30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 24 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima Parish in Wrangell, AK.  In telling the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Jesus cations us to not be too proud of our religious accomplishments.  Instead we are to develop a humble heart that admits it is in need of a savior in Jesus Christ.  St Paul witnesses to this in his second letter to Timothy.

Pray as though everything depended on God and act as if everything depended on you.-St. Augustine

Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you.-St. Ignatius Loyola

Readings: Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18; Psalm 34; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 17 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (13 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, AK.  Through the parable of the Relentless Widow Jesus teaches us to pray always without growing weary. God does not need our prayer, we need to cry out to God and ask for Help! Restoring the natural order that we are dependent on God and not on ourselves. Let us learn to pray alone in silence listening for the still small whispering voice of God. Our natural prayer partners are those closest to us, especially our spouses. Let us learn to pray with our families.  Moses needed help in prayer and so do we. Let us join together to pray for and with others. Sacred Scripture is the source of our knowledge of God. Let us pray in and through our daily scripture reading. As St Jerome said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Jesus Christ himself." Maybe if we see God as the Relentless Widow petitioning us for Justice we will beginning to realize how often we ignore God calling us to act with Justice for the poor.

Readings: Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8

Gratefulness Journel Reflection

Many of you have asked what I use for my Gratefulness Journal. While I have tried everything from note book paper to bound sketch books I have settled on this YWAM Prayer Journal for the last 12 years. See link below. I just ordered my 2011 Personal Prayer Diary. Yea!

I like it so much here is a little add from YWAM....

YWAM Publishing - 2011 PERSONAL PRAYER DIARY AND DAILY PLANNER

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2011 PERSONAL PRAYER DIARY AND DAILY PLANNER

http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-576-2011-personal-prayer-diary-and-daily-planner.aspx

Making my gratefulness list every day for the past 10 years has really changed the way I see the world. While I do miss the people and the place of Juneau a lot, no one can step into the same river twice. Change is hard and takes lots more work than staying the same. Change is a sign that we are alive and actively working to build up the Kingdom of God. Life is always flowing forward into the future. I can choose to get onboard with that flow and live radically in the present moment accepting where I am at and what is happening as God's gift, or attempt to live some where else like the past or future. I have found the greatest happiness in the present moment and making my daily gratefulness list really helps me do this.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 10 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blesses Virgin Mary, in downtown Juneau AK.  The story of only one of the ten lepers who where healed by Jesus returning to say thank you calls us all to greater acts of gratefulness.

Readings: 2 Kings 5:14-17, Psalm 98, 2 Timothy 2:8-13, Luke 17:11-19

Homework: In order to develop a grateful heart try this exercise.  Make a gratefulness list of ten blessings you give thanks for each night for a week.  Fun to do with your family at dinner or bed time.

Feast of the Holy Rosary, 7 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Pat Travers at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg AK.  This feast commemorates the defeat of the Turkish fleet at the battle of Lepoanto in Oct 1571.

Let us always remember to pray to Mary in times of conflict and devision.

Installation of Fr Thomas as Pastor PSG & WRG, 6 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns on the occasion of the Installation of Fr Thomas Weise as the Pastor of St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg and St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, AK.

Click here to download and listen to (8 minutes) Fr Thomas Weise renew the promises he made at his priestly ordination, make a Profession of Faith, and take a Oath of Fidelity.

Let us pray for each other. Our best years are yet ahead of us.

Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time, 5 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise to the Full Time Ministers of the Diocese of Juneau meeting at St Catherine of Siena in Petersburg AK.  The story of Martha and Mary has often lead us to reflected the active and contemplative life.  Today I suggest a different idea. Martha invited Jesus into her home but she was not content to do the work of hospitality her self.  In fact she was grumpy and wanted Jesus to force her sister Mary to help her. As ministers of the Diocese I/we can miss Jesus right in front of us while we are busy with many things.  All too often I look at what is not working or who is not here. Let us remember to focus on Jesus and be content to do the work that is required of us with or without the help we might want/need.

Let us always be mindful to look for Jesus and stay focused on him as we minister.

Readings: Galatians 1:13-24; Psalm 139; Luke 10:38-42

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 3 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg AK. Jesus calls us to look inside and see that the gift of Faith that we received at our Baptism is more than enough to allow God to work through us to build up the Kingdom. If our Faith is the size of a mustard seed we can accomplish the seemingly impossible because it will be God working in us.

In the Kingdom of God abundant service is not extraordinary. It is just how things are.

Readings: Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4; Psalm 95; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10.