Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: 04/02/26 Holy Thursday: Everything is Given

Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Theme: On Holy Thursday, reflecting on Jesus’ act of total self-giving—when and why everything is given.

Episode Overview

This Holy Thursday homily by Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the pivotal moment at the Last Supper when Jesus gives everything—His service, His dignity, the Eucharist, and ultimately, Himself. Fr. Mike delves into the motivations and timing of Christ’s love, examining not just what is given, but why and when. Through Scriptural reflection and personal storytelling, he drives home the message that Jesus’ love and self-gift occur most profoundly when we least deserve it.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holy Thursday: The Culmination of Lent and the Theme of Giving

• [02:00 – 05:15]
  • Lent is ultimately about ‘giving’ — expressed in prayer (giving time), fasting (giving up something), and almsgiving (giving help).
  • Fr. Mike emphasizes that Holy Thursday marks the end of this period of giving and refocuses us on the deeper “why” behind our actions.
  • “We get to the end of our day like this… and we're like, yeah, I did it or I didn’t do it… Sometimes you miss the motive, right?... What was your motive?” (Fr. Mike, 04:28)

2. Jesus as the Model of Total Self-Gift

• [05:15 – 08:45]
  • Jesus, at the Last Supper, models the purest form of giving: He strips Himself of His garments and washes the feet of His disciples.
  • He gives the priesthood and establishes the Eucharist—His true presence.
  • “If there’s one thing to walk away with, it’s the fact that everything is given. Everything is given.” (Fr. Mike, 06:54)

3. The Motive: Love

• [08:50 – 10:45]
  • Fr. Mike highlights John 13:1—“He loved his own in the world, and he loved them to the end.”
  • The core reason Jesus gives everything is love: “Having loved his own in the world, he loved them to the end. He loves you.” (Fr. Mike, 09:35)
  • Our actions during Lent, and in life, should be motivated by love, not mere rule-following.

4. The Timing: When is Everything Given?

• [10:45 – 13:30]
  • Fr. Mike notes the significance of John specifying that Jesus gave everything “fully aware” that His disciples would fall away.
  • God’s love is not conditional upon our goodness or behavior—He’s not surprised or deterred by our failures.
  • “In the midst of knowing everything, knowing that they’re going to fail him… That’s the moment. That’s when everything is given.” (Fr. Mike, 12:19)

5. Our Sins Do Not Disqualify Us From God’s Love

• [13:30 – 16:35]
  • Many fear their shortcomings alienate them from God, but Jesus’ self-gift comes “fully aware” of our brokenness.
  • “Jesus already knew all of our sins and he did it anyways… God loves us because we need it, not because we deserve it.” (Fr. Mike, 15:01)

6. The Fireproof Story: Illustrating Unconditional, Sacrificial Love

• [16:40 – 25:00]

  • Fr. Mike shares a personal encounter with actor Kirk Cameron and relates how the movie Fireproof encapsulates this theme.

  • In the film, Caleb, the protagonist, gives away his life savings to pay his wife’s mother’s medical bills, despite his wife’s rejection and intention to divorce him.

  • “That was the moment that everything was given. And he knew that was the moment that he gave everything.” (Fr. Mike, 22:30)

  • Fr. Mike explains why he watches Fireproof every Good Friday:

    “Because we recognize tonight, tonight, everything is given. And it’s given why? It’s given because of love. It’s given when? It’s given when Jesus knew everything you and I are ashamed of…” (Fr. Mike, 23:05)

7. Jesus Gives Everything When We Need It Most

• [25:00 – End]
  • The most transformative message:
    • Jesus’ love and self-gift are greatest at our lowest moments—when we least deserve it and most need it.
    • “That is the moment when the God of Love takes everything he’s been given and everything is given for you.” (Fr. Mike, 27:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Heart of Lent:

  “All of the last 40 days have been meant to be marked by that one word, give.” (Fr. Mike, 03:50)

• On Christ’s Motive:

  “The motive is love… Even the very fact that God has given us this, the Mass right now. Why? The motive is love.” (Fr. Mike, 09:48)

• On the Timing of Giving:

  “He loves us most powerfully and loves us most deeply in the moment we need him the most and deserve him the least.” (Fr. Mike, 13:45)

• The Fireproof Analogy:

  “The climax is the moment she realizes that he gave all that money… Not only after she had told him, ‘I do not love you,’ he gave it after she had served him divorce papers.” (Fr. Mike, 21:42)

• Bringing It Home:

  “On Jesus, fully aware and knowing everything about your heart and my heart and your brokenness and my brokenness. That is the moment when the God of Love takes everything he’s been given and everything is given for you.” (Fr. Mike, 27:13)

Important Timestamps

• 00:02 — Gospel Proclamation [John 13:1-15]
• 03:50 — The Lenten theme of “give”
• 06:54 — Holy Thursday: Everything is given
• 09:35 — Jesus’ Love as Motive
• 12:19 — Jesus’ self-gift despite foreknowledge of betrayal
• 15:01 — God’s love: needed, not deserved
• 18:38 — Kirk Cameron & Fireproof story introduction
• 21:42 — The ultimate act of love in Fireproof
• 27:13 — The climax: Everything is given when Jesus knows us fully

Summary Takeaway

This homily powerfully reframes Holy Thursday, not just as an ancient ritual but as a living moment of total self-gift and love—given precisely when we are most unworthy. Through reflection on Scripture, personal narrative, and cultural analogy, Fr. Mike re-centers the listener on the transformative truth:
“Everything is given. The motive is love. The timing is when we are most in need and least deserving. That is when God gives Himself most completely to us.”