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

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

10/31/21 Learning to Lose: All is Lost

Ascension — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.

When all is lost, love God with all that's left.

We are called to love God with everything. It is easier to love when we are winning, but are we able to love when we've lost? What if we have lost everything? When we've lost, we are most tempted to become bitter, resentful, and take back our love. But we are made to love God and we can trust God even in the midst of losing it all.

Mass Readings from October 31st, 2021:
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalms 18:2-4, 47, 51
Hebrews 7:23-28

05/09/21 Spark Joy

Ascension — Mon, 10 May 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

Joy is rooted in confidence and comes as a consequence.

We can choose joy only insofar as we can choose the source of our joy. Joy comes as a consequence; it is a fruit. And the depth and permanence of our joy is only going to be as deep and long lasting as what we place our confidence in. Only when we surrender to the love of God can we have a joy that is deeper and more permanent than any amount of suffering that comes from life.

Mass Readings from May 9, 2021:
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Psalms 98:1-4
1 John 4:7-10

10/04/20 It's Not Your Vineyard

Ascension — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

God has made you for freedom from anxiety over the unforeseeable future, the unchangeable past, and your present responsibilities.

Many people are overwhelmed by anxiety. Anxiety over all the things that need to get done and over all that they have been through. But God calls us to have no anxiety at all. And to surrender our past, present, and future to His dominion..

Mass Readings from October 4, 2020:
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalms 80:9,12,13-16,19-20
Philippians 4:6-9

06/28/20 Something to Lose

Ascension — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 18:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

It is a gift to have something to lose.

Every good thing in our lives comes from Jesus. Since He is the source of everything, He must be more important than anything.

Mass Readings from June 28, 2020:
2 Kings 4:8-11,14-16
Psalms 89:2-3,16-19
Romans 6:3-4, 8-11

02/03/19 Disqualified: Remarkably Average

Ascension — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 07:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Being unqualified does not disqualify when God calls.

There are many people who would look remarkably average on paper. Our stats would reveal that we are unqualified for being a part of God’s great work. But the Lord calls us to the greatest of these: love.

Mass Readings from February 3, 2019:
Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Psalms 71:1-6, 15-17
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

10/21/18 Rivals: The Rival of Control

Ascension — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 01:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

What do I have to do to get what I want?

So much of our lives can be marked by the desire to control…or the fear of losing control. The rival of control can dominate. And the trust of praise and surrender can liberate.

Mass Readings from October 21, 2018:
Isaiah 53:10-11
Psalms 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
Hebrews 4:14-16

10/14/18 Rivals: The Reason is the Rival

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

Homily from the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

God has an absolute claim on your heart. What is the reason you won't give it to Him?

There is a clear difference between a reason and an excuse. Excuses are not acceptable answers, but there are times when even “good reasons” fail to be “good enough”.

Mass Readings from October 14, 2018:
Wisdom 7:7-11
Psalms 90:12-17
Hebrews 4:12-13