21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, 26 Aug 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Today we finish our five week reading of the Bread of Life discourse in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. Like the question put before the Israelites by Joshua, we must choose who we will serve. The Lord our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or a god of our our making. Choose Christ!

Readings: Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Psalm 34; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69

Saturday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, 25 Aug 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. Ezekiel witnesses the Glory of the Lord entering the Temple. Let us learn to see everyone and all of creation charged with the Glory of the Lord.

Readings: Ezekiel 43:1-7b; Psalm 85; Matthew 23:1-12

St Bartholomew, 24 Aug 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 tell Nathaniel that he saw him under the fig tree, where he often went for some quite time with God. Nathaniel responds, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

Readings: Revelation 21:9b-14; Psalm 145; John 1:45-51

Thursday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, 23 Aug 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (7 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena in Petersburg, Alaska. When you get an invitation to the wedding feast in the Kingdom of God, say YES! Even if you are distracted and busy with a thousand other things, say YES!

Readings: Ezekiel 36:23-28; Psalm 51; Matthew 22:1-14

Wednesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, 22 Aug 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's parable of the generous land owner who pays those who work one hour the same daily wage as those who worked twelve hours in the vineyard seems radically unfair. Yet if the daily wage is salvation we should be happy that those who come late to faith will join those of us who grew up faithful in signing God's praises here and in the hereafter.

Readings: Ezekiel 34:1-11; Psalm 23; Matthew 20:1-16

Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, 21 Aug 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. Jesus warns us that it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to gain the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us work to ensure that our possessions do not end up possessing us.

Readings: Ezekiel 28:1-10; Deuteronomy 32; Matthew 19:23-30

Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, 20 Aug 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. St Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church, worked hard to reconcile groups with each other. Let us do the same.

Readings: Ezekiel 24:15-23; Deuteronomy 32; Matthew 19:16-22

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 19 August 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (20 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Jesus says, "My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink." In the Eucharist we receive Jesus, Body-Blood-Soul-Divinity. In a very real way we receive a heart transplant.

To order Science Tests Faith DVD visit: http://www.loveandmercy.org/videos/english-videos/

Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

Saturday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time, 18 August 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. Jesus says, "Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Children between the ages of 4 and 14 are especially receptive to developing a life long relationship with Jesus.

For more on the 4/14 Window please visit http://4to14window.com/

Readings: Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32; Psalm 51; Matthew 19:13-15

Friday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time, 17 Aug 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Jesus teaches, "It was because of the hardness of your hearts that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so." Let us pray for all married couples.

Readings: Ezekiel 16:59-63, Isaiah 12, Matthew 19:3-12

Thursday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time, 16 Aug 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. "How often must I forgive my brother?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times."

Readings: Ezekiel 12:1-12; Psalm 78; Matthew 18:21-19:1

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 15 Aug 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. We celebrate that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. Mary first conceived Christ in her soul making room in her heart for him, than she received her first communion at the incarnation and it urge her to visit her cousin Elizabeth in her time of need. May we make room in our hearts for Jesus and having received communion head out to help others.

Readings: Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56

Jacob & Cailey Wedding at Shrine of St Therese, 12 Aug 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15 minutes + Exchange of Vows 4 minutes + applause) given by Fr Thomas Weise at the Shrine of St Therese near Juneau, Alaska. Jacob Olmstead and Cailey Neary enter into a Sacramental Marriage at the Shrine of St Therese near Juneau, Alaska. Married love involves sacrificial suffering like Jesus on the Cross and a women in labor, both bringing forth life. Jacob and Cailey are to be like two hinge plates securely fastened together by Jesus who is the hinge pin.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 12 Aug 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (16 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at the Shrine of St Therese near Juneau, Alaska. Today we continue through the Bread of Life discourse in John's 6th Chapter. Jesus teaches that he is the living bread come down from heaven just like the manna in the desert and the Torah given on Mount Sinai. We cannot remain under our broom trees of despair. We must get up and eat of the Bread of Life in Word and Sacrament and be strengthened for the journey.

Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51

Feast of the Transfiguration, 6 Aug 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. Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of Peter, James and John. God the Father speaks from the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."

Readings: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 97; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Mark 9:2-10

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 5 August 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Those who were fed from the loaves and fish seek Jesus out in Capernaum. He promises "Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." Trust that God will take care of our daily needs. We need to desire Jesus like we desire air to breath after holding our breath for 6 minutes.

Readings: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Psalm 78; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

St John Vianney, Cure of Ars, 4 Aug 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. St John Vianney (1786-1859), just barely having completed seminary, is the patron Saint of parish priests. As the pastor of a town of 250 souls he would have died in obscurity if hadn't had a gift for hearing confessions. In the winter he would hear confessions for 10-12 hours daily and 15-18 hrs in the summer. There were special trains to bring penitents to Ars to confess their sins and receive absolution.

Readings: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24; Psalm 69; Matthew 14:1-12

Friday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, 3 Aug 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. Jeremiah is about to be lynched by those who do not want to hear the Truth he speaks, while Jesus is rejected by his home town. How well are we listening to the those speaking prophetically among us?

Readings: Jeremiah 26:1-9; Psalm 69; Matthew 13:54-58

Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, 2 Aug 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 is sent to watch the local potter form and reform vessels on the wheel. Our life goal is to be that supple clay in the hands of our Lord who only with our permission will form us into the work of beauty that God created us to be.

Readings: Jeremiah 18:1-6; Psalm 146; Matthew 13:47-53

St Alphonsus Liguori, 1 Aug 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. We hear the familiar parables that the Kingdom of God is like a treasure stumbled a pone or a pearl of great price that has been searched for. May we both search for God and rejoice when we stumble a pone Him.

Readings: Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21; Psalm 59; Matthew 13:44-46