Father Matthew Wiering Podcast

12/21/14: 4th Sunday of Advent: God's Free Invitation

Today's Gospel of the Annunciation is not only an annunciation but also an invitation to Mary to enter into a unique and intimate relationship with God. God will not force her into his plan but invites her...and then waits for her consent. It is the same with ourselves! God does not force us to love him but only invites us over and over again.... How will we respond?

12/14/15: 3rd Sunday of Advent: The Necessity of Repentance and Joy

Two themes are consistent throughout the liturgical season of Advent: repentance and joy. We need them both!

12/8/14: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: Why the Demons Tremble this Day

The day of Mary's conception in her mother's womb free from original sin is the beginning of the Father's plan to save fallen humanity. This is why the demons tremble on this day!

12/7/14: 2nd Sunday of Advent: The Courage to Admit our Sinfulness

The witness of John the Baptist is that to grow in holiness we are more aware of our sinfulness not less. But this takes courage! I've learned this through my close friend, Carthusian monk Br. Maximus Marie.

11/30/14: 1st Sunday of Advent: Our Need for a Savior

Today I reflect on the first reading from Isaiah and a quotation from the contemporary evangelist Fr. Robert Barron: "The biggest challenge of the Advent season is to really feel our need for a Savior."

11/27/14: Thanksgiving 2014: Giving Thanks for our Blessings and Failures

It's pretty easy for us to thank God for the good things in our life. It's very difficult for us to thank God for the bad. Today I tell the story of St. Rose Philippine Duschene, who learned to be thankful even for her failures. 

11/23/14: Solemnity of Christ the King: To Serve--Will we or won't we?

Today's Gospel is pretty clear: The criteria for our salvation is whether or not we have embodied the love of Christ Jesus--whether we have lived the Gospel out. There are no excuses on the Day of Judgement. Will we serve or won't we?

11/16/14: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Taking Risks with our Faith

Jesus's Parable of the Talents reminds us that, in economics, if there is no investment (which implies a risk), then there is no growth. Our faith, too, must be "risked" in order for there to be growth. If we hoard our faith, keeping it to ourselves, not "risking" it by sharing it with others, then we will never grow in our spiritual life. But if we "risk" our faith by giving it to others, then it can grow. And it will!

11/09/14: Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Today's Feast reminds us of the importance of the church building itself--how church architecture and art helps us to understand our faith.

11/2/14: Why I'm Relieved about Purgatory

Every year on November 2 the Church celebrates the Commemoration of All of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls Day. The Church has always taught that we must pray for the dead, a conviction that we received from our Jewish forefathers. But why must we pray for the dead? In this homily I try to explain what purgatory is, and why we should be relieved that it exists.