Sermons on homily:

The Posture Of Victory Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 9, 2011

Kneeling and standing are the characteristic postures of prayer. Standing is the posture of the victorious Christ in Heaven.

Feast of St. Benedict July 11, 2011 Spirit of the Liturgy On this patronal feast of our Holy Father, we continue to study his words on the liturgy. Ever since Joseph Ratzinger became Benedict XVI, I have been sharing with you my appreciation of his writings. The Spirit of the Liturgy is an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

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

Ear To God's People Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 22, 2015

The preacher must know what the needs of the listener are.

Thursday of 21st week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel St. Monica day We who minister to the Church are first of all your fellow servants. The parable Jesus is telling His disciples in this Gospel is first of all directed to those who lead the Church. We know this is true because only the chief ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-12

Denomination: Catholic

Rooted In The Word

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Oct 11, 2013

Storms are a guaranteed reality of life. Are you ready for what will come?

This is a homily for a mid-week gathering called The Tuesday Feast (http://catm.ca/TuesdayFeast.html) at The Yonge Street Mission. Have you ever been down to Front Street in Toronto (Canada)? Did you know that’s just south of Front street used to be the shoreline of Lake Ontario. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Carry That Weight?

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Mar 5, 2015

Jesus died to forgive our sins, and He also helps us bear our pain and suffering, as Isaiah 53 describes. Why would we want to bear our sin and suffering alone when Jesus stands at the ready?

[This is a short homily given at evening program at an inner-city mission church, mid-week meeting]. We’re in the season of Lent, when we get ready for Easter. Part of getting ready for Easter is preparing our hearts to be able to take in what Easter is about. What is Easter about? ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fruit Of The Spirit: Gentleness

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Nov 19, 2014

Jesus demonstrated true gentleness, true strength under control

Homily Given at an "Alternative Church" setting at a mission in downtown Toronto My son is a songwriter and music teacher. His entire life is music. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, sometimes. Recently he wrote a song comparing his view of a Type A personality to another view. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Must Serve The Poor Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 25, 2016

The church ministered to the poor. If we lose that character, we are no longer the true church.

Fifth Day of the Christmas Octave 2016 Joy of the Gospel St. John the Evangelist is the apostle and evangelist of love, but he can write in very black-and-white manners. In his first epistle his language is stark: if you obey the law to love your brother you are walking as Jesus did. If you say ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-35

Denomination: Catholic

Judging Sinful Actions As We Accompany The Fellow Sinner Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 3, 2015

Someone good at accompanying others will not give in to frustration or fear

Thursday of 27th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel “The day that God will take action.” These words of the prophet Malachi are not about just any day. They distinguish from every other day the time called “the day of the Lord.” That’s the last day, the day of ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:13-20

Denomination: Catholic

Beatitudes: A Program Of Life Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 30, 2010

Our worship must be an authentic and total gift of self in the spirit of the Beatitudes

All Saints Day Nov 1 2010 The Spirit of the Liturgy Today is part of what we might call a great cosmic convergence, at least for our nation. Yesterday was both Hallowe’en, and, for Protestants, what they call Reformation Sunday, the anniversary of the great religious revolution that split ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Giving With The Right Motive

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jan 21, 2014

Gold wants love and genuine caring concern in all our giving. He could care less about giving by rote, without a heart of worship.

This is a homily shared at The Feast, an inner-city gathering with the Yonge Street Mission that invites everyone from the community in to Feast on good food, the Word of God and fellowship. God is not the same as us. He thinks very differently. Nowhere is this more obvious than in almost all of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:41

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Squirming In The Lap Of The Trinity Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 28, 2020

When we are baptized into Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, we take our place within the embrace of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 131–a homily for today Today’s psalm, “O Lord, my heart is not proud,” is the kind of prayer-gem that can stimulate hours of meditation. If you pray it quickly, it takes less than a minute, even with a “Glory be. . .” But let’s start with the declaration to God right in the middle: “Like a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:2-3, John 17:20-26

Denomination: Catholic

Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time- 4th Sunday- Rejection At Nazareth: Be Not Crushed On Their Account !

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 29, 2022

“I appreciate your opinion and hope we’ll have your support in the next game.”

The Scripture passage Jesus just read from the prophet Isaiah dates back 700 years. Then Jesus, a local boy, a carpenter from a family of modest means, announces, in effect, that he was the Messiah sent from God. This is Jesus’ first messianic declaration. He is the long-awaited Christ, who would ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-19, Luke 4:21-30

Denomination: Catholic

When Catastrophe Happens, What Next?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 29, 2022

No external law can fix a problem that comes from deep within a twisted mind and heart.

Ascension 2022 I polished up my Ascension Day homily last Sunday. Then I tore it up on Tuesday afternoon. Senseless, mindless murder down the road in Uvalde, a place many of us have visited or lived. When catastrophe happens anywhere in the world, don’t we all grieve, and ask “Lord, WHY?” “What ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23, Luke 24:46-53

Denomination: Catholic

Disappointed? You Were Looking For The Wrong Messiah Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 12, 2025

It could have been a puppy or a pony or a Red Rider BB gun ® but the day sticks in your mind because you were very disappointed.

Palm Sunday Procession Homily 2025 Take a moment to recall from your childhood a particularly memorable Christmas or Birthday celebration in your family. I bet you have one in which you had wished—and made your wish known—for a particular toy or cuddly and did not receive it. It could have been a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40, Luke 18:35-43, Zechariah 9:9, Acts 1:6, Isaiah 56:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Fourth Of July - Love Of God And Country

Contributed by Al Schifano on Jul 5, 2008

The Star Spangled Banner and the Word of God, a reflection

• In today’s Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” • The base of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Catholic