Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz: Episode Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz
• Host/Author: Ascension
• Description: Every week, Catholic priest Fr. Mike Schmitz delivers powerful homilies based on the Sunday Mass Scripture readings, inviting listeners to live more fully as the person God created them to be. These engaging and motivating 20-30 minute homilies aim to ground faith, fortify hearts, and transform lives. Fr. Mike serves as the Newman chaplain for University Minnesota Duluth’s Bulldog Catholic campus ministry in Duluth, Minnesota.
• Episode: 03/09/25 The Place of the Way: The Desert
• Release Date: March 8, 2025

1. Introduction to the Homily

Fr. Mike Schmitz opens the homily by expressing his hope that today's message will inspire and motivate listeners, leaving them hungry for a deeper relationship with God. He briefly mentions resources available for those interested in the Sunday Mass and encourages audience engagement through subscriptions and sign-ups.

Notable Quote:

"I hope today's homily inspires and motivates you, and I also hope that it leaves you hungry for the One who gave everything to feed you."
(00:02)

2. Scriptural Foundation: Luke 4:1-13

Fr. Mike references the Gospel of Luke, focusing on Jesus' 40 days in the desert where He was tempted by the devil. He highlights Jesus' responses to each temptation, emphasizing reliance on Scripture and trust in God.

3. The Heart of Asceticism: Training, Not Just Sacrifice

Fr. Mike challenges the common approach to Lent, where many opt to repeat the same sacrifices as previous years. He proposes that the true essence of asceticism lies not merely in giving something up but in engaging in disciplined training aimed at spiritual transformation.

Notable Quote:

"The heart of asceticism is not just giving up something. It's not just self-denial. It's not just discipline. The heart of asceticism is what ascetism means—it means training."
(Transcript excerpt)

4. The Desert as a Dojo: The Place of the Way

Drawing an analogy between a dojo—a place of training in martial arts—and the desert, Fr. Mike describes Lent as a "place of the way" where believers undergo spiritual training. This period is likened to a dojo where one is prepared to become someone they are not yet, striving to emulate Jesus more closely.

Notable Quote:

"The desert is a place of training. It's the desert, the place of the way."
(Transcript excerpt)

5. Learning from the Israelites' Journey through the Desert

Fr. Mike delves into the Biblical narrative from Deuteronomy, pointing out that Moses omitted the Israelites' 40-year desert sojourn. He emphasizes that this period was essential for transforming the Israelites from slaves into free people capable of inhabiting the Promised Land—a process that required overcoming fear and ingrained habits from slavery.

Notable Quote:

"They had to go through the desert... they needed training. They didn't know how to live as free people."
(Transcript excerpt)

6. Personal Transformation and Trust in God

Fr. Mike asserts that Lent is our desert—a time to relinquish comforts and dependencies that hinder spiritual growth. He urges listeners to embrace this period as a training ground to develop qualities like resilience and trust in God, moving beyond mere habit or comfort.

Notable Quote:

"We are called to be people that we're currently not able to do something that we currently cannot."
(Transcript excerpt)

7. The Role of Frustration and Resilience

Highlighting insights from psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy, Fr. Mike discusses the emotional challenges of spiritual training. He explains that the journey from not knowing to knowing often involves frustration, which is a natural part of the learning and growth process.

Notable Quotes:

"What's the emotion that's most often associated... she said that one emotion that's associated with this space is frustration. It's, I just want to give up."
(Transcript excerpt)
"Success comes from the length of time you and I can spend in that training space."
(Transcript excerpt)

8. The Story of Takashi Nagai: Finding Faith through Struggle

Fr. Mike shares the transformative story of Takashi Nagai, a Japanese Catholic who transitioned from atheism to faith following his mother's death. Initially a staunch materialist and atheist, Nagai's encounter with Blaise Pascal's "Pensées" inspired him to begin practicing faith behaviors, illustrating the call to "act as if you believe" even when uncertain.

Notable Quote:

"Start acting as if you believe. Start walking, start moving."
(Transcript excerpt)

9. Invitation for Lent: Embracing the Desert and Transformation

Concluding his homily, Fr. Mike invites listeners to approach Lent with boldness and courage. He encourages embracing the desert as a necessary training ground to break free from spiritual slavery and move towards the promise of becoming more Christ-like. Emphasizing divine guidance, he reassures that God is leading believers through this challenging yet transformative journey.

Notable Quote:

"This is the desert. This is the place of the way. And it's going to be difficult."
(Transcript excerpt)
"The only way out is through."
(Transcript excerpt)

Conclusion

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz masterfully intertwines Scripture, psychological insights, and personal stories to convey Lent as a purposeful time of spiritual training in the "desert." He challenges listeners to move beyond habitual sacrifices, urging them to engage in transformative practices that foster resilience, deepen trust in God, and cultivate a more profound imitation of Christ. Through relatable analogies and compelling narratives, Fr. Mike inspires a proactive and courageous approach to the Lenten journey.