after the Babylonian exiles, when the people of Judah had returned to Jerusalem and were in ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 8:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Why We Must Forgive Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 18, 2011

Jesus is in the tradition of the OT when he commands us to forgive without limit; if we do not, we imperil our immortal souls

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Course September 11, 2011 The three precious verses from Paul’s letter to the Romans that we read on this Sunday come and go so quickly that we might miss their import entirely. “None of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself. If we live, we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Catholic

The Miracle Of Januarius Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 17, 2011

The martyr-bishop Januarius testifies to the truth of the Gospel, and his alleged blood miracle must get the attention of the unbeliever.

19 September 2011 St. Januarius There is a famous passage in the Acts of the Apostles in which the rabbi Gamaliel advises the Sanhedrin to leave the early Christian community alone, because if it is God’s will, they would not be able to destroy it, and if it is not God’s will, it would ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 1:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Peter Claver--Open To Black Suffering Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 3, 2011

Like Peter Claver, we can be means of helping others to escape the slavery of sin.

September 5, 2011 Testimony of the Saints Labor Day I sometimes ask my students what occupation God would put on his tax return, if He had to file one. That usually brings puzzled looks until I say 45-2093, farming. God’s original occupation on earth is planting a garden. In it he put a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-15

Denomination: Catholic

The Witness Of John Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 27, 2011

John, and we, need to be prophets to our cultures.

Martyrdom of John the Baptist August 29, 2011 Testimony of the Saints Popular culture almost always gets everything wrong. Thus today’s celebration, which in the pre-Vatican II liturgy was a feast, not a memorial, is totally misinterpreted by pop culture. In the view of the secular world, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:17-29

Denomination: Catholic

Queen Mother And Servant Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 20, 2011

We call Mary Queen of Heaven because she was first the servant of God in imitation of the God who became servant of all

Let us confidently draw close to the throne of grace, that we may find mercy and discover grace at the time we need help. These words of the letter to the Hebrews–which were also incorporated into Archbishop Gomez’s coat of arms–were the keynotes to today’s celebration of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Catholic

The Garments Of Revelations Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 13, 2011

The garments of the women of the Apocalypse are signs of the festal garment we are clothed with as we take communion together.

Feast of the Assumption August 15, 2011 Spirit of the Liturgy The vision of the Apocalypse shared in our first reading today is a scene in a great final struggle between good and evil. The ark of the covenant, kept in the tabernacle in the wilderness, and in the Temple of Jerusalem once it was ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Scraps To The Dogs? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 10, 2011

Poverty is an ongoing problem that will not be solved by government action in a day of high deficits; it is our responsibility to help the poor.

20th Sunday in Course 2011 Spirit of the Liturgy Most Americans, if they were aware of four recent events, did not connect them. The first was the 43rd anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical, Humanae Vitae, which reaffirmed the Church’s 2000 year old teaching that married love stems ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28

Denomination: Catholic

Our Silent Prayer At Mass Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 6, 2011

Both clergy and congregation should have ample time to participate in the Mass by praying in their hearts.

Monday of 19th Sunday in Course August 8, 2011 St. Dominic As we stand impotent before the withering rays of the August sun, the Church gives us two back-to-back gifts, followed by a week of the most amazing saints. On Saturday, we saw Jesus transfigured refulgent in the blinding light of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Catholic

The Silence In Our Worship Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 30, 2011

Both verbal and nonverbal communication between lovers is crucial; in the same way, the Bride and Bridegroom communicate in worship.

Monday of 18th Week in Course St. Alphonsus Spirit of the Liturgy The miracle of Jesus walking on water is found in all the Gospels except Luke’s. Only Matthew gives the incident in all its fullness, including Peter’s hesitant walk. There is something of a liturgical dialogue in that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36

Denomination: Catholic

The Gestures Of Worship Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 23, 2011

Profound bows, joining of hands for prayer, and striking our breast are all important adjuncts to our worship.

Feast of St. James July 25, 2011 Spirit of the Liturgy Some of the apostles have paired feasts–Ss. Peter and Paul, Simon and Jude, Philip and James the Lesser. We would expect James and John, blood brothers, to be treated in this way, but they each have their own festival day. I think that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Catholic

True Inculturation And The Liturgy Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 16, 2011

Authentic inculturation means that we Christianize the culture in which we live.

18 July 2011 The Spirit of the Liturgy I recall from grade school days when some particularly hard-hearted kid wanted to get under my skin, he would say “Prove it!” to anything I might advance. We see this in the Hebrews fleeing from Egypt. They trusted Moses until they got into a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-42

Denomination: Catholic