Father Matthew Wiering Podcast

Glory and the Cross You Bear

The Gospel for the 2nd Sunday of Lent is always one of the strange and wonderful accounts of the Transfiguration. While the astonishing event seems so unique in Jesus's life, there are Old Testament resonances that help us to interpret what God is communicating here. In particular, the connection with the sacrifice of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah, where Isaac is referred to several times as the only beloved Son, coupled with the placement of this text in Matthew's Gospel, helps us to remember that the Glory that shines out from Jesus is intimately linked to his self-sacrifice on the Cross. The Cross is the means -- the way -- to Glory. For us, too, our Cross, is the means -- the way -- to our Glory.

The Actual Original Sin

Today's readings take us back to the beginning and the story of Creation and the Fall. When we discover the symbolism of these ancient texts, we come to realize that we're not talking about a man and woman tricked by a snake into eating an apple and then getting punished by God. Instead, we see how immensely blessed by God the man and woman were but instead listened to the lies of the Enemy of their human nature. They chose to reject God's authority and took the prerogative of deciding what is true and false, good and evil, right and wrong upon themselves. This was the actual original sin, and we can see it all over the place, including, if we're honest, in our own hearts. The Lent the Church invites us to repent of this tendency to want to make ourselves the arbiters of right and wrong so that we might submit to God the Father's authority over us and be truly his children.

Be Like God!

Today's Gospel from the Sermon on the Mount can be very confusing. Jesus says, "Give no resistance to one who is evil." Is Jesus saying that we do not have the right to defend our self? Does someone in a situation of abuse need to tolerate it? We see from the examples that follow that clearly the answer to these questions is, "No." But Jesus is saying that we must let go of those (relatively) small, personal slights committed against us -- those things that often leave us holding grudges and resentments. To let these things go is to "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect." Because Jesus lived this way, he expected that we do too.

Our Demanding (and Merciful) Lord

In our Gospel today Jesus says something that would have shocked his listeners. He says, "You have heard that it was said..." (indicating something that God taught in the Sacred Scriptures) and then adds to it: "But I say to you..." In taking upon himself the prerogative to add to and intensify God's word, he is claiming for himself God's own authority. He is acting as only God can act. And in doing so, he makes the Law much more demanding: Not only are his disciples to follow the law on an external level ("You shall not kill") but also on the internal level of the heart: ("You shall not be angry with your brother"). Here we see the all-encompassing demand that Jesus makes upon our moral life. He demands everything and at the same time receives us with infinite mercy as we struggle in our task of becoming "perfect as our Father is perfect".

Do Something!

Today's gospel of salt and light is paired with our 1st reading from Isaiah, which tells God's people who they are to be salt and light: Doing works of mercy. We all have someone in our life who is in need -- either in need of material support or in need of loving friendship. Let's let the Scriptures today inspire us to stop sitting on the fence and to do something!

Change your Mind!

In today's Gospel we have one of the most famous and important passages in the New Testament, the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. As God gave his people through Moses the list of the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai, now God in the Person of Jesus gives his disciples the list of the Beatitudes. Yet this is not a list of "do's" or "don't's" but something more basic, more fundamental. Jesus gives us the attitudes that coincide with happiness. As Jesus inaugurated his public ministry with the call, "Repent (metanoiate -- go beyond the mind that you have) for heaven is near!" Now Jesus tells us what is the mind that we must have to be blessed. So, change your mind!

Welcoming the Light ... and Passing it on to Others

In today's Gospel the apostle Matthew quotes the great prophet Isaiah: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light!" Jesus, the light of the world, arrives on the scene in the "darkness" of Galilee. He does so in order to bring light to the dark places of our hearts. But immediately after arriving he calls his first disciples and says that they will be "fishers of men." Having received his light ... we must pass it on to others!

Sacred Music and the Mass

What do the Church documents say about the Mass and the music to be used in it? Does the Church give direction in this area, or is it simply up to the discretion/preferences of the pastor, or is it "anything goes"? Many Catholics do not realize that the Church does give instructions on music in the Liturgy. In this presentation, Fr. Matt talks about what the Church does instruct regarding Sacred Music and the Mass and gives some of his own reflections based on his time spent serving as a priest and pastor.

Epiphany: What the Wise Men Teach Us

One of the details the Gospel gives us is that the Magi were "from the east". This tells us that they were not from Israel, i.e. not Jews. Instead they were foreigners, pagans, "outsiders", we could say. Yet how much do these "converts" have to teach us cradle Christians!

The Gift of Motherhood

This Sunday, January 1st, at the beginning of the New Year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, which gives us an opportunity to reflect on the gift of motherhood, and especially, Mary's motherhood over us. When we are baptized we become beloved sons and daughters of God the Father, and thus, brothers and sisters of Jesus. This means that we, like Jesus, are sons and daughters of Mary. May we know more and more the tenderness of her loving gaze upon each of us, her children.