Sermons on Lumen Gentium:

Faith Is One And Catholic Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 17, 2014

The word "catholic" means universal. It means we are open to all humans and open to all Truth.

Thursday of 5th Week of Easter 2014 Lumen Fidei Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us a glimpse of the first ecumenical council, and an important look at the hierarchical structure of the early Catholic Church. Remember that the debate was over circumcision. Some of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:7-21

Denomination: Catholic

The Witness Of Guadalupe

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 7, 2013

We can learn much about Truth, Faith and evangelism from the experience of Tepayac and the conversion of the Americas.

Our Lady of Guadalupe 2013 Lumen Fidei The great scene in Revelation, of the ark of the covenant, the dwelling place of the Holy Name, being revealed, is clearly a tableau of the Virgin Mother, Mary, the new Eve, bringing forth the child Jesus for our salvation. Steve Ray rightly folds ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Faith And Love

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 14, 2013

Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, we must learn the interaction between faith and love in the head and heart

Thursday of 3rd Week in Advent 2013 Lumen Fidei The story we have in the first chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel is a kind of midrash on the story we read today in the Book of Judges. In both cases a childless couple experiences a miraculous intervention of God to give them a child. But the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

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

Attaining The Countenance Of Jesus

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 1, 2014

Love is always lived out in body and in spirit

Thursday of Fourth Week in Course Lumen Fidei All of us long for a world, a culture, of perfect justice, of perfect peace, where everyone is centered on doing the will of God, and no one is impoverished in spirit, soul or body. David got it, and the apostles preached it. When Jesus sent them ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:7-13

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

Ingredients Of True Success

Contributed by Douglas Martin on Apr 16, 2002

Ingredients of True Success PHILLIPIANS 3:12-14 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to

Ingredients of True Success PHILLIPIANS 3:12-14 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Your Mission To Your Family Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 7, 2014

We are sent to be a gift, a blessing, to every human being we encounter, especially in our family.

Thursday of the 10th Week in Course 2014 Lumen Fidei One of the beautiful things we lost with the new liturgical calendar is the Octave of Pentecost. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, the day when evangelization of the nations began in earnest and in the Holy Spirit, so it deserves to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20-26

Denomination: Catholic

Scandal And Anti-Scandal

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 22, 2014

We must stay award of the stories of those around us who are on the journey of faith

Thursday of 7th Week in Course 2014 Lumen Fidei There is a horrible temptation always attracting the Christian, the one who has been invited to the banquet of Word and Eucharist, has accepted the invitation, has led a good life of service to others. The temptation is to believe that we have ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41-50

Denomination: Catholic

Faith Seeking Understanding

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 1, 2014

God redeemed the world through suffering, and we can understand, if not fully comprehend, the mystery.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2014 Lumen Fidei On this first day after the solemn beginning of Lent, as we begin our forty-day retreat, the Church gives us some stark words. Deuteronomy tells us that the choice is between life and death, between blessing and curse. Honor and obey God alone, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:22-25

Denomination: Catholic

On The Festival Of Purim Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 8, 2014

Theology is faith seeking understanding. It can help us see the relevance of God's Word to our lives, especially when we don't get what we pray for.

Thursday of the First Week of Lent 2014 Lumen Fidei In the Jewish calendar, which is a lunar, or thirteen-month calendar, spring is the time of Purim, the minor feast of deliverance. The story is well-known in all the world, to Jews and Christians. A Persian king had, in God’s design, an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Catholic

An Unbroken Chain Of Witnesses Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 15, 2014

The rich man was isolated, even from his brothers. True faith comes usually from someone sharing it with us.

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent 2014 Lumen Fidei Recently we discovered an infestation of what are called “acrobat” ants, Crematogaster hespera, in our house. We had the pest control folks treat the house with good success. The treatment was a chemical friendly to the good fauna ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic

Faith Needs A Setting Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 29, 2014

what is communicated in the Church, what is handed down in her living Tradition, is the new light born of an encounter with the true God, a light which touches us at the core of our being and engages our minds, wills and emotions.

Thursday of 4th week of Lent 2014 Lumen Fidei The name “Israel” was given to Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca, after an incident in which this patriarch wrestled all night with a divine being. That name means “God-fighter,” and it applied well to his descendants. Our OT ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:7-14

Denomination: Catholic