Sermons on Encyclical:

Complete But Maybe Not Flawless? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 14, 2024

Ordinarily we think of anything “perfect” as being totally flawless.

First Sunday of Lent 2024 When we begin a project, it’s always helpful, even critical, to look forward to the end, to the moment when the project is complete. In the Latin, the word we want is perfectus. Ordinarily we think of anything “perfect” as being totally flawless. That is a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:8-15, Psalm 25:4-9, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:12-15

Denomination: Catholic

Persecution Is Easier To Relate To Today Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 25, 2018

We in the Church are under constant assault by politicians, so-called comedians and the mass media. Today we quite easily relate to the readings from the Lectionary. God almighty, come to our aid!

Thursday after Christ the King 2018 There was a time in my on life that Fr. Richard Neuhaus called “the Catholic moment,” a time when being Catholic seemed to be the best thing in the world. We had a Catholic president, a pope, now a saint, who had called a Council at the Vatican with the task of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:20-28

Denomination: Catholic

Our Rights And Duties Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 30, 2010

Rights presuppose duties, if they are not mere license; without this understanding, human development is over.

February 1, 2010 Caritas in Veritate The people of Gerasa had no desire for Jesus to hang in their territory one moment longer. He seriously disturbed the status quo ante by exorcising the evil spirits who had kept the emotionally disturbed man–Matthew says there were two of them–in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Catholic

Christ And The Little Christs In Us

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 28, 2013

We owe a great debt to the saints, like Basil and Gregory, who defended the divinity and Messiahship of Jesus.

January 2, 2014 Thursday before Epiphany–Ss Basil and Gregory Lumen Fidei Today we have what might be called “the proclamation of John,” and we hear both Johns speaking to us of Christ. John the Baptist tells us that he is NOT the Christ. John the apostle tells us that Jesus is ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:22-28

Denomination: Catholic

God Is Light And He Can Be Found

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 8, 2014

Even those who are not Christian are being drawn to the light and vision of God in Christ..

Thursday of 5th Week in Course 2014 Lumen Fidei The people of Israel were called to be a light to the nations. Even in the early books of the Bible, we see this. Abraham was to be a blessing for all peoples. Israel was supposed to be totally faithful to the One God, and her worship was supposed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: Catholic

Mary's Fulfillment In Faith Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 18, 2014

Jesus broke the long cycle of apostasy, trouble, repentance and deliverance by creating a Church that would be the light to the nations until He returns.

Commemoration of Ignatius Loyola 2014 Lumen Fidei If you have ever watched a potter throw a pitcher or bowl on a wheel, you can relate to the image that Jeremiah is using in the prophecy. For weeks now we have been reading the history of Israel and Judah as they frequently ignored the Law of God ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

New Covenant Of Faith In Christ Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 1, 2014

The final homily in the series: how God solves the REAL problem of society.

Thursday of the 18th Week in Course Lumen Fidei A few years ago, the bishops of the U.S. issued a statement on relations with Jews that, without much thought, referred to the Mosaic covenant with the Jews as enduring forever, or some such language. My friend, E. Michael Jones, responded by ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Denomination: Catholic

The Special Role Of The Laity Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 2, 2015

Lay people in the Church, especially women, serve a vital role in spreading the Gospel and building community.

Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter 2015 Joy of the Gospel Both of our readings today are concerned with what the Catechism calls “The Christian Life,” or the moral and virtuous way of life. Paul and Barnabas were traveling through the lands of what is now Turkey and Greece, going to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:17-21

Denomination: Catholic

Evangelization And Grace Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 23, 2015

The purpose of prayer is NOT to let God know something He does not know. It is to open us to His free gift.

Thursday of Pentecost Week 2015 Joy of the Gospel In my opinion, one of the mistakes made in the seventies was the elimination of the Octave of Pentecost, and the changing of the season “after Pentecost” to what is now called “Ordinary Time.” That’s a perfectly awful ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Catholic

Our Mission To The "nones" Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 2, 2019

Today we are all called to reach out to what sociology calls the “nones,” people who profess no faith at all. It is critical.

Tuesday of the 31st Week in Course 2019 St. Guido Maria Conforti One of the recurring errors embraced by lazy Christians is that all one has to do is accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior and you are saved. That statement leads to all kinds of presumptuous behavior. Neither Jesus nor St. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:5-16, Luke 14:15-24

Denomination: Catholic

Education And Service Promote Growth In Faith Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 12, 2015

Our catechesis must constantly reinforce the truths accepted in the early proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.

Thursday of 24th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel Today the Franciscans celebrate the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis. The few saints who have legitimately borne the marks of Christ’s passion live out in a physical and spiritual way the long hours of Christ’s passion and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:14-18

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

Neither Positivism Nor Scientism Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 5, 2016

There must be a dialogue between science and faith, but it must also be an unequal dialogue; faith trumps the claims of any science that denies God.

Thursday of Fourth Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel In this fourth week of Lent, the week of Laetare Sunday–Joy Sunday– it is quite appropriate to continue our series on Pope Francis’s encyclical, the Joy of the Gospel. Let’s be clear that joy and enjoyment are not ...read more

Scripture: John 5:31-47

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

St. John Evangelist Vs The Gnostics

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 23, 2018

John emphasizes that the Word was made flesh, and pitched His tent among us, in His Gospel, chapter 1.

December 27, 2018 Feast of St. John the Evangelist Every human movement begins with high ideals preached by an effective communicator. Thus Luther began by noticing and preaching against the corruption he saw in Rome. Our democratic republic took its original light from Thomas Paine. Jefferson and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4, John 1:14-16, John 20:1-8

Denomination: Catholic