Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Homily from the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Do I have an attitude of scarcity or an attitude of abundance? All of us have gifts in our lives and all of us have real struggles in our lives. What weight do we give our blessings and what weight do we give our struggles? Mass Readings from August 2, 2020: Isaiah 55:1-3 Psalms 145:8-9,15-18Romans 8:35, 37-39 Matthew 14:13-21

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, 13-14Romans 8:9, 11-13 Matthew 11:25-30

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 89:2-3,16-19Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 Matthew 10:37-42

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, 33-35Romans 5:12-15 Matthew 10:26-33

Homily from the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist will never be optional...until the day it is no longer an option. The moment worship becomes about “what I get” it ceases to be an act of love and becomes idolatry. Mass Readings from June 14, 2020: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16 Psalm 147:12-15, 19-201 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58

Homily from the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. You do not have to know the details of a person’s life to know they are worth loving. Human worth is rooted in our deepest identity. And our deepest identity comes from being made in God’s image and likeness. And God’s deepest identity is love. Mass Readings from June 7, 2020: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 Daniel 3:52-562 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18

Homily from Pentecost Sunday. For the love of God has been poured into our hearts. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that we could receive the first gift of the Holy Spirit: to know what it is to be loved by the Father. Mass Readings from May 31, 2020: Acts 2:1-11 Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-31, 341 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 Download the Homily Study

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, 6-9Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20 Download the Homily Study

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, 201 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21 Download the Homily Study

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, 18-191 Peter 2:4-9 John 14:1-12 Download the Homily Study

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 23:1-61 Peter 2:20-25 John 10:1-10 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Third Sunday of Easter. Back to normal might not be what we think. Our lives can be spent wishing for certain outcomes. But a security built on specific outcomes is a conditional and temporary security. We need true hope to walk in confidence. Mass Readings from April 26, 2020: Acts 2:14, 22-33 Psalms 16:1-2, 5, 7-111 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35 Download the Homily Study

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, 22-241 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31 Download the Homily Study

Homily from Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil. We profess the faith today so we can persevere in the faith tomorrow. Christianity is an historical religion that is not based on feelings, philosophies, or myths. It is based on a fact: the fact of the resurrection of Jesus. The one thing that changes everything.

Homily from Good Friday of the Lord's Passion. Why are we surprised when we discover that “weakness” is actually weak? Jesus prepared His disciples for His Passion. But they were not ready, because they had not factored in their own weakness. But Jesus had factored it in. It was, in fact, why He entered His Passion. Mass Readings from April 10, 2020: Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Psalms 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42

Homily from Holy Thursday, the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper. God speaks your true name: "Mine." Our name is our identity. Christ has covered our given name with His blood. And now we have a new name: we are “His.” Mass Readings from April 9, 2020: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 Psalms 116:12-13, 15-181 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15

Homily from Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. Jesus has not removed suffering from our lives, He has redeemed the suffering in our lives. Jesus accomplished the Father’s will in His passion, death, and resurrection. His mission of salvation is “finished.” And yet, Christ’s Body on earth still lives out the mission of Her Head: we are called to unite our sufferings to His for the salvation of the world. And this work — the work He has entrusted to us — remains unfinished. Mass Readings from April 5, 2020: Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalms 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14-27:66 Download the Homily Study

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 37:12-14Psalms 130:1-8Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 Download the Homily Study

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: 1-6Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent. You are not fine. You don't have to be. We live in a world that has come undone with hearts and relationships that have come undone. Jesus comes to that wound to undo what has been undone. Mass Readings from March 15, 2020: Exodus 17:3-7 Psalms 95:1-2, 6-9Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the First Sunday of Lent. The decision that broke the world. This world is not perfect. And we are not perfect. But imperfect does not mean unloved. Mass Readings from March 1, 2020: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Psalms 51:3-6, 12-13, 17Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11 Download the Homily Study

Homily from Ash Wednesday. Your Father sees you. Your Father hears you. We all desire to be heard and seen...to know we matter. Jesus reveals that even your actions in secret are known by the Father and they matter to Him. Mass Readings from February 26, 2020: Joel 2:12-18 Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-14, 172 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Homily from the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. If we are going to love like Jesus, we must love differently…we must love defiantly. The Universe is indifferent to us. People can be vicious to us. The Christian’s response is not indifference nor viciousness. The Christian response is to love in the face of indifference and evil. Mass Readings from February 23, 2020: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 Psalms 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-131 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48 See the Picture of Saint Maria Goretti

Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. God wants you to have a heart like His. The Sermon on the Mount reveals the truth about our hearts: we need the Law. But God wants us to be free from the Law. Not by abolishing the Law, but by making our hearts like His. We can let Him do this by taking responsibility, taking action, and taking hold of the strength He offers. Mass Readings from February 16, 2020: Sirach 15:15-20 Psalms 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-341 Corinthians 2:6-10 Matthew 5:17-37

