Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz - Episodes Tagged with “Faith”

08/07/22 Loosen the Roots

Ascension — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

We sacrifice because we love and we love because we sacrifice.

The roots in our lives can be so beneficial. Family and friends, home and homeland. But roots can also become traps. Good things can become Ultimate Things. When we say "I need this" and are willing to sacrifice anything to get or to hold on to it, we become trapped. In this, God loosens the roots and calls us to walk by faith.

Mass Readings from August 7, 2022:
Wisdom 18:6-9
Psalms 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

05/22/22 The Gift of the Church

Ascension — Mon, 23 May 2022 17:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

The great temptation to stay in our own "version" of the Church.

God has given us the gift of the Church. The Church is His Body...the Church is His Bride. And we cannot have Jesus without His Church.

Mass Readings from May 22, 2022:
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Psalms 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

04/17/22 Nothing

Ascension — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Mass of Easter Day.

What did he see?

John ran to the tomb and looked in. He saw and believed. What did he see?

Mass Readings from April 17, 2022:
Acts 10:34, 37-43
Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Colossians 3:1-4

01/16/22 Jesus Changes Things

Ascension — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 17:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Jesus changes shame into joy.

There are certain things, certain failures, embarrassments, and shames, that could define our lives. There are certain events that could define our lives in a negative way unless something changes. Jesus can change those things.

Mass Readings from January 16, 2022:
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalms 96:1-3, 7-10
1 Corinthians 12:4-11

10/24/21 Learning to Lose: Get Up

Ascension — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 15:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Life is about losing. It is not about quitting.

It is one thing to lose. It is another thing when those losses begin to stack up and we get to the point where we haven't just lost...we've been beaten. We can wind up feeling defeated. Into this place of defeat, God Himself speaks into our loss and our shame, telling us what is needed.

Mass Readings from October 24th, 2021:
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Psalms 126:1-6
Hebrews 5:1-6

10/17/21 Learning to Lose: Winner or Witness?

Ascension — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Life isn't about power, it is about being poured out.

The world sees life as being about winning. And to win is to gain power and influence. If a person wins they get power, and with that power they can re-shape the world as they see fit. But a Christian view of winning is different. Life is not about power, it is about being poured out. Life isn't about winning, it is about witnessing.

Mass Readings from October 17th, 2021:
Isaiah 53:10-11
Psalms 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
Hebrews 4:14-16

09/12/21 Not Mine

Ascension — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 16:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Faith must be lived, not merely believed.

It is wise to take responsibility for one’s own time, resources, and family. And yet, we must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. This demands faith. Real faith is more than belief, but involves renunciation of any claim we might have on our lives in favor of the absolute claim Jesus has on every aspect of our lives.

Mass Readings from September 12, 2021:
Isaiah 50:5-9
Psalms 116:1-6, 8-9
James 2:14-18

06/20/21 Everyday Courage: Into the Storm

Ascension — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

God is in the storm.

There are times when we do everything God has asked us to do…and we still find ourselves in the midst of a storm. In those moments, we are called to resist resentment and embrace courage. In those moments, we are called to run into the storm, confident that God is in the storm.

Mass Readings from June 20, 2021:
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalms 92:2-3, 13-16
2 Corinthians 5:6-10

06/06/21 The Crisis of Love

Ascension — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Homily from The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Do we lack faith? Or do we lack love?

Most people who call themselves Catholic do not believe one of the most central and most powerful teaching in the Church. Is it because they lack hearing? Do they lack the opportunity to know about this teaching? Do they lack faith? Or is something else missing?

Mass Readings from June 6, 2021:
Exodus 24:3-8
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
Hebrews 9:11-15

04/18/21 To Be A Witness

Ascension — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Third Sunday of Easter.

It is possible to see the miracle and to not be a witness.

It is possible to encounter God and go back to the same life. It is possible to live as if the miracle had never happened. It is possible to say "I believe" and not be a witness. But it is also possible to not see a miracle and still bear witness to Christ by how we live, what we choose, and what we love.

Mass Readings from April 18, 2021:
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Psalms 4:2, 4, 7-9
1 John 2:1-5

01/31/21 Hindsight 20/20: Worthless Knowledge

Ascension — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 21:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

I learned, but I didn’t grow.

