Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

5/7/23 Spiritual Houses

May 6th, 2023  |  17 mins 56 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

The Temple is the place of sacrifice. Peter notes that we are built into a spiritual house. We know what kind of building it is based on the purpose of the building. And the purpose of the Temple is to be the Presence of God and the place of worship and sacrifice. If we are temples of the Holy Spirit, then this is true for us as well.

4/30/23 Homestretch: Love

April 29th, 2023  |  18 mins 44 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Sometimes love is just showing up. At the twilight of our lives, we will be judged on love alone. And to love is to give. Love almost always involves sacrifice. Because there is no present like the time.

4/23/23 Homestretch: Hope

April 22nd, 2023  |  21 mins 35 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Christian hope does not trust that all will be well if I get what I want, but that all will be well even when I don't. Sometimes the hardest part of the race is the last lap...and sometimes the hardest part of the race is the second to last lap. When the finish line is so far off that you can't see the end. In those moments, when all seems lost, hope declares that God can bring life out of death.

4/16/23 Homestretch: Faith

April 15th, 2023  |  20 mins 37 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

It is of no use to say "I believe in Jesus" and then go back to life as usual. Faith is at the heart of our relationship with God. But our faith cannot simply be what we agree with or a mere belief. Our faith must move, act, and work. Like the early disciples, we must devote our lives to a "life of faith".

4/9/23 The Body

April 8th, 2023  |  18 mins 6 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

I believe in the resurrection of the flesh. Just as Jesus Christ conquered death by dying and gave us life by rising from the dead, every person will get their body back. Those who are lost will have the bodies in Hell, and those who are saved will have their glorified bodies in Heaven. What will those bodies be like?

4/7/23 Guilty

April 7th, 2023  |  15 mins 22 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

I am guilty. And I am loved. When we are falsely accused, we can often be tempted to defend ourselves or justify ourselves. This makes sense, since we want the truth to be known. But we must not fool ourselves into convincing ourselves that we are innocent. Christ came to save sinners. That means, if I am not a sinner—if I am not guilty—then Christ did not come to save me. But I am guilty...and He did come for me. And for you.

4/6/23 Priesthood

April 6th, 2023  |  18 mins 23 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

The only gifts the first priests had to offer the world was what God had given them. Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the final stages of Christ's Passion. But it also marks the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood.

4/2/23 Prototype: Acceptance

April 1st, 2023  |  18 mins 49 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. Jesus' secret is voluntary and radical acceptance. In His final moments on earth, our Rabbi teaches us one of the greatest lessons of Bet Midrash: how do we face the worst possible realities of life? Do we resist reality? Do we avoid addressing what scares us? Or do we do what Jesus did? Do we choose voluntary and radical acceptance?

3/26/23 Prototype: Tears

March 25th, 2023  |  24 mins 11 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Jesus wept. Why does Jesus weep in the face of the death of Lazarus? He weeps to silence the Great Lie. He weeps because He loves. He weeps in order to teach us to weep.

3/19/23 Prototype: Fault

March 18th, 2023  |  21 mins 43 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Lent. We need to stop asking "who is to blame?" and start asking "What can God do with this?" The disciples ask Jesus whose fault it is that the man was born blind. So many of us have a tendency to ask the same question: "Whose fault is this?" While that is a natural question, it is not always a helpful question. There is a better question that we can ask.

3/12/23 Prototype: Vision

March 11th, 2023  |  26 mins 47 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent. Jesus taught the world how to see the person. We are constantly facing the temptation to define people by their group or by their shame. Jesus reveals that, while He knows the group or by their shame, He sees the person...the individual...and calls them by their name.

3/5/23 Prototype: Prayer

March 4th, 2023  |  17 mins 11 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from the Second Sunday of Lent.

In teaching about prayer, Jesus offered something no other rabbi could give. Jesus, the Prototype, reveals His prayer to the Apostles. Every rabbi would teach his disciples how to pray, but Jesus is able to give His disciples something that no other rabbi could offer. Jesus prays as the Beloved Son...Jesus teaches His disciples to pray as beloved children who have been claimed by their Father.

2/26/23 Prototype: Temptation

February 25th, 2023  |  24 mins 38 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from the First Sunday of Lent. Expect the Trial. Eliminate the Option. Re-Write the Script. Focus on the Word. We will face trials and temptations throughout our lives. When we follow and study Jesus our rabbi, we learn how to face temptations the way he did.

2/22/23 Prototype: Jesus is the Model

February 22nd, 2023  |  12 mins 6 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from Ash Wednesday. The goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ. As we begin Lent, we often mistakenly choose arbitrary things to give up or arbitrary ways to pray. But the goal of Lent is more than "doing something difficult" or "getting better". The goal of lent is the imitation of Christ.

2/19/23 Homeless: Give Up or Surrender

February 18th, 2023  |  26 mins 7 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. The difference between giving up and surrender is one word: trust. There are so many circumstances in life that are beyond our control. We can easily feel powerless as we realize that we cannot control all outcomes. Christ's words in the Gospel might look like giving up, but they are something vastly different...and far more hopeful. Mass Readings from February 19, 2023: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48

2/12/23 Homeless: Freedom

February 11th, 2023  |  27 mins 15 secs

bible in a year, bible in a year podcast, bible in a year with father mike schmitz, catholic, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic mass, catholic priest, catholic religion, catholicism, catholics, christian, christianity, father mike, father mike schmitz, fr mike, fr. mike schmitz, fr.mike, god, homilies, homily, homily podcast, homily podcast father mike schmitz, homily podcast fr.mike schmitz, message, religion, roman catholic, sermons

Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our hearts are enslaved...exile can be the cure. There are so many circumstances that are beyond our control. But no matter the situation, one thing that cannot be taken away from a person made in God's image is the freedom to choose how one responds to those circumstances. Our hearts can be enslaved in any situation, but they can also be free in any situation.