Father Matthew Wiering Podcast

Do Not Work for Food that Perishes

As we continue our journey through John 6, Jesus says something that strikes to the heart: "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life." How much time and energy we spend laboring for that which does not ultimately fulfill us. May we truly take to heart Jesus's words for us in the Gospel and living accordingly: "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me will have eternal life."

Starving for God

In John's Gospel there are always two levels at play: The literal level of the text and the theological level, the something "deeper" at work. In today's narrative, Jesus looks out at the crowd of people and sees that they are hungry (whether they themselves realize it or not). That is what is happening on the literal level. But on a spiritual level, we see how Jesus sees their hunger for God and how he will come to feed them, as the rest of John's sixth chapter plays out, with his very self.

Talk to Jesus about It

In this Gospel where we see Jesus's identity as the Good Shepherd, who has compassion on his people, we see how Jesus also has compassion on his disciples, the ones who will be shepherd's after his own heart. Jesus wants his disciples to come to him to process what has happened in the course of the mission so that he can encourage them. May we see Jesus's desire to minister to us after we have ministered to others!

My Grace is Sufficient for You...

Today we reflect on the powerful text by St. Paul, who speaks of the "thorn in the flesh" that god has allowed him. Over and over again Paul begged God to take that affliction--whatever it was--away from him, but God responded to him: "My Grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect in your weakness." Amidst our own thorns in the flesh -- and each of us has one -- may we have the perspective of Paul who was able to see that God was accomplished good through the persistent struggle that he allowed him.

On My Anniversary of Priesthood

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, and I celebrate my 14th anniversary of the priesthood! May we always experience the priesthood through the lens of love: Jesus reveals his love to chosen men so that they will bring that love into the world.

Touch Jesus with the Messiness of Life

In today's Gospel we have two incredible healing stories, both involving women with conditions that would leave someone who comes into contact with them unclean. Yet the holiness of Jesus is such that he can only render clean. Jesus cannot be soiled by our own messiness but can only cleanse and order that which comes into contact with him. So this is encouragement for us today to bring our messiness (and the messiness of others) to him so we can receive in faith the healing we so desire!

Peace in the Storm

Jesus's calming of the storm at sea is one of the few events in his life that is recorded in all four of the Gospels. This tells us that the memory of this episode lived on in the minds and hearts of the disciples. Amidst so many miracles, why was this one so important? Perhaps it is because it is so relatable. In the midst of the storms of our life, Jesus desires us to keep our eyes on him so that, in trustful surrender, he can be peace in the midst of the storm.

Small, Hidden Acts of Faithfulness

Jesus uses several images to describe the Kingdom of God that involve planting seed. The seed itself is so small and humble. Its looks so insignificant yet contains within itself a generative power. A farmer must be faithful to the humble work of planning, and then he must let God do the rest. How much is this an analogy for our life! Serving God in small and hidden ways, in faithfulness and love, planting the seeds that, with God, can bear great fruit. Such is the Church and such is our lives!

Why We Struggle so much in Relationships

Today's return to the Sundays in Ordinary Time gives us one of the foundational biblical texts: The story of the aftermath of the Fall. While God created the man and the woman in a state of perfect harmony with Himself and with one another, we see how quickly these relationships fall apart when the man and woman commit the original sin. May we be convicted that sin always brings disorder and seek to encounter continually the only One who can heal us from the disorders of our heart, the New Adam, Jesus Christ!

What is the Catholic Mass?

We go back to the basics today on this Corpus Christi Sunday with our Gospel reading from the Last Supper. The Apostles would not have understood Jesus when he took bread and said, "This is my body," and when he took wine and called it "the blood of the new covenant." Yet less than 24 hours later the Apostles would have seen Jesus shed blood and offer his body on the altar of the cross. At every Catholic Mass, which is done in response to Jesus's command, "Do this in memory of me," the Cross and Resurrection is made present again, and grace upon grace is poured upon all who are there for the mystery.