8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 27 Feb 2011

Click here to listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska.  Jesus tells us "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ... Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-Span?" We have been clothed in Christ Jesus through Baptism and in the Eucharist we feast of the Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  Jesus gives us His very self so the we can be free from anxiety. Let us trust in the Lord.

Readings: Isaiah 49:14-15; Psalm 62; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 20 Feb 2011

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise as the close of the Jesuit Volunteer Winter Retreat at the Shrine of St Therese in Juneau, Alaska.  Jesus calls us to freedom and loving our enemies sets us free. Lord help me to see you and your love in those I have difficulty loving. Just as you live in me you live in every one of us. Open my eyes to your presence.

Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 13 Feb 2011

Click here to listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska.  Jesus calls us to keep the commandments not only in our external behavior but also in our internal thought processes. Modern psychology is just beginning to understand just how powerfully our thoughts cause gene expression and the production of powerful hormones and neural transmitters.  Jesus was way ahead of his time in teaching his followers that thoughts really matter.

Homework: Read Matthew Chapters 5-7.

Readings: Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 119; 1Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 6 Feb 2011

Click here to listen to this homily (15 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska.  Jesus calls each of us "the Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World."  It is in little acts of kindness, going out of our way to help another, that our Christianity flavors the world.  Christ's light often shines most brightly out of our faults and failures. So if you and broken then Jesus is calling you to reach out to those in need and your wounds will be healed (Isaiah 58:8).

Homework: Read all of the Sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7.

Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalm 112; 1Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16.