Sermons on Sacramental:

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

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit As Applied To Prayer

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 23, 2017

Poverty of soul is a way of entering in prayer, especially at the outset of when we begin to pray.

Poverty of soul is a way of entering in prayer, especially at the outset. Poverty of soul cannot be sought as an item of self-knowledge. It retains always an unknown, elusive quality. It cannot be simply a thought of our unworthiness before God. Much less can it be a mood of despondency about ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

The Road To Emmaus Series

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Mar 18, 2021

There seemed to be a lot more drama surrounding the death of Jesus – earthquakes, curtains being torn at the Temple, darkness covered the earth. The resurrection was done quietly without any witnesses to the actual moment of resurrection.

Easter 2021 The Road to Emmaus There seemed to be a lot more drama surrounding the death of Jesus – earthquakes, curtains being torn at the Temple, darkness covered the earth. The resurrection was done quietly without any witnesses to the actual moment of resurrection. Death can be dramatic, but ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-32, Luke 24:33-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep Salt In Yourselves

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 10, 2020

5th Sunday, Year A, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The late Pentecostal preacher David du Plessis was once approached by a Christian who complained that people don’t seem thirsty for the Lord these days. Without missing a beat, du Plessis replied, “It’s not that they are not thirsty enough. It’s that we are not salty enough!” Since moisture ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:7-10, Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Catholic

The Gospel Succeeds Even In An Age Of Fecklessness Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 11, 2020

We need to continue on the path we were set on by Jesus long ago–the path to holiness. That means giving up everything of this world that keeps us from imaging Jesus and Mary.

Tuesday of the First Week in Course 2020 Saint Mark gets right to the point, just like the high priest Eli. But Saint Mark gets the whole picture, and Eli does not. Mark’s Gospel is designed to demonstrate to his Roman audience–and us–that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Messiah. Look how few ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-8, 1 Samuel 1:9-20, Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Catholic

Ants In The Pants

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Apr 8, 2021

Seeing is not believing!

Ants In The Pants – John 20: 19 - 31 Intro: If I had written the account of the resurrection of Jesus, it would have been a little bit different. For example: John would run up to Peter as he returned from witnessing the empty tomb. Excitedly, John would say, “Peter, I have good news and I ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Solemnity Of Mary, January 1, 2021: New Years

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 29, 2020

All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful.

1.Flannery O’Connor noted that “All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful, “she wrote in 1958. (Adding, “Priests resist it as well as others.”) She means that grace intervenes in the sufferings of the ordinary -- ignorant, complacent people whose ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:22-27

Denomination: Catholic

Everyone Who Asks Receives? Really? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 2, 2021

“We should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” That’s not a suggestion. That’s a demand .

Monday of Epiphany Week 2020 It’s a good idea to read St. John’s words in this first letter perhaps every week of our lives, because in it we find the key to happiness and fulfillment. John says “we receive from [God] whatever we ask.” Hmm, that’s interesting. And we recall that Jesus Himself said ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25, 1 John 3:23-24, 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Jonah And The Call To Convert The Nations Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 20, 2021

Isn’t God’s mercy good news for all of us? He’s forgiven the sins of my youth, and, yes, even my old age.

3rd Sunday in Course 2021 Poor Jonah. We can hardly blame him. God tells him to go convert the people and rulers of Nineveh, heart of the Assyrian empire. You see, the Assyrians were for about six centuries the scourge of the ancient Middle East, kind of a cross between the Huns, the Vandals and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10, Psalm 25:4-9, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Catholic

Who Really Is Responsible? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 16, 2021

It took some time to process the traumatic and surprising events of Holy Week

3rd Sunday of Easter When something traumatic happens in your family, perhaps a death or serious injury, do you find often that there’s at least a temptation toward chaos? This is especially true if one of the key linchpins in the family is taken out of commission for a time, or even permanently. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-5, Luke 24:35-48, Acts 3:13-19

Denomination: Catholic

Abraham's Revival Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 19, 2021

Abraham’s faith is a model for Christians, because we are his successors by faith (Galatians 3:29). Revival of our faith is modeled after his life (Genesis 12-25).

Abraham’s faith is a model for Christians, because we are his successors by faith (Galatians 3:29). Revival of our faith is modeled after his life (Genesis 12-25). Traditional history tells us that Abram’s father Terah, was a high priest for Nimrod and made idols. History tells that Noah and Shem ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:29

Denomination: Baptist

How Do You Make Decisions?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 6, 2024

Mozart was a great musician, but a terrible philosopher.

Tenth Sunday in Course 2024 The great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is quoted as saying “I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.” It seems appropriate to apply this statement to our first reading today, because the original man, whom we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35, 2 Corinthians 4:13, Psalm 130:1-8, Genesis 3:9-15

Denomination: Catholic

No, It's Not Fair, But Bear With It In Christ

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 28, 2023

Forget the old song that asks “how can it be wrong when it feels so right?” That’s unmitigated baloney. Your mind must rule your emotions, not vice-versa.

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Course 2023 Have you or anyone you know ever said that some fine or traffic ticket or concert ticket price or something else “isn’t fair”? I suspect that a show of hands would involve almost everyone who is here today. That cry, “it’s not fair!” is one of the most common ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32, Psalm 25:4-9, Ezekiel 18:25-28

Denomination: Catholic

Let's Not Miss The Opportunity For Victory

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 19, 2023

The roles of obedient faith, steadfast hope and laboring love

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Course 2023 It’s pretty clear to anyone who observes humans as they go about their days just what is important to most. What is most important to us becomes clearest when we look at what takes up most of our time. If success in one’s career drives his ambition, then more ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, Matthew 22:15-21, Isaiah 45:1, Isaiah 45:4-6

Denomination: Catholic

Do Not Fear; Only Believe

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 27, 2024

God made man and woman in His image, with the plan that they would act and become more and more good, more and more like Himself. That was the divine order.

Thirteenth Sunday in Course 2024 In his great Summa Theologiae, St Thomas Aquinas wrote “the order of the Divine government is wholly directed to good. . .no one acts intending evil.” (ST I Q 104 Art 1) Those words are an appropriate commentary on the words from the post-exile writing Book of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Exodus 16:18, Psalm 30:2-12

Denomination: Catholic