Father Matthew Wiering Podcast

In today's first reading from the prophet Amos, we hear two accusations against Israel: That they have put business above God and that they have put business above people. One of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching is that the the economy, while good, cannot be placed above the good of all people. For instance, the economy shouldn't benefit some while hurting many. This brings us to the teaching of St. John Paul II, who taught that the human person is such a great good that it is never permissible to use a person as a means to an end. Another way of saying this is that the only adequate response to a person is love.

Today's magnificent parable of the Prodigal Son is introduced by two shorter parables. Between the three there is a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find one, a woman who turns her house upside-down to find a nickel, and a father who receives his son back after he's squandered half his property. To us, the shepherd, the woman, and the father all seem to act foolishly. But this is precisely the point. God sees each of his lost children as precious and unique, and he will go to any length--including play the fool--in order that they may be found.

Today Jesus shocks us by declaring to the crowds, "Whoever comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, even his own life, cannot be my disciples." Jesus is not talking about having hate-filled feelings here, but rather he is indicating the reality that often our loves compete with one another or seem to be in conflict: our love for God can conflict with our love for our family or children. Upon closer examination, however, we realize that our loves must be properly ordered and only in this way can we truly love.

Today Jesus gives us two concrete situations in which our attitude towards others is tested. When we our honest with ourselves, how prideful we can be! Yet Jesus shows us that humility doesn't divide us it unites us -- because it helps us to realize that we are all fellow sinners who struggle!

Today's difficult Gospel is illuminated by our first reading from the prophet Isaiah. There we find a message that would have confused and troubled God's people: The foreigners whom they have always regarded with suspicion will join them in offering sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem. In other words, God wants to save all of the nations through Israel. This prophecy is finally fulfilled in Christ's Church, which brings peoples of every race and language and culture to the altar to worship and offer sacrifice. Our mission, then, is not to rest on our haunches, satisfied to be counted among God's "saved" but rather to be working tirelessly in order to evangelize our family and friends -- their salvation may depend on it -- but certainly our salvation does depend on it!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which marks the culmination of Mary's life on earth. The Church believes that Mary, having reached the end of her earthly life, was assumed into heaven by God, both in body and soul. One temptation that might strike us with this event is, "What does this have to do with me?" Or, "Who cares?" Today we talk about why the Assumption is actually deeply meaningful for us, providing for us a source of hope and consolation.

The first sentence from the Gospel the Church gives us today contains these consoling (and perhaps surprising) words: Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. How often do we presume that the Father is disappointed in us? Saddened by us? Angry with us? Actually, the Father's stance towards us is always merciful love, and he takes great pleasure in us. Why and how is this possible? Only because of what happens at our baptism, by which Christ marks our soul with His own personal presence. At our baptism and every moment thereafter, when the Father sees us, He sees His Son, and the words that He uttered at Jesus's baptism become equally true for us: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!

Today's Scripture readings give us some practical examples of how money, property, and possessions can hurt and even destroy human relationships. The last line of Jesus's parable is telling: "Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God." So the question we must ask is "What matters to God?" What is more important to God: The inheritance a man receives or the relationship with his brother that is destroyed because of the inheritance? In our prayer, let's ASK the Lord what matters to him and make this the focus of our life.

In today's Gospel, the disciples ask Jesus how they should pray because they see him praying, and he apparently prays in such a way that made them want whatever he had! Today we talk about the necessity of "wasting time" with God and give some practical suggestions on building one's life of prayer.

Normally when someone leaves us it is a sad occasion, unless we are sick of that person. In Luke's Gospel account of the Ascension, however, we hear that the disciples returned to Jerusalem "with great joy" after Jesus was taken up into heaven. Diving into what it means for Jesus to be taken up into heaven -- Jesus's being taken up into God's existence -- helps us to understand that, at the "right hand of the Father", Jesus can be more present to me hear and now than he could while on earth. So the disciples gained closer a more intimate presence to Jesus when they "lost" him to the Ascension. Truly a "joyful" reality!