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

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

04/10/22 Last Words: Tetelestai

Ascension — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 17:45:00 -0500

Homily from Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.

This one word connects and transforms the entire story.

There is a last word that does not merely disclose the Heart...it completes The Story.

Mass Readings from April 10, 2022:
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalms 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Philippians 2:6-11

03/13/22 Last Words: The Missing Last Word

Ascension — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Second Sunday of Lent.

Both men were loved. They weren't both saved.

The second Last Word of Jesus from the Cross is missing something. Jesus has begged for mercy for all...including the two criminals who were crucified with Him. But they did not both receive mercy. One received mercy and one rejected mercy.

Mass Readings from March 13, 2022:
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Psalms 27:1, 7-9, 13-14
Philippians 3:17—4:1

12/05/21 Abounding Love: What is Worth Your Heart?

Ascension — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Second Sunday of Advent.

Abounding love is focused love.

Too often, we do not love well because we do not discern what is worth loving; we don't pay attention to the value of things. Because of this, our love becomes diluted. But when we truly appreciate the value of the moment or the value of the person, we develop an attitude of abundance coupled with an awareness of scarcity. And while we love with our hearts, we discern what is worth loving with our heads.

Mass Readings from December 5, 2021:
Baruch 5:1-9
Psalm 126:1-3, 4-6
Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

07/18/21 The Poison of Indifference

Ascension — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 13:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Indifference does not mean you don’t care; it just means you don’t care enough to move.

There are many opportunities to waste one’s life. One of those ways is to allow one’s circle of interest to outstrip one’s circle of influence.

Mass Readings from July 18, 2021:
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalms 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:13-18

02/14/21 Hindsight 20/20: The Cost

Ascension — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Every choice comes at a cost.

Looking back, there are some things we could have known. And looking back, there are some things we could never have known. But one thing is unfailingly true when seen through hindsight: every decision comes at a price and every choice has a cost. Making the decision is risky, but there are things that are more important than staying safe.

Mass Readings from February 14, 2021:
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 11
1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1

11/25/18 Come to the Altar: Kingdom Priesthood

Ascension — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 07:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Solemnity of Christ the King.

Don't waste your priesthood.

Jesus is the one eternal High Priest. He has called certain men to participate in His priesthood in a unique way. But He has also extended a share in His priesthood to all believers so that the Father may be glorified and the world redeemed when the sacrifice is offered throughout the world.

Mass Readings from November 25, 2018:
Daniel 7:13-14
Psalms 93:1, 1-2, 5
Revelation 1:5-8

11/18/18 Come to the Altar: Learning to Worship

Ascension — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 07:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Not merely witnessing the miracle, but offering the sacrifice.

We have to learn the worship of God in a similar way that we need to learn the Word of God. The more we know What we are doing, Who we are offering, Why it is crucial, and When to focus, the more we will be able to do more than watch…we will be able to worship.

Mass Readings from November 18, 2018:
Daniel 12:1-3
Psalms 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
Hebrews 10:11-14, 18

11/11/18 Come to the Altar: Hollow Worship

Ascension — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 07:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Offering first-fruits reveals and increases the depth of trust.

The temptation to experience worship as hollow or empty is universal. God’s solution for our hearts is the invitation to offer Him our first-fruits. Sacrifices that are intentional, consequential, and representational have the power to transform our hearts and fill up what might be hollow worship.

Mass Readings from November 11, 2018:
1 Kings 17:10-16
Psalms 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Hebrews 9:24-28

11/04/18 Come to the Altar: Where's Your Altar?

Ascension — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 07:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Not to watch, but to worship.

The heart of religion is the worship of God. And the heart of worship is always sacrifice; a gift that is poured out on the altar. Where is your gift being poured out? Where is your altar?

Mass Readings from November 04, 2018:
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalms 18:2-4, 47, 51
Hebrews 7:23-28