26th Sunday of Ordianry Time 30 Sept 2007

This Homily (17 minutes) by Fr. Thomas Weise was given at the 8:30 am Mass. Today we have the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man made two great mistakes. First, he failed to remember the teachings of Moses and the prophets. He failed to remember that he was once poor, and a refugee enslaved in Egypt, until by God's great mercy he came to the promise land. Second, he allowed a great chasm to develop between him self and the poor, numbing him self to the needs of the poor. Jesus came to help us bridge that great chasm in this lifetime between ourselves and those in need.

This Homily (16 minutes) by Bishop Michael Warfel was given at the 5:30 pm Mass. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus reminds us that we are all called to care for those in need. We may be just the one whom God is sending to help that particular person in need. Life in Christ is more than just taking care of my family and those I love. Life in Christ calls each of us to reach out to the larger human family and aid those in need as best as we can.

Readings: Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Psalm 146:7-10; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31.

25th Sunday of Ordianry Time 23 Sept 2007

This Sunday we have the opportunity to hear two different homilists examine the parable of the dishonest steward. "You cannot serve both God and mammon."

This Homily (14 minutes) by Bishop Michael Warfel was given at the Sunday 8:30 am Mass. How Much stuff is enough? How we use the goods of the earth, indicates the depth of our relationship with Jesus. This is a right to life issue, i.e.: a right to clean water, to food, to shelter, etc... Three things we can do: 1) Make an inventory of our resources (bank accounts, clothes, tools, toys, etc...) and examine how do they build up the Kingdom of God. Do they help or hinder my relationship with Christ. 2) Share some of our resources with those who are deprived and are in need. 3) Get involved locally with helping those in need. Jesus in the disguise of the poor.

This Homily (19 minutes) by Fr. Thomas Weise was given at the Sunday 5:30 pm Mass. Just what is Jesus doing by praising the dishonest steward's craftiness? Could this praise be seen as a lament. Jesus simply desires that we put in at least an equal amount of time into taking care of our spiritual life as we do in caring for our worldly possessions. St. John Chrysostom makes the bold claim that if we have two coats, one of those costs has been stolen from the poor. This is not easy for me to hear when I have 18+ coats. He goes on to say that riches are a loan from God that are to be deposited with the poor so that we might receive a hundredfold reward, for they will be our friends in the eternal habitations.

Readings: Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113:1-2, 4-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time 16 Sept 2007

This weekend we had the wonderful opportunity here at the Cathedral to hear three different homilist preaching on the same four biblical texts. Especially the three parables found in the 15th chapter of Luke. Jesus tells those who are complaining that he is keeping company with sinners the parables of: the Lost Sheep; the Lost Coin; and the Prodigal Son.

This Homily (16 minutes) by Fr. Scott Settimo, OCDS, was given at the 5:30pm Saturday evening Mass. He explores the struggle that we have to understand God's Mercy and Justice.

This Homily (19 minutes) by Fr. Thomas Weise, was given at the 8:00am Sunday morning Mass. He explores just how do we respond to God's Justice and Mercy. Are we more like the younger brother, the older brother, or on a best day are we like the father.

This Homily (20 minutes) by Deacon Charles Rohrbacher, was given at the 11:00am Sunday morning Mass. He uses real life examples to make the parable of the prodigal son come alive, finding that God's Mercy and Justice are in fact the same.

Readings: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15

ANC Priest Retreat 10 Life Before Death Sept 2007

This Conference (16 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, explores the value of simple living. A master teacher is asked "If there is life after death?" and he only laughs. Are we really living before we die? Are we so busy with the unimportant that we are really not living now? How do I want to simplify my life to have time to do the things that are really important? The retreat finishes with a challenge to write out ten things that each of us can do in the next year in order to be fully alive.

ANC Priest Retreat 9 Life Wheel Sept 2007

This Conference (34 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, explores the importance of the Human Body in salvation history. From the Creed we pray, "I believe in the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting." My Body is so valued by God that God should choose to live there. Therefore the care for the body is a Spiritual Practice. The "Life Wheel" is introduced as a way of evaluating how well we are taking care of our bodies. There are eight sections: 1)Personal Development, 2)Physical Well-Being, 3)Fun and Recreation, 4)Work and Prosperity, 5)Food and Eating, 6)Spiritual Attunement, 7)Support System of Friends-Community-Nourishing Environments, 8)Primary Relationships. So draw a circle and divide into these eight sections and evaluate yourself in each section.

