What if all I received was HIM this Christmas?

We have waited for Jesus—and now that He is here, true gratitude is shown by living fully in the gift of His presence and love.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2025:

Isaiah 52:7-10

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Hebrews 1:1-6

John 1:1-18

]]> Homily from The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

What if all I received was HIM this Christmas?

We have waited for Jesus—and now that He is here, true gratitude is shown by living fully in the gift of His presence and love.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2025:

Isaiah 52:7-10

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Hebrews 1:1-6

John 1:1-18

]]> https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm/123137 e3c38b17-a34f-4e48-8355-767b8b58cf61 Sat, 13 Dec 2025 11:45:00 -0600 Ascension full Ascension While we are waiting, it can feel like nothing is happening. And yet, faith tells us that God is at work even when we can't yet see the fruit. Rather than complaining while we wait, there is another option. 21:19 no <p>Homily from the Third Sunday of Advent</p> <p>In seasons of waiting, do we complain or praise?</p> <p>While we are waiting, it can feel like nothing is happening. And yet, faith tells us that God is at work even when we can't yet see the fruit. Rather than complaining while we wait, there is another option.</p><dl> <dt> Mass Readings from December 14, 2025:</dt> <dt> Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 </dt> <dt> Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 </dt> <dt>James 5:7-10</dt> <p>Matthew 11:2-11</p> </dl> Fr. Mike, Advent, Waiting Well, Third Sunday of Advent, Christmas, Ascension, podcasts, Fr. Mike Schmitz Homily from the Third Sunday of Advent

In seasons of waiting, do we complain or praise?

While we are waiting, it can feel like nothing is happening. And yet, faith tells us that God is at work even when we can't yet see the fruit. Rather than complaining while we wait, there is another option.

Mass Readings from December 14, 2025:

Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

James 5:7-10

Matthew 11:2-11

]]> Homily from the Third Sunday of Advent

In seasons of waiting, do we complain or praise?

While we are waiting, it can feel like nothing is happening. And yet, faith tells us that God is at work even when we can't yet see the fruit. Rather than complaining while we wait, there is another option.

Mass Readings from December 14, 2025:

Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

James 5:7-10

Matthew 11:2-11

]]> https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm/122521 b4dc2667-bf69-402c-bd51-049f1639bb3a Sat, 25 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0600 Ascension full Ascension Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Mass). God is with you on the bathroom floor. We are so distracted by so many things that we need to look up. But sometimes we need to look lower in order to see where God is in our lives. 19:19 no <p>Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Mass).</p> <p>God is with you on the bathroom floor.</p> <p>We are so distracted by so many things that we need to look up. But sometimes we need to look lower in order to see where God is in our lives.</p><dl> <dt> Mass Readings from December 25, 2021:</dt> <dt> Isaiah 62:11-12</dt> <dt> Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12</dt> <dt>Titus 3:4-7</dt> <p>Luke 2:14</p> </dl> Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Mass).

God is with you on the bathroom floor.

We are so distracted by so many things that we need to look up. But sometimes we need to look lower in order to see where God is in our lives.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2021:

Isaiah 62:11-12

Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:14

]]> Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Mass).

God is with you on the bathroom floor.

We are so distracted by so many things that we need to look up. But sometimes we need to look lower in order to see where God is in our lives.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2021:

Isaiah 62:11-12

Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:14

]]> https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm/112821 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497831666205144147.post-43330586917314658 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 21:00:00 -0600 Ascension full Ascension Homily from the First Sunday of Advent. Two things are clear about the inn at Bethlehem: Love Incarnate showed up and there was no room for Him. Too often, we want to love the way we have been created to love. But we find ourselves incapable of loving this way. 19:56 no <p>Homily from the First Sunday of Advent.</p> <p>Two things are clear about the inn at Bethlehem: Love Incarnate showed up and there was no room for Him.</p> <p>Too often, we want to love the way we have been created to love. But we find ourselves incapable of loving this way. Not because we aren't willing or because we don't want to...but because our lives are simply too full. We have no room to love.</p><dl> <dt> Mass Readings from November 28th, 2021:</dt> <dt> Jeremiah 33:14-16</dt> <dt> Psalms 25:4-5, 8-10, 14</dt> <dt>1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2</dt> <p>Luke 21:25-28, 34-36</p> </dl> Homily from the First Sunday of Advent.

Two things are clear about the inn at Bethlehem: Love Incarnate showed up and there was no room for Him.

Too often, we want to love the way we have been created to love. But we find ourselves incapable of loving this way. Not because we aren't willing or because we don't want to...but because our lives are simply too full. We have no room to love.

