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Father Pat's Sermon Notes
Fifth Sunday in Lent: April 2, 2006

Father Patrick Smith
Meet Father Pat

 

Do You Believe?

Don't answer the question too quickly. It is, after all, the most fundamental question that everything else hinges upon. Scripture says that, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Think about it: Pleasing God will many times mean following the road less traveled; climbing the hill most avoided; facing the fears others give in to; and confronting the demons many refuse to acknowledge.

 
 

Without faith, why would any of us persevere in the face of opposition or refuse to give in to temptation? Why would we do the right thing when the wrong thing may be handsomely rewarded? The outlook of the faithless is "Get Rich or Die Trying!" The biblical counter response is: "What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life" (Matt 16:26).

With faith, Martha and Mary could have reason to hope even though their brother had been dead for the better part of a week! With faith, instead of seeing the crucifixion as a dismal failure, Christ's followers recognize it as the grain of wheat that "falls to the earth and dies" in order to "produce much fruit."

Are you a believer? If you are, then you know that true faith is courageous ~ is not afraid to take a stand for what is right; it is weather-resistant ~ believes in the sun even when it is not shining; it is specific ~ rejects the doctrine-doesn't-matter world view; it is required ~ like "American Express" you can't afford to leave home without it!

Finally, faith is a gift that should be cherished, nurtured, defended and shared. Because with faith, you will spend far less prayer time telling God how big your problems are and more time telling your problems how big your God is!

 

 

 

Past Sermon Notes
March 2006
Third Sunday in Lent: March 26, 2006
Second Sunday in Lent: March 19, 2006
Second Sunday in Lent: March 12, 2006
First Sunday in Lent: March 5, 2006
February 2006
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 26, 2006
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 19, 2006
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 12, 2006
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 5, 2006
January 2006
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 29, 2006
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 22, 2006
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 15, 2006
Epiphany: January 8, 2006
Mary, Mother of God: January 1, 2006
December 2005
Christmas: December 25, 2005
Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 18, 2005
Third Sunday of Advent: December 11, 2005
Second Sunday of Advent: December 4, 2005
November 2005
First Sunday of Advent: November 27, 2005
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: November 6, 2005
October 2005
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 30, 2005
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 23, 2005
Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 16, 2005
Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 9, 2005
Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 2, 2005
September 2005
Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 25, 2005
Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 18, 2005
Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 11, 2005
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 4, 2005
August 2005
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 28, 2005
Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 21, 2005
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 14, 2005
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 7, 2005
July 2005
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 31, 2005
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 24, 2005
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 10, 2005
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 3, 2005
June 2005
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: June 26, 2005
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time: June 19, 2005
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: June 12, 2005
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: June 5, 2005
May 2005
Feast of The Body & Blood of Christ: May 29, 2005
Trinity Sunday: May 22, 2005
Pentecost Sunday: May 15, 2005
The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord: May 8, 2005
Sixth Sunday of Easter: May 1, 2005
April 2005
Fifth Sunday of Easter: April 24, 2005
Fourth Sunday of Easter: April 17, 2005
Third Sunday of Easter: April 10, 2005
Second Sunday of Easter: April 3, 2005
Easter Sunday: March 27, 2005
March 2005
Palm Sunday: March 20, 2005
Fifth Sunday of Lent: March 13, 2005
Fourth Sunday of Lent: March 6, 2005
February 2005
Third Sunday of Lent: February 27, 2005
Second Sunday of Lent: February 20, 2005
First Sunday of Lent: February 13, 2005
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 6, 2005
January 2005
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 30, 2005
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: January 23, 2005
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: January 9, 2005
Feast of the Epiphany: January 2, 2005
 
 

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