Father Matthew Wiering Podcast

A Good Friday Reflection: Mary, the New Eve, in the Garden, under the Cross

Holy Thursday 2017: Jesus Stoops Down to Wash Me

The Mass of the Lord's Supper at Holy Thursday commemorates three mysteries: the Institution of the Eucharist, the Institution of the Sacred Priesthood, and the commandment of the Lord to love one another (symbolized in his washing the feet of his disciples).

A Reflection for Holy Week: Jesus Calls You "Friend"

4/2/17: 5th Sunday of Lent: Raising Us from the Death of Sin

The Fathers of the Church saw in Christ's raising of his friend Lazarus from the dead a symbol of the forgiveness of sin. The darkness of the tomb, the heaviness of the stone covering its exit, the smothering burial cloths that hold Lazarus in bondage are a symbol of what happens to us when we become stuck in sin. This is precisely the spiritual death from which Christ wants to liberate us! Let us let him do this in our life!

3/26/17: 4th Sunday of Lent: Living our True Identity in Christ

Whenever we read John's Gospel, we have to read on different levels--a literal level and a symbolic level. The symbols from this famous story of Jesus's healing of the man born blind all lead us to one place: the healing of humanity's defect by Christ through baptism. The man emerges from the Pool of Siloam, not seeing with eyes of faith, as "another Christ". He is a symbol of us when we are baptized! Do we live out of this, our truest identity!?

3/19/17: 3rd Sunday in Lent: The Only One Who can Quench Your Thirst

In today's Gospel, Jesus is waiting for the Samaritan woman at the well. She comes to quench her thirst... So she thinks, until she meets the One who thirsts for her.

3/12/17: 2nd Sunday of Lent: Back to the Basics: The Incredible "Yes" of Abraham

The 1st readings from the Sundays of Lent bring us back to the basics: Last week we heard about the fall of Adam and Eve and today we hear how God begins to form a people. This begins with Abraham's faith: His amazing "yes" to God.

3/5/17: 1st Sunday of Lent: Who Has the Right to Decide what is Right and Wrong?

During Lent we go back to the basics...back to the basics of our relationship with God... The Church gives us the first reading from Genesis today to remind us of what sin is and what is its root... The will to decide for myself what is best for me, what is right and wrong. The is what the serpent tried to get Adam and Eve to do, this is what Satan tries to get Jesus to do in today's Gospel, and this is what the Enemy continues to do with us every day.

2/26/17: 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Do Not Worry About your Life (a.k.a. Why we Need to Waste Time)

Today Jesus tells us, "Do not worry about our life." And then he gives us a practical command: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness...and all these things will be given you besides." How we can start to believe and live this reality.

2/19/17: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Loving our Enemies and also our Husbands

Jesus tells us that the quality of our love is based on how we love the people whom we find it difficult to love. This means we need to know what it means to love! Love is not a feeling but willing the good of the other. this means we can love our enemies...and our husbands...