Knowledge is powerful. Having lived through this past year, and looking back on what we have been through is essential. We can have learned a great number of things over 2020. But unless we are willing to act on that knowledge, hindsight will be powerless.

Mass Readings from January 31, 2021:
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9
1 Corinthians 7:32-35

12/27/20 Holy Families

Ascension — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 16:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Mass of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Parents are not powerless.

It can be so easy for parents to feel powerless when it comes to passing on the faith to their families. But there are four powerful tools every parent can employ to help their families become holy families.

Mass Readings from December 27, 2020:
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Psalms 128:1-5
1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20

12/20/20 Silent Waiting

Ascension — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 15:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Silence magnifies and waiting purifies.

Waiting is not meant to be wasted. The chance to wait in silence is often given by God to serve a purpose...above all to change our faith into something new.

Mass Readings from December 20, 2020:
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
Psalms 89:2-5, 27, 29
Romans 16:25-27

11/29/20 Be Here

Ascension — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 14:00:00 -0600

Homily from the First Sunday of Advent.

God will not just get us through this moment…He has brought us to this moment.

Too often, we find ourselves just wanting this moment to be “done." We miss out on the miracle of the moment because we see what is happening as something that is getting in the way of life. But this is life. There is not another one we are waiting for. We need to learn to trust that God is not just going to help us get through this moment, but that He has brought us to this moment.

Mass Readings from November 29, 2020:
Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7
Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9

11/15/20 Roadmap: Checkpoints

Ascension — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

What have you done with what you've been given?

No one ever sets out to lose. But losing is entirely possible: in business, relationships, and in the spiritual life. It is possible to lose one’s soul. No one wants to lose, but many people do. Even with a great roadmap, we need regular checkpoints to make sure we are on course and haven’t gone off track.

Mass Readings from November 15, 2020:
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
Psalms 128:1-5
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

11/08/20 Roadmap: Accident or Excellent

Ascension — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 15:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Excellence requires making the decision carefully, consistently, and quickly.

The one question that can either deflate or motivate a person is “When?” This question reveals whether our goal is an actual goal or merely a wish. But if we want to escape a life of accidents and craft a life of excellence, we need to make the decision of “when” are we going to choose excellence carefully, consistently, and quickly.

Mass Readings from November 8, 2020:
Wisdom 6:12-16
Psalms 63:2-8
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

10/18/20 Roadmap: Be A Saint

Ascension — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The roadmap begins with “Who.”

There is one true goal in life: to be a saint. Many of us believe this, but is there a path? Without a plan, we will certainly fail to hit the goal. Without a roadmap, we will spend our time on this planet wandering as if we neither know where we are or where we are going.

Mass Readings from October 18, 2020:
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalms 96:1, 3-5, 7-10
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

08/16/20 Great Faith

Ascension — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Faith can only become great when it is tested.

What kind of faith do you want? Faith that makes a difference because it is lived out is the only kind of faith that matters.

Mass Readings from August 16, 2020:
Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Psalms 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

08/09/20 Why Did You Stop?

Ascension — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

It is one thing to start walking. It is another thing to keep walking.

Distraction is anything that takes our focus away from where it needs to be.

Mass Readings from August 9, 2020:
1 Kings 19:9, 11-13
Psalms 85:9-12, 13-14
Romans 9:1-5

07/05/20 Lead Yourself First

Ascension — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Freedom requires virtue.

The Founding Fathers gave the world a republic that necessitated a people who were virtuous, moral, and religious..

Mass Readings from July 5, 2020:
Zechariah 9:9-10
Psalms 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14
Romans 8:9, 11-13

06/21/20 Fear No One

Ascension — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 15:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

You matter to God and you have a job to do.

Jesus tells us to "fear no one." Not because there is no danger, but because He is calling us to not be safe.

Mass Readings from June 21, 2020:
Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalms 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35
Romans 5:12-15

05/24/20 Exiles: Restoration

Ascension — Mon, 25 May 2020 13:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Ascension of the Lord.

Live the reason.

Return from exile is not about a change in location, it is about a change in vocation. It is less about geography and more about mission. The goal is not Resurrection, the goal is Restoration.

Mass Readings from May 24, 2020:
Acts 1:1-11
Psalms 47:2-3, 6-9
Ephesians 1:17-23

05/17/20 Exiles: Why Go Back?

