Sermons on Maunday Thursday:

Stewards Of Children And Creation Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 16, 2016

The Church cannot be expected to change position on the evil of murder.

Thursday of Second Week in Course 2016 Joy of the Gospel The readings today remind me of the cynical epigram: No good deed goes unpunished. David was the champion of Israel, defeating the Philistines time after time. Still, king Saul, who was probably suffering from a long-lasting clinical ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

The Joy Of The Gospel And Pursuit Of Peace Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 23, 2016

The word of God helps us to pursue true peace.

Thursday of Third Week in Course 2016–St Thomas Aquinas Joy of the Gospel God made a promise to King David because of his faithfulness to worship of Him. David had succeeded to the leadership of all twelve tribes of Israel some time before this. He was secure from his enemies–for the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Denomination: Catholic

The Path Of Dialogue Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 27, 2016

To evangelize society, we must encourage leaders to promote the common good.

Thursday of Third Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel We weak humans need continual reminders that things are not all rosy, that we are living in the midst of a struggle against the forces of evil. Yes, Christ has triumphed in the universal, but He still battles for individual souls with the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:14-23

Denomination: Catholic

The True Elastic Thinker

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 30, 2018

Our Lord spent His life teaching us to abandon our scripted behavior, our pursuit of pleasure for its own sake, our yearning for honor from others, for control over others.

Good Friday 2018 Scripted or Elastic When returning home yesterday from our Holy Thursday Liturgy, the first act in this awesome drama of the Triduum, I heard a discussion with an author about the need to develop our innate ability to do “elastic thinking.” The idea is that the world is changing ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-30

Denomination: Catholic

The Plague Of Results Orientation Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 13, 2017

"If we think that things are not going to change, we need to recall that Jesus Christ has triumphed over sin and death and is now almighty."

Thursday of 15th Week in Course 2017 Joy of the Gospel It’s extremely important for us to understand that the God who, in the person of Jesus, said “come to me–my yoke is easy and my burden is light” is the same God who called Moses and the people of Israel and smote the Egyptians. God had made a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Catholic

Dull Hearts Or Resurrected Hearts? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 20, 2017

We are all called to be either on the playing field battling for good against the forces of evil, or coaching or cheerleading or passing out the water to the players.

Thursday of 16th Week in Course 2017 Joy of the Gospel One would think that with all the smoke and lightning, and the other marvels that manifest God’s presence to the people of Israel, the last thing they would do after the Sinai event is to let their hearts grow dull. But that’s human nature, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:1-20

Denomination: Catholic

No Purse, No Bag, No Sandals Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 30, 2017

The reformers of every age have pointed to the words of Jesus to His first disciples: “Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road,” as a call to poverty.

Thursday of 26th Week in Course 2017 Reformation and Revolution The rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem, which the prophet Haggai had commanded, was accompanied by a rebuilding of Jewish identity and worship in the community of returned exiles. We must never forget that God does not act ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Less Respect Than A Dog Gets Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 5, 2017

The abortion supporter treats the unborn child with less respect than they would demand for a puppy.

Thursday of Fifth Week in Course Joy of the Gospel This Gospel is one for the thoughtless atheist to seize and wring out for every drop of abuse of the Catholic truth. It looks on the surface like Jesus sinning. He is verbally abusing this poor pagan woman, whose only offense is to ask for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: Catholic

Communion Amid Disagreement Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 24, 2017

"This principle, drawn from the Gospel, reminds us that Christ has made all things one in himself: heaven and earth, God and man, time and eternity, flesh and spirit, person and society. "

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2017 Joy of the Gospel On this first full day of Lent after Ash Wednesday, the Lord sets before us a clear choice: Shall we choose life and goodness, or death and evil. There are no nuances here, no shades of gray. We either opt and live for God’s will, or we are His ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Denomination: Catholic

Reaching Out To Non-Christians Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 29, 2017

If you should find yourself in a dialogue opportunity with a Muslim, take a long time to listen.

Thursday of 3rd Week of Easter 2017 Joy of the Gospel It’s important from time to time to remind ourselves just how the NT came into existence. First there were stories and lessons communicated orally in gatherings of the followers of Christ–the Church. Different communities treasured stories ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Catholic

A Second Look At Freedom Of Religion Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 13, 2017

We must seek to meet those who have no connection to religious tradition but sincerely seek truth, goodness and beauty. Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the what and the whom they seek.

Thursday of 5th Week of Easter 2017 Joy of the Gospel The words of today’s Gospel could be a reflection on the Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Ultimately our food, our clothing, our housing and our health care are not ends in themselves, but rather means to the end of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:22-31

Denomination: Catholic

Spirit-Filled Evangelization Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 20, 2017

'A spirit-filled evangelization is one guided by the Holy Spirit, for he is the soul of the Church called to proclaim the Gospel.'

Thursday of 6th Week of Easter 2017 Joy of the Gospel Today’s reading from Acts is one of those gems of the Bible that gives evidence for its historicity. Aquila and Priscilla were probably already Christians when they came to Corinth, about AD 49. They were caught up in the dragnet Emperor ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

A Right Spirit Series

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Mar 29, 2019

In today’s continuation of our series “ Red Letter’s” we will pay special attention to: 1. The Necessity of Discernment 2. Having the Right Perception of Jesus 3. The Encouragement from Jesus to Keep Our Spirits Right & 4. The Cost of Discipleship

Introduction: In today’s continuation of our series “ Red Letter’s” we will pay special attention to: 1. The Necessity of Discernment 2. Having the Right Perception of Jesus 3. The Encouragement from Jesus to Keep Our Spirits Right & 4. The Cost of Discipleship I. Luke 9:37-42: Discernment ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:37-62, Luke 19:10, Luke 9:23, Luke 9:62, Luke 9:58, Luke 9:50, Luke 9:44, Luke 9:56  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

Prayer And Fasting In A Young Life

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 17, 2018

God is a jealous God. He only wants the best for us, and if we try to accept less than that, He makes certain we can’t have it. With God, it’s all or nothing!

Thursday of 20th Week in Course 2018 St. Rose of Lima The Church is in a trying time, and it is not God who has put us in that trial. It hardly ever is, isn’t it? When we find ourselves assailed by the people or institutions around us, it has usually involved some failing of the people in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Ezekiel 36:23-28

Denomination: Catholic

We Witness Despite Persecution And Exile Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 8, 2018

Preaching and living a lifestyle conditioned by the precepts of the Gospel is not a particularly popular path, and may get you shunned, even exiled.

Thursday of 23rd Week in Course 2018 St. John Chrysostom Today I am celebrating the sixteenth anniversary of the ordination of the diaconate class of 2002, and therefore my own ordination. As a preacher, it’s particularly happy to be ordained on the feast of St. John Chrysostom, who is the patron ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Denomination: Catholic