ANC Priest Retreat 8 Homily 6 Sept 2007

This Homily (11 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, explores the call of Peter the Fisherman. Jesus asks Peter to put out into the deep and lower his nets for a surprisingly large catch. How willing am I to follower Jesus' direction when I know that it does not work that way?

Readings: 1 Colossians 1:9-14; Psalm 98:2-6; Luke 5:1-11.

ANC Priest Retreat 7 Seperation Sept 2007

This Conference (45 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, looks at Siddhartha's fourth messenger--Separation. We can find the imprint of Christ's Paschal Mystery in all creation. Celtic Spirituality looks to two books: the Big Book--all of Creation, and the small book of revelation--the Bible. Lets look closely at Christian Funeral Practices.

ANC Priest Retreat 6 Obituary Sept 2007

This Conference (15 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, introduces the exercise of writing our own Obituary and planning our Funeral. By writing our Obituary and Planning our funeral Mass and other arrangements is a wonderful gift that we can give to those who will be caring for us after our death. This is the powerful integrative work for this retreat. Take the time to make this gift.

ANC Priest Retreat 5 Death Sept 2007

This Conference (40 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, looks straight into the eyes of Siddhartha's third visitor--Death. How well we love as we live indicates how well we will die. In a garden everything lives and dies, everything turns toward the light. How well do I turn to the Light of Christ's love to inform my life and my death. Fr. Tom looks closely at what Cardinal Bernardine beautifully taught all of us as he died.

ANC Priest Retreat 4 Homily 5 Sept 2007

This Daily Homily (14 Minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, examines the way people experienced the healing power of Jesus in those areas of their lives that were broken. Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law and then the whole town shows up to experience the power of Jesus. Do I come to Jesus in my brokenness?

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; Luke 4: 31-37.

ANC Priest Retreat 3 Illness Sept 2007

This Conference (54 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, looks at Siddhartha's second lesson--Illness. How do I embrace illness when it comes my way? Can I learn to juggle gracefully those things (both likes and dislikes) that life throughs at me. Siddhartha's first realization: all is Impermanent; the second: suffering comes from Attachment. How do I daily practice letting go in little ways? This conference includes a guided meditation on receiving news of your own terminal illness.

Anc Priest Retreat 2 Aging Sept 2007

This Conference (40 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, explores Siddhartha's fist visitor Aging. We are all subject to the law of impermanence. We all start losing abilities as we age. There is a pause half way to discuss the statement, "I am subject to aging: aging is unavoidable." How do I practice those little letting go opportunities in preparation for the big letting go of my death?

ANC Priest Retreat 1 Introduction Sept 2007

This Conference (42 minutes) by Fr. Tom Ryan a Paulist from Washington DC introduces the Anchorage Priest Retreat held at the Holy Spirit Center on the theme "Savor Life by Embracing our Mortality." Fr. Tom tells the story of how the Buddha first learned about suffering. As a young man Siddhartha is visited by Old Age, Sickness, Death, and Separation. This retreat was really great experince for me to look at how precious and often short life is. As Gahndi sumed up his life "Renounce and Enjoy."

Fr. Thomas Ryan, CSP, a catholic priest and certified Kripalu yoga teacher, coordinates ecumenical and inter-religious relations for the Paulist community in the U.S. and Canada. His nine books include Reclaiming the Body in Christian Spirituality; The Sacred Art of Fasting; Four Steps to Spiritual Freedom; Prayer of Heart and Body; Meditation and Yoga as Christian Spiritual Practice; and Disciplines for Christian Living: Interfaith Perspectives.

21th Sunday in Ordinary Time 26 August 2007

This Homily (17 minutes) by Fr. Thomas Weise examines the question "Who will be saved?" Jesus said "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough." (Luke 13:24) Let us each get a spiritual "work out" partner and help each other rely on Jesus to get us through that narrow gate.

Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117:1-2; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30.

Nativity of the BVM 9 Sept 2007

This Homily (15 Minutes) by Bishop Michael Warfel explores the Cost of Dicipleship in today's world. Today we also celebrate the Cathedral Parishes Feast Day--The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Readings: Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm 90:3-6, 12-17; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33.