4th Sunday of Advent, 18 Dec 2011

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. We hear again, for the third time in December, that the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. After some reasonable hesitation Mary says YES. "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." May we give our yes to God's indwelling in the same way.

Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent, 17 Dec 2011

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Today we read from the beginning of the holy Gospel according to Matthew: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Jesus has human DNA. He even has a few black sheep in his family tree. Praise be Jesus come to save us as one of us!

Readings: Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Psalm 72; Matthew 1:1-17

3rd Week of Advent, Our Lady of Guadalupe, 12 Dec 2011

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. Today we learn of the tremendous love of God for us in sending Our Lady of Guadalupe to the peoples of the Americas way back in 1531.

Readings: Zechariah 2:14-17; Judith 13:18-19; Luke 1:26-28

3rd Sunday Advent, 11 Dec 2011

Click here to download and listen to this homily (19 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg. John the Baptist teaches us humility.

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8 19-28.

Saturday of the Second Week of Advent, 10 Dec 2011

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. Neither John the Baptist nor Jesus were recognized at the time for who they really were because the people were expecting them to be and act different then they were or did. I wonder how often I miss God breaking into my life through people He sends, and through the experiences He allows; and I miss His messages of Love and Peace because in my little limited way God's blessings are just too good to be true.


Readings: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Psalm 80; Matthew 17:9a 10-13

Friday of the Second Week of Advent, 9 Dec 2011

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. John the Baptist was ignored as a radical in the desert and Jesus was ignored because he ate and drank with sinners. How am I, How are we ignoring the prophets God sends to us today (too radical)? How am I, How are we ignoring Jesus' message of love (too good to be true)? Saint Juan Diego, Pray for Us.

Readings: Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1; Matthew 11:16-19

Immaculate Conception, 8 Dec 2011

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Mary, conceived in the womb of Jesus' grandmother St Ann, was preserved from all stain of original sin, so that endowed with the rich fullness of God's grace, she was prepared as the worthy Mother of the Son of God, and would be the beginning of the Church, an advocate of Grace and a model of holiness.

Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38