Sermons on Sacrament:

The Master Of Plot-Twists Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 21, 2023

God is a master at plot twists, isn’t He?

Solemnity of the Incarnation 2023 The prophet Isaiah was, in my opinion, a master of irony. Although King Ahaz, who was king over a territory about the size of a Texas county and thus a kind of rump king, had allied his little nation with the huge Assyrian empire, that big gang of thieves was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:7-11, Hebrews 10:4-10, Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 8:10

Denomination: Catholic

Homecoming To The Temple

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 30, 2025

Joseph and Mary brought their newborn Jesus into the Temple for a solemn ceremony.

Homecoming Today’s feast is a commemoration of the wonderful moment when Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, comes home to the Temple at Jerusalem. Homecoming is a wonderful moment in life. I recall decades ago, flying into our South Texas airport after a one-week training session, and my whole ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40, Hebrews 2:14-18, Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 24:7-10

Denomination: Catholic

The Great Trades

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 1, 2025

God, the Most High, has given us everything we own, so generosity in His service is only just.

Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Course 2025 The wisdom book we have in Greek called Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus (since the early churches used it so often) reads like the book of Proverbs. Today’s proverbs regard offerings to God. Our sacrifices to God, in the spirit of the second-Temple Jews, should ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 2:1-16, Deuteronomy 12:6, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Mark 10:28-31, Exodus 23:15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Decision Day--Don't Wait

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 10, 2025

We don’t know when our termination date will be. It could be later today or tomorrow. We don’t get to decide.

Friday of the First Week in Lent 2025 Ask anybody of mature age what are the two most important dates of anyone’s life and you will get a potpourri of answers. The statisticians will say the dates of birth and death, because those dates control so many decisions and outcomes. The real answers, for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 130:1-8, Matthew 5:20-26, Ezekiel 18:21-28

Denomination: Catholic

To See The Face Of God

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 12, 2025

What a great gift the Transfiguration is for us, glorifying God in our second full week of Holy Lent!

Second Sunday of Lent 2025 If there is a fundamental difficulty with religion, it may be that God, and every attribute of God, does not belong to us. All is naturally out of our human comprehension. We say God is transcendent. As Bp. Barron teaches, we are like two-dimensional stick figures on a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36, Genesis 15:5-18

Denomination: Catholic

Rend Your Hearts Not Your Garments

Contributed by Lucy Vavosa on Mar 5, 2003

This is a sermon about Ash Wednesday and how it is a day of new beginnings.

ASH WEDNESDAY REFLECTION 2003 “Blessed be the longing that brought you here and that quickens your soul with wonder.” This line is from a poem titled “A Blessing” by a man named John O’Donohue. I came across it quite by accident (or by God) As I was getting ready for work this morning and ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12-18

Denomination: Catholic

Discipleship: Brokenness Series

Contributed by Kemuel Travis on Mar 6, 2007

To show that we must be broken before the Lord in order to draw close to Him

INTRODUCTION -Today we are going to be partaking of the Lord’s Supper -Holy Communion -This was a special meal that Christ ate with his closest disciples on the night he was betrayed -The eve of His crucifixion -We do this quite often, but let us learn a valuable discipleship lesson today as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-75

Denomination: Wesleyan

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 Banquet, The Summit Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 1, 2013

Over and over in the Gospels we see the work of Christ culminate in a celebratory banquet, even in the healing of the little girl.

Monday of 5th Week in Course Feb 4 2012 Sacrosanctum Concilium The story of Jesus’s raising of the little girl, the daughter of Jairus, is one of the most touching in the Holy Gospels. The incident may have happened in Capernaum, St. Peter’s hometown, and it involved one of the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Catholic

The Word And The Martyrs Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 11, 2012

In the witness of the martyrs we see the Word of God made visible and effective in the world; the martyrs give the ultimate testimony to the Truth.

August 13, 2012 Blessed Jakob Gapp Verbum Domini “The interpretation of sacred Scripture would remain incomplete were it not to include listening to those who have truly lived the word of God: namely, the saints. Indeed, viva lectio est vita bonorum. The most profound interpretation of ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 1:2-28

Denomination: Catholic

Transformed Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Aug 30, 2012

Christian lives are not modified, nor updated they are changed and transformed. Paul celebrates this transformation in his letter to the Ephesians

Ephesians 4:26-5:2 “Transformed” INTRODUCTION Enjoying the fall day, a man sat down on a park bench and reflected on the past several years of his life. Just two years ago he didn’t think he would live another day. His heart was giving out on him and his only hope was ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

O Magnify The Lord With Me

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 26, 2013

We taste and see the goodness of the LORD when the words of the LORD have their rightful place in our lives.

O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME. Psalm 34:1-8. David was ‘on the run’ from king Saul. Mistakenly thinking that he might find refuge with the Philistines, he only escaped from their clutches by feigning madness (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Then he hid in a cave. Knowing that David was in this place, his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Helpful Senses Of Scripture Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 27, 2012

We can see in the writing of the story of Cornelius and Jesus's words about the sheepfold very helpful examples of the literal and spiritual senses of Scripture.

Monday of 4th Week of Easter Verbum Domini The richness of today’s Scripture readings should suggest to us a couple of responses. First, we need several hours of study of the text and its meanings. Second, we should, in worshipful awe, spend a few more hours before the Blessed Sacrament ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18

Denomination: Catholic

The Controversy Of The Lord

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 25, 2013

What does the LORD require of you?

THE LORD’S CONTROVERSY. Micah 6:1-8. It is tragic when God has to serve a summons upon His own people. The “prisoner in the dock” is Israel herself, and the LORD is ready to submit His case. The witnesses are the mountains and hills (Micah 6:1), and strong foundations of the earth (Micah 6:2). ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Excuses

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jun 24, 2010

Sermon dealing with the "yes, but" response to following Christ.

Luke 9: 51 – 62 / Excuses Intro: A farmer came to his animals one morning and said he wanted to make a breakfast for all his neighbors. From the hen he took the eggs and from the cow he took the milk. When the farmer headed for the pig, the pig started running, burst through the fence ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed