St Ignatius of Loyola, 31 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. St Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (1491-1556) taught us to enter deeply into scripture by using our imagination and to give thanks to God during our evening Examine.

Readings: Jeremiah 14:17-22; Psalm 79; Matthew 13:36-43

Monday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, 30 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Jeremiah learns that God wants to be as close to us as our underwear (Jer 13:1-11) and Jesus teaches us to find the Kingdom of God in the ordinary things of life. Like a little mustard seed and a bit of yeast.

Readings: Jeremiah 13:1-11; Deuteronomy 32; Matthew 13:31-35

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 29 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. We begin John's 6th Chapter. Jesus feeds the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. Are we like the crowd who goes out to a deserted place in search of Jesus, or like Philip who see only what is lacking, or like Andrew who see possibility in what little they had? Let us learn to give thanks to the father for all the abundance that we do have.

Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15

Saturday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, 28 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jeremiah warns that hiding in the Temple of the Lord will not protect you if you are bearing rotten fruit. Jesus tells he parable of the weeds in the wheat, warning that they will grow together till harvest, but then the weeds will be burned.


Readings: Jeremiah 7:1-11; Psalm 84; Matthew 13:24-30

Friday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, 27 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Let us be like that seed sown in rich soil who hears the Word of God and bears abundant fruit.

Readings: Jeremiah 3:14-17; Psalm 31; Matthew 13:18-23

Saints Joachim & Anne, Parents of Mary, 26 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Today we celebrate with Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Grandparents of Jesus. Let us pray that parents and grandparents would teach their children and grandchildren to Love Jesus.

Readings: Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13; Psalm 36; Matthew 13:10-17

Feast of St James, 25 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (11 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena in Petersburg, Alaska. Today we celebrate with St James, First Apostle Martyr. Reflecting on the role of pilgrimage in our life we realize that these little journeys prepare and orientate us for the ultimate journey back to God.

Readings: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126; Matthew 20:20-28

Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, 24 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Stretching out his hands toward his disciples, Jesus said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." This is such good news that it should take our breath away.

Readings: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20; Psalm 85; Matthew 12:46-50

Monday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, 23 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. We celebrate with St Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373) Mother, Mystic and Prophet. Micah reminds us that what the Lord requires of us is that we: do justice, love tenderly, and walk humbly with our God.

Readings: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8; Psalm 50; Matthew 12:38-42

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 22 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Jesus calls the Apostles come come away and rest, yet their boat is so slow that thousands arrive in that deserted place before they do. Jesus heals and teaches them, eventually feeding them with 5 loaves and two fish, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.

Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34

Saturday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time, 21 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (7 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus chooses the way of humility and obscurity. Let us remember that, "There is no limit to how far a man can go or what he can achieve if he does not care who gets the credit."

Readings: Micah 2:1-5; Psalm 10; Matthew 12:14-21

Friday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time, 20 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath! How well do we rest with him? He desires Mercy, not Sacrifice. How willing are we to be merciful to others, showing that we have swum deeply in the Ocean of God's Mercy?

Readings: Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8; Psalm 38; Matthew 12:1-8

Monday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time, 16 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. We celebrate with Our Lady of Mount Carmel who teaches us to treasure the mysteries of our faith in our hearts, contemplating on them often.

Readings: Isaiah 1:10-17; Psalm 50; Matthew 10:34-11:1

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 15 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Jesus sends the Twelve out two by two to proclaim the Kingdom of God, cure the sick, and drive out demons. They were to pack very light, sandals and walking stick, nothing else. We too must leave behind the heavy baggage of stereotypes about Evangelization and fear that I don't know how to share the good news. We must get out there and smile and lend a hand where needed. Being joyful Christians will attract others to Christ more than anything else.

Readings: Amos 7:12-15; Psalm 85; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, 14 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. We celebrate today with Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha "Lily of the Mohawks" (1656-1680). Kateri, like Isaiah, heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" and she answered, "Here I am, Lord. Send me." Let us do the same, for God has called each of us for a particular mission and purpose.

Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 93; Matthew 10:24-33

Friday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time, 13 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus warns us, "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves."

Readings: Hosea 14:2-10; Psalm 51; Matthew 10:16-23

Thursday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time, 12 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (13 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus commissions each of us to proclaim "'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleans lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

Readings: Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9; Psalm 80; Matthew 10:7-15

St. Benedict, 11 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Today we celebrate the Memorial of St Benedict, Father of Western Monasticism (480-550). He wrote in his rule, "We are about to open a school of God's service, in which we hope nothing harsh or oppressive will be directed."

Readings: Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Psalm 105; Matthew 10:1-7

Monday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time, 9 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Jesus resurrects the synagog official's daughter after she had died by taking her hand. The women who suffered for twelve years is healed of her hemorrhage when she touches the cloak of Jesus. Do we come forward to communion with that same confidence that we will be healed by touching, in fact consuming, Jesus?

Readings: Hosea 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22; Psalm 145; Matthew 9:18-26

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time, 8 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. This week it was announced that scientists had detected the Higgs-Bozon particle. Termed the "God particle" because it holds all things together giving everything mass. As I reflected on this and today's Gospel I realized that if there are any "problems" with my relationship with God, the issues must be on my side. Because God is always present and lovingly holds me in being, like the Higgs field.

Homework: Read the Gospel for 12 minutes this week.

Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6a

Saturday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time, 8 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (11 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Can the wedding quests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Are we open to trying something new in the practice of our faith?

Readings: Amos 9:11-15; Psalm 85; Matthew 9:14-17

St. Maria Goretti, 6 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. St Maria Goretti, martyr (1890-1902) is a witness to the virtue Purity, a virtue we need to reclaim as a society.

Readings: Amos 8:4-6, 9-12; Psalm 119; Matthew 9:9-13

Independence Day, 4 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (7 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Today we celebrate the birth of our great Nation, USA. Let us all pray for the Peace that surpasses understanding-that Peace that only Jesus can give us. God Bless America.

www.fortnight4freedom.org

Readings: Isaiah 57:15-19; Psalm 85; Philippians 4:6-9; John 14:23-29

Monday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time, 2 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (7 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. When we get distracted by life and the duties to family Jesus cautions, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead." When Jesus comes first in our life all our other duties and distractions will be seen in perspective to Him making all the difference.

www.fortnight4freedom.org

Readings: Amos 2:6-10, 13-16; Psalm 50; Matthew 8:18-22

13th Sunday of Ordinary in Time, 1 July 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (19 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. The women who had suffered with hemorrhaging for twelve years is healed when she touches Jesus' cloak with intention. With intention do we reach out and touch Jesus?  Jairus is told to have faith when he hears that his daughter has died. Jesus raises her to new life. We have a God of Life.

www.fortnight4freedom.org

Readings: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43