Sermons on St Benedict:

Whatever You Ask Of Me, I Shall Give You, Even Half My Kingdom!

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jul 7, 2001

Rash promises compared with the promise of Christ

Address for Evensong & Benediction, 8th July 2001 Given at Holy Spirit, Southsea, Diocese of Portsmouth Text: Mark 6:7-29 In the name of God, the +Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Of course I love you. The Cheque’s in the Post. This won’t hurt a bit. It wasn’t my fault; and now: "Whatever ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Transcendent Vision Of The Human Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 29, 2009

The push for homosexual marriage is a denial of the transcendent nature of man, who is called to union with God, and to marriage which images the union of God and the Church.

August 31, 2009 Monday of 22nd Week in Course Caritas in Veritate Without a transcendent vision of the human person, without the vital link to God, there can be no true human development. What development is planned is “entrusted exclusively to man, who falls into the trap of thinking he can ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Good Friday: The Nailing Of Jesus

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Feb 15, 2018

By invoking the power of the Spirit and linking it to the Cross, Paul effectively dislodges one from any cross-less spirituality.

The Crucifixion of Christ horrified well-disposed pagans, and Christians were taunted with the disgrace of having such a God. Christian art only gradually overcame the repugnance to realistic representations of the death on the cross. At first the cross was represented as studded with ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Second Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B-- Pointing Out The Lamb Of God

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 15, 2023

The suggested response for how to process that and thank him is simply to be his friend.

In all the artwork that portrays our Gospel scene today, the artists show John the Baptist pointing at Jesus, often with his whole arm extended, saying, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The only people who are allowed to point at others, and even yell, are Drill Sergeants! John was not ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:3-19, John 1:35-42

Denomination: Catholic

The Scene Is Set For Revolution And Reformation Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 21, 2017

God writes straight with crooked lines, in every age.

Thursday of 29th Week in Course 2017 Reformation and Revolution Let’s imagine for a moment what happened when St. Paul and his companions came to a town in Anatolia or Greece, his two assigned missionary territories. There were probably Jews there, who met in someone’s home or maybe, if the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53

Denomination: Catholic

Biological Brother's Of Judas Iscariot

Contributed by Darren Sirmans on Oct 30, 2011

"Blood is thicher than water;" birds of the feather flock together."

ST. Mark 14: 18-21 Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, will do anything to satisfy his wants, even if it means betraying a Holy Man of God. What that tell you about certain people, you don’t think your closes friend will do anything like that. There’s no telling what people will do as ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:12-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pentecost

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Apr 28, 2023

In 1967, she prayed this prayer, “Father, I give my life to You. Whatever you ask of me, I accept. Just teach me to follow Jesus and to love as He loves.” The fire quickly spread, even to other Christian denominations.

On Tesco's brand of Tiramisu dessert, printed on the bottom of the box, it says, “DO NOT TURN UPSIDE DOWN.”1—(too late!) I want to consider how the Holy Spirit has a way of turning things upside down. Like in the Acts of the Apostles in our First Reading, the devout Jews from every nation ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Music Related To The Word Of God Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 30, 2011

Though the musical establishment try to stop it, the Church will have music that gives primacy to the Word of God

Monday of 2nd Week of Easter St. Athanasius–2011 May 2, 2011 The coincidence of these readings with the Feast of St. Athanasius is, I believe, unique in our lifetime. That’s because Easter is rarely this late. It helps us understand that controversy is not unique to our age, and that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Catholic

Transfigured Through Obedience And Suffering Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 4, 2012

The transfiguration event offers us an opportunity to learn how we might achieve union with God in the pattern of Jesus on Tabor.

Monday of 18th Week in Course 2012 Transfiguration Verbum Domini “The word of God has bestowed upon us the divine life which transfigures the face of the earth, making all things new (cf. Rev 21:5).” These words of Pope Benedict’s letter, Verbum Domini, should frame our thoughts ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-10

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

The Survey At Caesarea Philippi

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 20, 2017

Let's review our attitudes toward authority, particularly in the Church.

21st Sunday in Course 2017: Ordinary Form Homily Is authority a divine gift? The story we read from Isaiah suggests that Shebna, the corrupt official whose name we learn in an earlier verse, was given his office by God, and cast out of that office by God. Then God raised up Eliakim ben Hilkiah to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:16-20

Denomination: Catholic

The Redemption Fee

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 10, 2004

Why did Jesus need to be redeemed?

Thornage 11-01-04 Presentation of Christ in the Temple With all the festivities going on around Christmas, it is easy to make the mistake that Jesus was a Christian. But He wasn’t - He was an Orthodox Jew. Story: When I was younger, I used to wonder why on earth ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-40

Denomination: Anglican

End Times

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 1, 2007

We live in the End Times - so what should we do? So what are we to do about the End Times? We need to remember 1. He is coming again 2. God has work for us to do on earth 3. He calls us to be alert – to be watchful

Rotherby and Gaddesby 02-12-07 When I looked at the Lectionary reading for today I wondered what on earth does a passage - that majors on the Second Coming of Christ - have to do with Advent!!! For popularly, Advent is a time when we look forward to the Birth of Jesus two thousand years ago in a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-43

Denomination: Anglican

Just What Is This Anyway? Manna? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 6, 2023

We see the miracle of God in the desert called “manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know.”

Corpus Christi 2023 Today’s solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is called Corpus Christi, for short, because prior to the major calendar changes late in the last century, the Precious Blood of Christ had its own separate feast. So we celebrate today the fact that Christ’s promise ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:2-16, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, John 6:51-58

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Lazarus And The Rich Man

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 26, 2025

Dives ended up in a Dive Bar in Hell's Kitchen for all eternity, and I don’t mean a below sidewalk-level seedy bar in Manhattan, NY.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is the only parable that contains a proper name, "Lazarus;" the rich man has no name, but he is traditionally known as "Dives," the Latin word meaning "rich." Dives ended up in a Dive Bar in Hell's Kitchen for all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic