Sermons on Maunday Thursday:

Wrath And Persecution

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 7, 2018

Belief in Jesus Christ must be accompanied by obedience to His word.

Thursday of Second Week in Easter 2018 Reformation/Revolution When will humans learn that murdering one’s enemies is not only morally sinful, it’s a really, really bad idea just on a secular level. For the first three hundred years of the Church’s existence, the enemies of the Church, from the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:31-36, Acts 5:27-33

Denomination: Catholic

The World Needs A Witness Of Hope Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 27, 2015

Jesus solves our real problem first--sin.

Thursday of 13th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel At the birth of John the Baptist, his father–who had been speechless for nine months or so because of his lack of faith–broke out into song: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. Toward the end of this prayer, he speaks to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Helping The Preacher To Become The Best Version Of Himself Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 18, 2015

If the Church is a mother, the preacher should put on the mind of a mother when preaching.

Thursday of 16th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel God revealed Himself on Sinai in smoke and clouds, thunder and lightning, and by doing so reminded the Hebrews that He is transcendent–entirely different from us. He needed to do that to get their attention, and show them that the way ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:10-17

Denomination: Catholic

The Positive Message Of The Gospel Is Simple Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 29, 2015

Our preaching should be simple, and incorporate positive examples.

Thursday of 22nd week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel St. Gregory the Great “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14

Denomination: Catholic

So They Want To Continue The Conversation Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 24, 2016

"they want someone to serve as an instrument and to express their feelings in such a way that afterwards, each one may chose how he or she will continue the conversation."

Thursday of 16th Week in Course Have you ever heard someone–maybe even a preacher–express the idea that the God of the OT is a God of judgement and vengeance, and the God of Jesus is a God of mercy and love? Some of us may have held that opinion during our life. A famous early ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Prepare To Share Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 6, 2016

"To interpret a biblical text, we need to be patient, to put aside all other concerns, and to give it our time, interest and undivided attention."

Thursday of 18th Week in Course This day we commemorate St. Clare of Assisi, the friend of St. Francis who founded the second Order of Franciscans for women religious, or the Poor Clares. As we look at the first reading about Ezekiel digging a hole in the wall of his house, we are reminded that ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 12:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

St. Michael And The Way Of Beauty Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 24, 2016

the way of beauty is insidious, and effective

Thursday of the 25th Week in Course 2016 Joy of the Gospel This is one of my favorite festivals, the one the Anglicans call “St. Michael and All Angels.” Not exactly right, because we have another feast in just a couple of days for our guardian angels. If you would like a focal point ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:4-19

Denomination: Catholic

Our Responsibility To Non-Believers Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 16, 2016

We Christians need to find more and more effective ways to communicate the Gospel message.

Thursday in Fourth Week of Easter 2016 Joy of the Gospel St. Paul is best known for his three missionary journeys and his journey to Rome. He was the evangelizer paradigm. Nobody did it better than he. His protocol developed early. He believed that his mission was first to his Jewish brothers ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:13-25

Denomination: Catholic

The Real Resurrection Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 4, 2016

We must stay in the game, even when we are tired or frustrated by results unseen.

Thursday of 10th Week in Course I can’t ignore the remarkable juxtaposition of the first reading and psalm with the weather events of the past weeks. The northern kingdom of Israel was the richer of the twin Hebrew nations, rich in agriculture, mining and trade. The kingdom of Judah was a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Denomination: Catholic

Being Close To The Poor Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 5, 2015

'No one must say that they cannot be close to the poor because their own lifestyle demands more attention to other areas.'

Thursday of 2nd week in Advent 2015 Joy of the Gospel The passage from Isaiah we just heard is from what is often called “Second” Isaiah, probably a disciple of the original Isaiah who wrote during and immediately following the Babylonian exile. It is full of hope; from this we find ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:13-20

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

Christmas Is For Helping The Poor Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 17, 2016

After all, what is important about Christmas?

Thursday of Fourth Week in Advent 2016 Joy of the Gospel The prayer we just heard in the Gospel is one of the most beloved in Catholic history. It is likely that it was part of the public and private prayer of Christians from the very beginning of the Church. We still pray it every day at Vespers. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:46-49

Denomination: Catholic

A Revolution Of Tenderness Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 21, 2015

An opportunity exists in the world to turn away from solipsism and bring all humanity into communion.

Thursday of 5th Week in Lent 2015 Joy of the Gospel Abraham is, as the Roman Canon says, our “father in faith.” He believed that, old as he and Sarah were, they would have a child, and by the power of the Lord, Sarah conceived and brought forth Isaac. But Isaac was not the real child ...read more

Scripture: John 8:51-59

Denomination: Catholic

What Is The Revolution Of Tenderness? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 4, 2015

We are a people called to incarnate the mercy of God.

Thursday of Easter Octave 2015 Joy of the Gospel Today, as we still enjoy the glow of the Easter celebration–every day this week is a reprise of Easter day–the Church gives us two stories that are “aftermaths.” The first is Peter’s sermon to the Jews of Jerusalem ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:35-38

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