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

09/11/22 Eulogy Virtues: Joy

Ascension — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 11:45:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Who you are now is who you are.

Joy is the abiding sense of well-being. It is a feeling, but it is also a choice. But we do not choose joy itself. We must choose the source of joy. Love is the source of joy.

Mass Readings from September 11, 2022
Exodus 32:7-11
Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
1 Timothy 1:12-17

08/14/22 Finish the Race

Ascension — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Sometimes God gives the victory and sometimes God gives what we need to finish the race.

Every one of us is in the middle of the race of our lives. God has called us and brought us here, even when there is no victory in sight and even when victory is not possible. But God will always give whatever we need to finish the race.

Mass Readings from August 14, 2022:
Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Psalms 40:2-4, 18
Hebrews 12:1-4

07/24/22 Teach Us How

Ascension — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Who determines the How.

The disciples did not merely want Jesus to help them have a "better spiritual life" or a deeper prayer life; they wanted to pray how He prayed. And Jesus taught them. He taught them that Who we pray to determines how we pray.

Mass Readings from July 24, 2022:
Genesis 18:20-32
Psalms 138:1-3, 6-8
Colossians 2:12-14

07/17/22 The Question

Ascension — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Feeling anxious, worried, or sorry for yourself is normal. It is also completely unhelpful.

We have a problem. And the problem is that we can do the right thing in the wrong way. We can choose to serve...while feeding our worry and self-pity. We can carry our cross...while feeling anxious and sorry for ourselves. Everything comes down to one question; it is not a matter of being tough, it is a matter of trust.

Mass Readings from July 17, 2022:
Genesis 18:1-10
Psalms 15:2-5
Colossians 1:24-28

05/29/22 Ascension Gives Access

Ascension — Mon, 30 May 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord.

What am I going to do with the gifts I've been given?

In the Ascension, Jesus completes the work of redemption. He has taken His once for all sacrifice, bound to time and place, and brought it before the Father. Because of this, we have access to all of God's graces in every time and every place.

Mass Readings from May 29, 2022:
Acts 1:1-11
Psalms 47:2-3, 6-9
Ephesians 1:17-23

05/15/22 Do Not Be Shocked

Ascension — Sun, 15 May 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

The best you on the worst day of your life.

There are a few things that we ought to never be surprised by. One of them is suffering. God does not abandon us in our suffering, he leads us through them.

Mass Readings from May 15, 2022:
Acts 14:21-27
Psalms 145:8-13
Revelation 21:1-5
John 13:31-35

04/14/22 Last Words: The Final Last Word

Ascension — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 22:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper.

All of Jesus’ words are summed up in one word.

On the cross, Jesus’ life ends with the same perspective He has had from the beginning: He trusts His Father.

Mass Readings from April 14, 2022:
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalms 116:12-13, 15-18
1 Corinthians 11:23-26

12/19/21 Abounding Love: Love Commits

Ascension — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Love without a commitment remains an illusion.

In order to truly grow in love, there needs to be the willingness to make a commitment. And there needs to be the ability to keep a commitment.

Mass Readings from December 19, 2021:
Micah 5:1-4
Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Hebrews 10:5-10

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

09/19/21 Desperate

Ascension — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 19:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Edit, Convince, and Worry. Or Honesty, Trust, and Thanking God ahead of time.

The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation." We do not merely desire, we have inordinate desire driven by fear. We do not merely have ambition, we have selfish ambition in which we can only envision one possible outcome. To escape this trap, we must lean into honesty, trust and thanking God ahead of time.

Mass Readings from September 19, 2021:
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
Psalms 54:3-6 and 8
James 3:16—4:3

08/01/21 Consumer Catholic: Choose God.

Ascension — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 15:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Choose God over the works of God.

The signs point to Jesus and Jesus is the point of the signs. When we are challenged to merely consume… When we are challenged to want the gifts more than the Giver of the gift, we must allow ourselves to be trained in a trust in God. To be trained in freedom.

Mass Readings from August 1, 2021:
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Psalms 78:3-4, 23-25, 54
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24

06/27/21 Everyday Courage: Plan B

Ascension — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Love requires risk. Risk requires courage.

Many of us make plans. And many of those plans don’t end up working out the way that we had expected. Fortunately, God calls us to be courageous even when things don’t work out as we had expected.

Mass Readings from June 27, 2021:
Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24
Psalms 30:2, 4-6, 11, 12, 13
2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15

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

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

03/07/21 To The Heart: My Treacherous Heart

Ascension — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 17:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent.

Is the question, “Can I trust God?” Or is the better question, “Can God trust me?"

There is something that all of us discover about ourselves the moment we have a minute of self-reflection: we have the capacity to do the things we hate. In spite of our best efforts and sincere desires to be consistently good, we have this thing in our chests that ought not to be trusted. We have treacherous hearts. And yet, Jesus entrusts His Heart to ours at every Mass.

Mass Readings from March 07, 2021:
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalms 19:8-11
1 Corinthians 1:22-25

02/28/21 To The Heart: The Adventure of Obedience

Ascension — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 18:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Second Sunday of Lent.