Ascension — Mon, 18 May 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

Not a habit or a have-to, but the heart is the reason.

At some point, the exile will end. You will be able to go back. But why? What is the reason why you will go back?

Mass Readings from May 17, 2020:
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
Psalms 66:1-3, 4-7, 16, 20
1 Peter 3:15-18

04/19/20 Insecure: The Source of Security

Ascension — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 01:00:00 -0500

Homily from Divine Mercy Sunday.

In a time of incredible insecurity, we trust in incomprehensible mercy.

We live in an insecure world, but God’s mercy is stable.

Mass Readings from April 19, 2020:
Acts 2:42-47
Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
1 Peter 1:3-9

02/09/20 Good...For Nothing?

Ascension — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 09:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Refuse to live as salt and light, and the Father remains unknown, unloved, and unglorified.

God trusts us with being His representatives in this world. He has made us His and He has made us good. But to what end? God has made us good for a purpose. Do we live in such a way that we have been made good for nothing?

Mass Readings from February 9, 2020:
Isaiah 58:7-10
Psalms 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-5

09/29/19 Are You Saved? From What: Lifelessness

Ascension — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Jesus took from us what was ours so He could give to us what is His.

God’s grace is the cause of our salvation. God’s free gift is what gives us the power to even choose Him or choose to do good works. We do not merely “collect” or “receive” His grace, but we become active participants with Him.

Mass Readings from September 29, 2019:
Amos 6:1, 4-7
Psalms 146:7-10
1 Timothy 6:11-16

09/22/19 Are You Saved? From What: Hopelessness

Ascension — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Jesus took from us what was ours so He could give to us what is His.

When we come face to face with our sin, we realize that we owe a debt we cannot pay. When we come face to face with Jesus, we realize that He paid a debt He did not owe. This is the free gift that saves us from hopelessness: we are saved by grace through faith working itself out in love.

Mass Readings from September 22, 2019:
Amos 8:4-7
Psalms 113:1-2, 4-8
1 Timothy 2:1-8

08/25/19 Hope and Discipline

Ascension — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Discipline is the mark of the mature Christian.

We have to do difficult things all of the time. Why do we do them? We do them because we hope. We have the confidence that what we do makes a difference. The hope that, even when discipline becomes difficult, the discipline makes a difference.

Mass Readings from August 25, 2019:
Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalms 117:1-2
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13

08/11/19 Living By Faith

Ascension — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

A disciple is a decision-maker.

Faith is more than belief. It “acts”. It can be seen. In fact, what we choose reveals our faith. And our decisions shape our lives, here on earth and in eternity.

Mass Readings from August 11, 2019:
Wisdom 18:6-9
Psalms 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

07/07/19 Declaration

Ascension — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Father has uttered His declaration; we are offered the chance to answer.

All of Christianity comes down to one question: does God have permission to love you?

Mass Readings from July 07, 2019:
Isaiah 66:10-14
Psalms 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
Galatians 6:14-18

05/05/19 #Fail: The Only Way to Fail

Ascension — Mon, 06 May 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Third Sunday of Easter.

The only way for failure to be final is if you stop.

Even sin is not final if you don’t stop. God has a call for you that is not erased by failure.

Mass Readings from May 5, 2019:
Acts 5:27-32, 40-41
Psalms 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
Revelation 5:11-14

04/14/19 Behind Enemy Lines: Stand

Ascension — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.

To stand for Jesus is to stand against the world.

If I live in such a way that I merely follow the crowd, I will find myself praising Jesus on Sunday and crying out for His Crucifixion on Friday. This world is a “not friend“ of the Christian. Therefore, we must stand against the world and for Jesus.

Mass Readings from April 14, 2019:
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalms 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Philippians 2:6-11

12/25/18 But Why?

Ascension — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 07:30:00 -0600

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

10/07/18 Rivals: All or Nothing

Ascension — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 19:15:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

There are some relationships that do not tolerate rivals.

There are only two kinds of relationships that get to a point where it is “all…or nothing”: Romantic relationships and our relationship with Jesus. If we say “all”, that carries with it some consequences. Namely, all of our heart must belong to the other.

Mass Readings from October 7, 2018:
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalms 128:1-6
Hebrews 2:9-11