Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

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, 15-181 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15

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, 23-24Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14—23:56

Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Some last words have the power to define a person's life. From the Cross, Jesus utters His last words. He thirsts for us to allow Him to forgive us. Mass Readings from April 3, 2022: Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalms 126:1-6Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11

Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Lent. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? This central Last Word of Jesus from the Cross is possibly the most important. He not only expresses the depths to which He enters into the consequences of sin, but the depth of His trust in the Father and the power of His sacrifice. Mass Readings from March 27, 2022: Joshua 5:9, 10-12 Psalms 34:2-72 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent. The best gifts can be given in the worst of circumstances. When He had virtually nothing left to give, Jesus still gave. He gave His own mother to be our mother. The one person who knew Him most and loved Him best, Jesus entrusted to all of His beloved disciples. Mass Readings from March 20, 2022: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 Psalm 103: 1-4, 6-8, 111 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 Luke 13:1-9

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, 13-14Philippians 3:17—4:1 Luke 9:28-36

Homily from the First Sunday of Lent. Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. The first last words of Jesus reveal not just what, but Who was on His mind in the last moments of His life. Mass Readings from March 06, 2022: Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Psalms 91:1-2, 10-15Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13

Homily from the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our words disclose, disguise, and direct our hearts. The words we use are powerful. They can build up and they can destroy. But they can also reveal our character. Mass Readings from February 27, 2022: Sirach 27:4-7 Psalms 92:2-3, 13-161 Corinthians 15:54-58 Luke 6:39-45

Homily from the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Vulnerability is having enough courage and self-possession to let life in. All of our fears stem from the fact that we are woundable. We care about rejection, inadequacy, and the future because we know that all of those things have the potential to hurt us, But the fear of being vulnerable does not have to define our lives. Mass Readings from February 20, 2022: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 Psalms 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-131 Corinthians 15:45-49 Luke 6:27-38

Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are called to do today what prepares us for the challenge of tomorrow. We have become more comfortable with the "completed" past than the unknown future. Rather than desiring to launch into the challenge of the future, many of us have become paralyzed by fear of the future. When we are rooted in the Word of God each day, we become more rooted in God Himself each day. When we are rooted in the Lord, there is no room for fear of the future. Mass Readings from February 13, 2022: Jeremiah 17:5-8 Psalms 1:1-4, 61 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20 Luke 6:17, 20-26