Obedience precedes understanding.

We are made for adventure. But adventure means mystery and uncertainty. Often, what holds us back from action is a lack of knowing why. But what if there is a better question than “why?”? What if the adventure of obedience means asking “how?”?

Mass Readings from February 28, 2021:
Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18
Psalms 116:10, 15-17, 18-19
Romans 8:31-34

02/21/21 To The Heart: Untamed and Untamable

Ascension — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 15:00:00 -0600

Homily from the First Sunday of Lent.

God is not safe, but He is good.

Trust is a challenge for all of us. Trust in God is a battle that every person faces at some point in their lives. Often, we might find is easier to trust God if He were a “tame god”, but He is not. This Lent, our invitation is to not only trust in God’s mercy, but also in His justice.

Mass Readings from February 21, 2021:
Genesis 9:8-15
Psalms 25:4-9
1 Peter 3:18-22

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

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

05/10/20 Insecure: Uncertain Plans

Ascension — Sun, 10 May 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

Advance boldly into the shadows of uncertainty.

If we are wise, we will think about the future and plan for it. And if we are even wiser, we will be able to let go of those plans when we need to.

Mass Readings from May 10, 2020:
Acts 6:1-7
Psalms 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
1 Peter 2:4-9

05/03/20 Insecure: Untroubled by the Unknown

Ascension — Mon, 04 May 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

Knowing does not equal security.

In a world of insecurity, it is less important to know where one is being lead, and more important to know who is doing the leading.

Mass Readings from May 3, 2020:
Acts 2:14, 36-41
Psalms 23:1-6
1 Peter 2:20-25

03/29/20 Un-Done: Broken, Not Lost

Ascension — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Lent.

Jesus is the God of the Broken Heart.

Suffering, sickness, and death are devastating. But nothing is worse than losing one’s heart. A broken heart is still home in Jesus’ Heart.

Mass Readings from March 29, 2020:
Ezekiel 37:12-14
Psalms 130:1-8
Romans 8:8-11

03/22/20 Un-Done: God Shows Up

Ascension — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 20:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

Real suffering in this world reveals the deeper part of us that has come undone.

God made this world good, but He did not make it unbreakable. This world has come undone, and our sickness and suffering reveals the deeper ways our hearts have come undone.

Mass Readings from March 22, 2020:
1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
Psalms 23: 1-6
Ephesians 5:8-14

01/26/20 Underestimated: Silence is Not Absence

Ascension — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 09:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Do not underestimate what God is doing when it seems like God is doing nothing.

There are seasons of silence, and hiddenness, and brokenness in all of our lives. These times are not just useful, they are necessary for us to become the kind of people God needs us to be.

Mass Readings from January 26, 2020:
Isaiah 8:23-9:3
Psalms 27:1, 4, 13-14
1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

10/13/19 The Hardest Step: The First Step

Ascension — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

You just have to start.

The first step is the most difficult…but it is also the most important.

Mass Readings from October 13, 2019:
2 Kings 5:14-17
Psalms 98:1-4
2 Timothy 2:8-13

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

06/09/19 The Peace of Christ

Ascension — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from Pentecost Sunday.

I know I have what I need.

The promised Holy Spirit gives many gifts, but few are more powerful and profound than the Spirit’s gift of peace.

Mass Readings from June 9, 2019:
Acts 13:14, 43-52
Psalms 100:1-2, 3, 51
Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13

04/28/19 #Fail: Free to Fail

Ascension — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from Divine Mercy Sunday.

Failure is the one necessary prerequisite for God’s greatest gift.

Many people battle with perfectionism. God’s mercy in the midst of failure is His remedy for the fear that failure is the end.

Mass Readings from April 28, 2019:
Acts 5:12-16
Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22
Revelation 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19

03/31/19 Behind Enemy Lines: Let Go...and Come Inside

Ascension — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

We have different experiences, but the same enemy.

While all of us struggle with different sins and temptations, we all ultimately have the same enemy: pride. Pride is a chameleon and can disguise itself in many different ways. Ultimately, pride will work to keep you holding onto something other than God and to remain outside the Father’s house. Telling the truth…and hearing the Father’s voice…is the way to let go of what we cling to and come inside.

Mass Readings from March 31, 2019:
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalms 34:2-7
2 Corinthians 5:17-21

03/24/19 Behind Enemy Lines: Trust God...and Fight

Ascension — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 08:00:00 -0500

Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent.

Trained in trust...strengthened through struggle.

God has freely given so much to us…and we are grateful. But why do we still experience the consequences of slavery? God gives us the chance to grow in trust of Him and His love…and He allows us to grow stronger in our ability to walk as His children.

Mass Readings from March 24, 2019:
Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15
Psalms 103: 1-4, 6-8, 11
1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

02/17/19 The Fighting Virtue

Ascension — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 07:00:00 -0600

Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Willing to engage and embrace the realities of life.

Hope is not a “soft” virtue. It is a fighting virtue. Hope is what enables us to live in the present with strength and conviction. It takes hope to take action.

Mass Readings from February 17, 2019:
Jeremiah 17:5-8
Psalms 1:1-4, 6
1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20

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

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