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, 8-91 Corinthians 2:1-5 Matthew 5:13-16 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Unimpressive does not mean unimportant. Most of life is made up of unimpressive moments and unimpressive seasons. If we are constantly waiting for the next “peak moment“ we will miss out on most of life…and also most peak moments. Mass Readings from February 2, 2020: Malachi 3:1-4 Psalms 24:7-10Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40 Download the Homily Study

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, 13-141 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The single unifying principle unites all of the various threads of our life into one whole image. It is “too little” to remain who you are instead of becoming who God needs you to be. Mass Readings from January 19, 2020: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Psalms 40:2, 4, 7-101 Corinthians 1:1-3 John 1:29-34 Download the Homily Study

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 98:1-6Hebrews 1:1-6 John 1:1-18

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Emmanuel. God is working with us to save the world. God does not need us. But He has demonstrated that He does not want to heal, transform, or save the world without our help. He only needs us to be the kind of people who are willing and able. Mass Readings from December 22, 2019: Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalms 24:1-6Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24

Homily from the Second Sunday of Advent. To be gripped by God is not supposed to be comfortable. The Prophet says that the great gift of the Spirit is the fear of the Lord. But what is it? Mass Readings from December 8, 2019: Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17Romans 15:4-9 Matthew 3:1-12

Homily from the First Sunday of Advent. We do not know when, but we do know what. Goodbyes can be painful. But what makes goodbyes even more painful is when we are not ready for the leaving or letting go. The goodness of the goodbye comes down to what we do with the time before goodbye. Mass Readings from December 1, 2019: Isaiah 4:2-6 Psalms 122:1-9Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44

Homily from the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Jesus loves you and He hasn’t forgotten you. It is easy to feel forgotten and forsaken…even by God. But God notices, loves, and remembers you. Mass Readings from November 24, 2019: 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Psalms 122:1-5Colossians 1:12-20 Luke 23:35-43 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. If comparison is a thief of joy, then we have to learn how to steal it back. In the battle to escape the comparison trap, we can become invincible to bad comparison by actively looking for the blessings, giving thanks, and inviting others into celebrating them. Because there are some things worth celebrating. Mass Readings from November 17, 2019: Malachi 3:19-20 Psalms 98:5-92 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Luke 21:5-19 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. We will continue walking through this world in which people are better than us. How can we become invincible to comparison? Mass Readings from November 10, 2019: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 Psalms 17:1, 5-6, 8, 152 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Luke 20:27-38 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. What makes them so great? What makes me so awful? When someone else being honored or loved more than we are meets our insecurity, we are tempted to tell stories…about them and about ourselves. But when we know who we are and are grateful for what we have, we have security. And comparison is powerless. Mass Readings from November 3, 2019: Wisdom 11:22-12:2 Psalms 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 142 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 Luke 19:1-10 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In a life of comparison, every person is a potential threat. Comparison is the desire to be “more” than another. At the heart of that desire is fear. Vulnerability breaks through that fear.Mass Readings from Mass Readings from October 27, 2019:</ Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 Psalms 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 232 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Often, the next hardest step is the next step. Continuing to walk in the midst of failure, rejection, and imperfection is a sign of a great life. In your life, you will take hundreds of first steps. Mass Readings from October 20, 2019: Ezekiel 17:8-13 Luke 18:1-82 Timothy 3:14-4:2 Mark 10:2-16 Download the Homily Study

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 98:1-42 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. How do you know God loves you? How do you know you are saved? Answer: the sacraments. The saving work of Jesus was accomplished in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. The saving work of Jesus meets our lives and transforms them through the tangible gifts of His love: the sacraments. Mass Readings from October 6, 2019: Habbakuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Psalms 95:1-2, 6-92 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10 Download the Homily Study

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 146:7-101 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31 Download the Homily Study

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, 4-81 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus saves us from being orphaned or abandoned. I was saved at my Baptism. I am being saved. I hope to be saved. The Father has adopted us in Christ. And He cannot take it back. But do we live as children of the Father? Mass Readings from September 15, 2019: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 191 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 Download the Homily Study

Homily from the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Out of everything in life, Jesus has to be first. In our lives, we continually divide ourselves and divide our hearts by giving away our small “yesses”. Jesus calls us to experience freedom, joy, and clarity by giving Him our big “Yes” because He is the priority. Mass Readings from September 8, 2019: Wisdom 9:13-18 Psalms 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-14, 17Philemon 9-10, 12-17 Luke 14:25-33

Homily from the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The high price of vanity. It is easy to think of vanity as nothing more than being conceited or overly concerned about one’s appearance. But the vice of vanity comes at a cost: A person could even find themselves living someone else’s life. Mass Readings from September 1, 2019: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Psalms 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24 Luke 14:1, 7-14

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 117:1-2Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30

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, 20-22Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Luke 12:32-48

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, 20Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Homily from the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Transfer your primary allegiance. When following Jesus, the first things He invites us to give up are safety and control. Mass Readings from June 30, 2019: 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21 Psalms 16:1-2, 5, 7-11Galatians 5:1, 13-18 Luke 9:51-62

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, 51Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23