Mass Readings from November 28th, 2021:

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalms 25:4-5, 8-10, 14

1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

]]> Homily from the First Sunday of Advent.

Two things are clear about the inn at Bethlehem: Love Incarnate showed up and there was no room for Him.

Too often, we want to love the way we have been created to love. But we find ourselves incapable of loving this way. Not because we aren't willing or because we don't want to...but because our lives are simply too full. We have no room to love.

Mass Readings from November 28th, 2021:

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalms 25:4-5, 8-10, 14

1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

]]> https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm/122520 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497831666205144147.post-2550309567364587322 Fri, 25 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0600 Ascension full Ascension Homily from the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). When you and I look at the image of the baby Jesus in the manger, how would we answer the question: why is He there? 14:53 no <p>Homily from the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas).</p> <p>Why is He there?</p> <p>We have become more comfortable with the "completed" past than the unknown future. Rather than desiring to launch into the challenge of the future, many of us have become paralyzed by fear of the future. When we are rooted in the Word of God each day, we become more rooted in God Himself each day. When we are rooted in the Lord, there is no room for fear of the future.</p><dl> <dt> Mass Readings from December 25, 2020:</dt> <dt> Isaiah 52:7-10</dt> <dt> Psalm 98:1-6</dt> <dt>Hebrews 1:1-6</dt> <p>John 1:1-18</p> </dl> Homily from the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas).

Why is He there?

We have become more comfortable with the "completed" past than the unknown future. Rather than desiring to launch into the challenge of the future, many of us have become paralyzed by fear of the future. When we are rooted in the Word of God each day, we become more rooted in God Himself each day. When we are rooted in the Lord, there is no room for fear of the future.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2020:

Isaiah 52:7-10

Psalm 98:1-6

Hebrews 1:1-6

John 1:1-18

]]> Homily from the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas).

Why is He there?

We have become more comfortable with the "completed" past than the unknown future. Rather than desiring to launch into the challenge of the future, many of us have become paralyzed by fear of the future. When we are rooted in the Word of God each day, we become more rooted in God Himself each day. When we are rooted in the Lord, there is no room for fear of the future.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2020:

Isaiah 52:7-10

Psalm 98:1-6

Hebrews 1:1-6

John 1:1-18

]]> https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm/122519 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497831666205144147.post-6878679329121637706 Wed, 25 Dec 2019 09:00:00 -0600 Ascension full Ascension Homily from the Nativity of the Lord. God will always fulfill His promises. Is that enough? 20:44 no <p>Homily from the Nativity of the Lord.</p> <p>God will always fulfill His promises. Is that enough?</p> <p>We know that God is faithful because He has fulfilled what He has promised. But He does not need to do what He has not promised to do.</p><dl> <dt> Mass Readings from December 25, 2019:</dt> <dt> Isaiah 52:7-10</dt> <dt> Psalms 98:1-6</dt> <dt>Hebrews 1:1-6</dt> <p>John 1:1-18</p> </dl> Homily from the Nativity of the Lord.

God will always fulfill His promises. Is that enough?

We know that God is faithful because He has fulfilled what He has promised. But He does not need to do what He has not promised to do.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2019:

Isaiah 52:7-10

Psalms 98:1-6

Hebrews 1:1-6

John 1:1-18

]]> Homily from the Nativity of the Lord.

God will always fulfill His promises. Is that enough?

We know that God is faithful because He has fulfilled what He has promised. But He does not need to do what He has not promised to do.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2019:

Isaiah 52:7-10

Psalms 98:1-6

Hebrews 1:1-6

John 1:1-18

]]> https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm/122518 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6497831666205144147.post-8005298099598824847 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 07:30:00 -0600 Ascension full Ascension Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). The Why is a Who. Jesus is not merely the “reason for the season”… He is the reason for everything. 18:33 no <p>Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas).</p> <p>The Why is a Who.</p> <p>Jesus is not merely the “reason for the season”… He is the reason for everything.</p><dl> <dt> Mass Readings from December 25, 2018:</dt> <dt> Isaiah 62:11-12</dt> <dt> Psalms 97:1, 6, 11-12</dt> <dt>Titus 3:4-7</dt> <p>Luke 2:15-20</p> </dl> Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas).

The Why is a Who.

Jesus is not merely the “reason for the season”… He is the reason for everything.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2018:

Isaiah 62:11-12

Psalms 97:1, 6, 11-12

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:15-20

]]> Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas).

The Why is a Who.

Jesus is not merely the “reason for the season”… He is the reason for everything.

Mass Readings from December 25, 2018:

Isaiah 62:11-12

Psalms 97:1, 6, 11-12

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:15-20

]]>