Sermons on St Lawrence:

In The Pierced Heart Of The Crucified Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 20, 2010

The essence of the Christian liturgy goes beyond the synagogue service and has as its essential feature universality of time, place and people.

Feast of St. Cecilia Nov 22 2010 Spirit of the Liturgy On this Celebration of St. Cecilia’s Day, it is most fitting that the Book of Revelations opens up to us the vision of the Lamb on His throne. From heaven comes the voice of God–not thunder and lightning–but a sweet and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 14:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

Celebrate God's Goodness Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Apr 18, 2019

Brothers and sisters, your heavenly Father does not want or desire for you anxiety and depression. With all the chaos in our world and chaos in our country and chaos in our own lives, we must, we must find the path that leads to the calm and peace that God promises.

Celebrate God’s Goodness Philippians 4:4-5 I. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. II. Rejoice in the Lord’s GOODNESS. III. Rejoice in the Lord’s SOVEREIGNTY. According to the New York Times, Americans are among the most anxious people on earth. One study found that Americans were ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of God

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on May 28, 2018

We all have our favourite verses from the Bible many we know by heart and they give us comfort in times of need. Many are from the Psalms or the Gospels and we focus on John 3:16 - God so loved the world..

The Love of God John 3:16 We all have our favourite verses from the Bible, it could be a verse from the psalms: ‘The Lord is my shepherd : therefore can I lack nothing.’ It could be a verse that Jesus said from the gospels: ‘Blessed are the pure in heart – for they will see God’ Or as we have ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-11

Three Young Men, Trust, Epidemics And The Saints Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 13, 2020

It is truly time to emulate Our Lord and the great saints, who trusted in God and helped others who were in need or in peril.

Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Lent 2020 St. Patrick and Three Young Men and Trust When you pick up a King James Bible and read this story from the Book of Daniel, of the trust three young prophet-exiles had in their God, and their deliverance from the fiery furnace, you read this passage: “Therefore ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, John 3:16

Denomination: Catholic

Party On! Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 31, 2019

We all know that there were parties last evening, some that lasted well into the morning hours. But I venture to say that these parties were not celebrations of religious faith, such as the ones implied by today’s Scriptures.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Party On! Today’s Scriptures are so brief that if our minds are not focused, we might not remember any of them. I’ve wondered if that was an act of mercy on the part of those who back in the 1960's put together the three-year cycle of readings, and saw New ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21, Matthew 11:19

Denomination: Catholic

You Just Don't Get It, Do You? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 15, 2020

They are so hungry that they miss the point Jesus is trying to make. Will we miss that point, too?

Tuesday of the 6th Week in Course 2020 “You Just Don’t Get It” I’ve been a teacher pretty much all my career, at all levels except elementary school. So I can empathize with St. James in his epistle, and–although it’s weird to say it–with Jesus as He tries to help His disciples understand the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:14-21, James 1:12-18, Psalm 94:12-19

Denomination: Catholic

Water Flows From The True Temple Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 7, 2020

Jerusalem is on a series of hills, and water has to be brought into the city from elsewhere. But the real Temple of God, the Precious Body of Christ, is the source of living water.

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica 2020 Water Flows from the Temple There are few feasts quite as confusing as today’s commemoration of the dedication of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, a church in Rome. But it’s not just “a” church in Rome, it is the church in Rome. If I asked a thousand ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22, 1 Corinthians 3:9-17, Psalm 69:9, Ezekiel 47:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Just Who Are You, Anyway? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 6, 2020

The most important question any of us can answer is the same question John answered: "who are you?"

Third Sunday in Advent 2020 “Proclaim liberty to the captives.” Those words from Isaiah have never had such meaning for the prisoners of the world. Haven’t we all felt a lot like prisoners for at least part of this plague year 2020? Our governors, for the most part, have often acted like prison ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-8, John 1:19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Luke 1:46-54

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

Our Face Set Toward Jerusalem Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 28, 2019

Athanasius taught that God became human so that humans could be made divine. But even the baptized struggle with the profound negative impacts of original sins in our physical, emotional and spiritual lives.

Tuesday of the 26th Week in Course 2019 St. Therese of Liseaux The connection between our two Scripture readings today is stark. The prophet Zechariah, writing a couple of hundred years before Christ, is in a society dominated by Hellenist culture, polytheism and utter contempt for Biblical faith ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-56, Zechariah 8:21-23

Denomination: Catholic

Loving Lady Poverty To Pull Society From Chaos To Christ Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 30, 2020

Francis, the poor friar in his garment of third-rate cloth who smiles through his poverty is enormously attractive, because he is totally exceptional.

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi 2020 October 4, 2020 G.K. Chesterton said about St. Francis that “he plunged after poverty as men have dug madly for gold.” He was in love with what or who he called “Lady Poverty” for a crazy but practical reason and it has to do with spreading the Gospel of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:21

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

Jesus Vs Eeyore Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 31, 2021

The same divine being who planned out and created the galaxies by an effortless command comes to those who are oppressed with healing, and to the oppressors with rebuke.

Fifth Sunday in Coarse 2021 There is nothing subtle about the first chapter of St. Mark’s Gospel. He introduces us to John the Baptist, then Jesus comes from Nazareth and is baptized. Immediately He is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness and is tempted. He goes to Galilee to begin preaching, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 147:1-6, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Job 7:1-7, Mark 1:29-39

Denomination: Catholic

When Catastrophe Happens, What Next?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 29, 2022

No external law can fix a problem that comes from deep within a twisted mind and heart.

Ascension 2022 I polished up my Ascension Day homily last Sunday. Then I tore it up on Tuesday afternoon. Senseless, mindless murder down the road in Uvalde, a place many of us have visited or lived. When catastrophe happens anywhere in the world, don’t we all grieve, and ask “Lord, WHY?” “What ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23, Luke 24:46-53

Denomination: Catholic

Bearing With One Another, And What It Does Not Mean Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 16, 2023

Christ’s appearances shocked and surprised His disciples.

Sunday After Easter Office of Readings (Col 3: 1-17) We have been, as St. Paul attests, raised up in company with Christ, and must set our heart on what pertains to higher realms, things above rather than things of earth. Now as earthly creatures, coming from other earthly creatures and set in the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17, Mark 9:10

Denomination: Catholic