Sermons on Maunday Thursday:

How Much Must We Do? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 30, 2016

It’s ironic that when dealing with these positive commandments, we don’t ever come to a point when we can say, “I have fulfilled them.”

Thursday before Epiphany 2017 Joy of the Gospel St. John teaches us today in both Epistle and Gospel: “By this we know love, that [Jesus] laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But if any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-21

Denomination: Catholic

That They All Be One Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 31, 2017

Our witness must be positive–we hold fast to what we know is true, and treat those who don’t share those views with charity and patience.

Thursday of fifth week in Lent 2017 Joy of the Gospel Today we look at the person and commitment of Abraham, whom the Liturgy calls “our father in faith.” Genesis records the fundamental promise that the Jews–and Christians–hold dear. And it’s not the land of Canaan, or Palestine, over which ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:3-9

Denomination: Catholic

"Great Offers On Beer And Cider. Good Friday Just Got Better” Series

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Apr 13, 2017

Why a crass 2017 advert from Tesco may be wrong but can help us understand what is really Good about Good Friday. (a short sermon for an outdoor service)

“Great offers on Beer and Cider. Good Friday just got better” That if you have not seen it is the advertisment that Tesco have been tweeting all over the internet “Great offers on Beer and Cider. Good Friday just got better” Now I’m an Anglo-Catholic. We do partying Heck I even run a biblestudy ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Anglican

Writing Straight With Crooked Lines Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 9, 2017

In the midst of the Reformation, God weaves a tapestry of faith in the lives of weak human beings.

Thursday of the 2nd Week in Advent 2017 Reformation/Revolution When external situations are the bleakest, God acts to fulfill His promises to His people–first in the history of the Jews, and now in the age of the Church. The second and third parts of Isaiah were probably written by his followers ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:13-20

Denomination: Catholic

Justified By Faith And Living In Love Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 6, 2018

“Luther’s expression sola fide is true if faith is not opposed to charity, to love.”

Thursday After Epiphany 2018 Reformation/Revolution The action of the Israelites and the response of the Philistines we have heard proclaimed from the first book of Samuel help us see the two primitive and wrong conceptions of the divine. For the Israelites, their God was the God of Moses who had ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Christians And The Clash Of Cultures Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 3, 2018

How should Christians treat those of different cultures and traditions and religions?

Thursday of the 5th Week in course 2018 Reformation/Revolution Our Scriptures today ought to be at least a little disturbing to us today. In first Kings, Solomon, who was the anointed of God, the heir to the great king David, apostatizes. He had what we can only call a “mess” of wives. “According ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 11:4-13, Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: Catholic

Success Or Failure? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 20, 2016

We must realize that the whole of God's plan is greater than the part we play in it.

Thursday of Second Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel Sometimes I think of irony as God’s invention to help us cope with the effects of original sin. Just consider this rich guy, fat and happy, with what he thinks is everything he ever wanted. He dies, and the Douay-Rheims translation ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic

The Dialogue Of Ecumenism Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 12, 2016

Our prayer is that all Christians be One.

Thursday of Fifth Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel The providential juxtaposition of St. Patrick’s Day with the readings of this Lenten feria should lead us to make a comparison between the call of St. Patrick and the call of the Hebrew patriarchs. Patrick was called by God to return ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:3-9

Denomination: Catholic

Karma Or Compassion?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 16, 2019

If we listen to the word of God and trust in His promises, we will have a happy, fruitful life even if everything around us is going to pieces.

Thursday of the 2nd Week in Lent 2019 Karma or Compassion? Only St. Luke among the four Gospel writers records this story of the rich man and the poor beggar, Lazarus. A superficial reading of the words may suggest to us that this is an example of the Asian principle of “karma,” where the good or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31, Psalm 1:1-6, Jeremiah 17:5-10

Denomination: Catholic

The Value Of Interreligious Dialogue Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 1, 2016

"Evangelization and interreligious dialogue, far from being opposed, mutually support and nourish one another."

Thursday in Second Week of Easter 2016 Joy of the Gospel Today we hear the story of Peter’s witness before the Sanhedrin in the months following the first Pentecost. To the authorities who had forbade preaching about Jesus, Peter reminds them that the Law of God goes before any human law. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:27-33

Denomination: Catholic

Religious Freedom, Fundamental Human Right Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 9, 2016

Religious freedom is a fundamental human right that is not restricted to the confines of a church.

Thursday in Third Week of Easter 2016 Joy of the Gospel Those of us who are blessed to be in the Catholic church for many decades tend to take for granted our sacramental realities, especially the Blessed Eucharist. I recall reading about a Muslim who, though totally without faith in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Catholic

Work And Pray Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 23, 2016

To be effective at evangelization, we must be firmly rooted in prayer and adoration.

Thursday in Fifth Week of Easter 2016 Joy of the Gospel Early in St. Paul’s ministry in Anatolia, his success in planting new congregations of Christians inspired others to do missionary work outside the more traditional areas of Judea and the adjoining provinces. But something else was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:7-21

Denomination: Catholic

The Need For Contemplation Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 30, 2016

Our mission to others must be underlaid with a foundation of personal devotion to Jesus Christ.

Thursday in 6th Week of Easter 2016 Joy of the Gospel St. Paul’s relationship with the church at Corinth was long, fruitful, and fraught with problems. But it is Corinth that gives us testimony of the historical reliability of the Acts of the Apostles. “Before AD 50, an area 62 feet ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Ministry To The Young And Our Evangelical Mission Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 16, 2015

In our quest to be One Church, we must show forth Goodness, Beauty, and Truth, especially to the young.

Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter 2015 Joy of the Gospel It would not be disrespectful of St. Paul to point out that, even among his great works, he made some monumental personal blunders in his ministry. Last week we heard him trying to preach to the Athenians on a philosophical level. It fell ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Faith And The Two Meanings Of Works Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 14, 2017

Faith, above all, is a gift of God. Now it’s a gift that he pours out liberally on all humans, but it will not save our souls unless we cooperate with it.

Thursday of 28th Week in Course 2017 Reformation Revolution Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues Our readings today say the same thing in different ways. St. Paul’s letter to the Romans was really the first work of systematic theology. It positions the saving work of Our Lord in the context of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-30

Denomination: Catholic