Father Matthew Wiering Podcast

Good Friday 2022: Standing with Mary at the Foot of the Cross

In John’s account of the passion we are given a few special details. Standing at the foot of the cross are a few women who gaze with sorrow and love at Jesus Crucified. His mother and beloved disciple John are there too, and Jesus invited John to make Mary his mother, and the Scripture tells us he “took her into his own”, into the deepest part of himself, into his heart we could say. Let’s imitate these holy ones as we gaze upon Jesus our Crucified Lord— standing with Mary, taking her into our hearts, letting them be broken with sorrow so that they will become a fountain of healing…

Holy Thursday 2022: The Eucharist, the Priesthood, and Jesus’s Hour

In the unique liturgy of Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, our readings focus on the two Sacraments instituted at the Last Supper: the Eucharist and the Priesthood. The ritual washing of the feet reminds us that Jesus wants his priests—and all of his followers—to use whatever position they have to serve their brother and sister. And the procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the beautifully decorated altar of repose transports of to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus suffers psychological agony… and submits himself to men who will torture and kill him. Jesus’s hour has come, let us wait and keep watch with him.

5th Sunday in Lent: The Mystery of the Meeting of Christ and the Adulterous Woman

Mysteries abound when it comes to today’s Gospel of Christ and the woman caught in adultery. The first is the mystery of origin: Where does this passage come from? Jesus’s writing on the ground is a mystery and hat has beguiled pastors and saints up until the present day. And the mystery of why the Church has us hear this Gospel right before we celebrate Palm Sunday at the end of Lent. There is more here in the story than meets the eye!

4th Sunday of Lent: God’s Tender Mercy for the Sinner

The story of the Prodigal Son is one of the most moving ever told. How does God see the sinner, even one who has committed the most serious betrayal? With such love and desire that God waits for the first sign of the sinner’s return, running to meet us and restoring us to his friendship. This is the lesson of the Prodigal Son. May we always believe no matter what that God will always take us back.

3rd Sunday in Lent: God is not a Being

In today’s first reading, we hear God reveal to Moses the mystery of his identity: I AM WHO AM. Catholic tradition helps us to interpret what this means. God is not one being among many beings (like us). He is, as Aquinas taught, ipsum esse—to be itself. While beings have a competitive stance between, God, who is the sheer act of being, is not in competition with creatures but actually brings them to perfection. The burning bush is a sign of this: The fire of God’s love does not destroy us but elevates us.

To Never Leave the Temple: A Reflection on Widowhood

From our Morning of Recollection for Widows. Reflecting on the widow Anna who recognized Jesus as the Christ when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple.

1st Sunday in Lent: Jesus Tempted Like I Am Tempted

Jesus’s baptism shows us how he has fully embraced our sinful human nature, and the temptations which immediately follow show us the consequences of this choice: Not only does Jesus take on our physical and psychological nature but our inner life too, including the painful and humiliating reality of our unwanted thoughts and temptations. Today we reflect on the the fact that the author to the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted in a every way that we are but without sinning… Jesus’s participation in this painful part of the human experience alleviates our shame and fills us with hope that in him we too can be faithful in the midst of temptations.

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Removing the Wooden Beam for Lent

In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us that in order to see clearly, first we must remove the wooden beam in our own eye. What is the obstacle in our life that keeps us from the conversion God desires for us? Let’s make that—our growth in holiness—our first priority and the logic behind our Lenten discipline this year.

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Freeing Power of Forgiveness

Today Jesus tells us about the person who is totally free: The one who can love their enemies, let go of hurts, cancel debts. How free we would feel if we could live this way. We would be experiencing divine freedom, because we would be free to love as God is free. One of the great processes that leads to greater freedom is the process of forgiveness. Today we reflect on how forgiveness leads to interior freedom.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Going into Deep Water with Jesus

After boldly getting into the boat of Simon, Jesus boldly asks him to put out into the shallow waters so that Jesus can preach to the people on the shore. And then, even more boldly, Jesus commands Simon to go out into deep water. The symbolism here is that Jesus doesn't want to remain in the shallows with us but rather to bring us into the deep. Leaving our surface-level relationship and moving into a deeper relationship with Jesus our life can finally be fruitful. And it's there that we'll receive our mission from Jesus. For Simon, it was to become a fisher of men. What will it be for you?