Sermons on Maunday Thursday:

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

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

Breaking Habits Which Make Us Feel Safe Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 6, 2014

The Church must reach out in mission to those who are in need, whatever their stage of spiritual growth or seeking.

Thursday of 2nd Week in Advent Joy of the Gospel Not everything in the Scriptures is easy for us in the 21st century to understand. That is particularly true in our passages from Isaiah and Matthew today. Isaiah is exaggerating for effect. At the coming of the Redeemer, he says, everything ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:11-15

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 Integrity Of The Gospel Message Must Not Be Deformed Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 15, 2014

Peace in the world is only possible If we effectively communicate the need to embrace the Gospel of love.

Thursday of 33rd Week in Course 2014 Evangelii Gaudium This last season of the liturgical year has a bittersweet nature. The old year is waning; the new year is still seen in the distance. Days grow short; in northern Europe, the daylight lasts barely five hours. Even here in Texas we are ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

Dialogue With Faithful Judaism Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 19, 2016

We must always remember that the Church's first mission was to the Jews, the brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Thursday in the Octave of Easter Joy of the Gospel As we bask in the warm light of the Resurrection, we hear again the stories of the reaction given by various Jewish groups to the Passion, death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. We do this for another forty days, and actually fifty up until ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:35-48

Denomination: Catholic

Generous And Grateful Spirits

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 9, 2019

When the Holy Spirit prompts us to give, we should discern that spirit and when we are at peace with the decision, give responsibly.

Thursday of the First Week in Lent 2019 Saint Matilda There are two ways to look at God, and they represent the contrasting approaches of religious men and women to the virtue we call “fear of the Lord.” The first way, which we associate with, interestingly enough, both pagans and Muslims, could ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12, Matthew 10:19, Psalm 138:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Build On Rock, Not Sand Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 2, 2017

" pray for our young religious and seminarians, for all of us will be judged on the basis of where we build–on the firm rock of obedience to God, or on shifting sand."

Thursday of the First Week in Lent Reformation & Revolution It is the happy decision of the Church that brings us so much of the prophet Isaiah as we celebrate the time of expectation, the time of Advent. Isaiah was a prophet of hope in a time of social and religious and political upheaval. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-27

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

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

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 Price Of Faith Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 20, 2014

There is a price to be paid for the gift of faith, at least inconvenience.

Thursday of Easter Week 2014 Lumen Fidei Today from the Acts of the Apostles we hear a snippet of the earliest kerygma of the apostles. It’s pretty stout. Peter is preaching to people who have just seen him heal–by the power of Jesus the Messiah–a man who could not walk. And ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:11-26

Denomination: Catholic

Ascension And Pentecost 2020

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jun 16, 2020

In this sermon the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven and Pentecost are intertwined in an attempt to reveal the full working of the Holy Trinity in the plan of salvation. Next Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, will be a follow up from the perspective of the birth of the Church.

Ascension And Pentecost 2020 - Acts 1:1-14 (This sermon is a shorter sermon due to being delivered via Facebook/Live during the Covid-19 shutdown) Today we will be reading from Acts 1:1-14 This Thursday was a holiday. Well, actually NOT a holiday but the remembrance of a Holy Day. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Romans 12:4-5, 1 Peter 3:8, John 3:16-18, 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 5:17, Ephesians 4:11, Matthew 22:37-40, 1 Timothy 2:5, Acts 1:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene