Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: “I Got Nothin’”
Date: October 25, 2025
Based on Luke 18:9-14 — Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores what it truly means to approach God without pretense, resume, or fear—distilled into the phrase “I got nothin’.” Drawing from the Gospel parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, he challenges listeners to reject self-reliance and spiritual performance, and instead come before God with humility and profound trust in Jesus. Fr. Mike weaves together personal stories, cultural observations, and scriptural insight to unpack a threefold approach to God: having nothing to offer, nothing to prove, and nothing to hide.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Parable Foundation (00:02–02:45)

• Fr. Mike sets the stage by reading Luke 18:9-14, where Jesus contrasts the self-righteous Pharisee with the humble, repentant tax collector.
• He highlights that the parable is directed to “those convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.”

2. The Seminary Story: “I Got Nothing” (02:46–05:40)

• Fr. Mike recounts an experience from seminary, where he and classmates would admit feeling unprepared to preach by saying, “I got nothing.”
• He connects this phrase to a spiritual disposition before God.
• Memorable quote:
  “At some point they’re going to expect you to get up and start to say some words and sometimes just all you have is, ‘I got… I got nothing.’” (03:55)

3. The Wrong Way to Approach God: Resume Faith (05:41–11:30)

• Fr. Mike introduces a common spiritual misconception: bringing a “resume” to God in prayer—listing good deeds, Mass attendance, obeying commandments, acts of piety—as if trying to merit God’s love or entry into heaven.
• He emphasizes that while these are good practices, they are the wrong answer to the question: Why should we let you into heaven?
• Key insight:
  When we rely on our spiritual “resume,” our sense of qualification also becomes our sense of disqualification when we inevitably fail.
• Memorable quote:
  “If we bring to God a resume and say, ‘God, this is why you should love me,’ our resume…is the exact same resume that disqualifies us when we fail.” (10:28)
• Critical point on self-reliance:
  “Self reliance almost always leads to self condemnation…On our bad days, we realize, ‘God, here’s all the things that I’ve done,’ and condemn ourselves.” (09:50)

4. Three Steps to Approaching God

I. Nothing to Offer (11:31–14:10)

• We can only approach God when we acknowledge that we have nothing of worth to offer by ourselves.
• This recognition is not despair, but humility and authenticity.

II. Nothing to Prove (14:11–22:19)

• Fr. Mike shares an anecdote about being intimidated by “cool” employees at outdoor stores, paralleling the pressure to “audition for acceptance.”
• He recounts letting go of the need to pretend expertise and simply being honest—and invites listeners to do the same before God.
• He cites Matthew 6: Jesus teaches that we don’t need to “babble like the pagans” or convince God to listen—God already sees, knows, and cares.
• Memorable quote:
  “You do not have to convince God to listen. You do not have to audition for an audience. You have nothing to prove.” (20:01)
• Challenges listeners: Are you truly convinced—in the Latin sense of “vincere,” to be conquered by—the reality of God’s love, or do you still feel you’re “auditioning” for it?

III. Nothing to Hide (22:20–33:36)

• Many people, out of shame or fear, try to hide faults, pain, or sin from God, believing He’s only interested in formal or “acceptable” prayers.
• Fr. Mike shares a story of a young woman whose prayer was “empty” because she hid her true fears from God, and how honest prayer transformed her experience.
• Even sins should not be hidden—the “unforgivable sin” is the one unconfessed, not brought to God.
• Personal story: Fr. Mike shares feeling guilt after vaguely misleading his bishop and the relief that came from confessing and being honest.
• Memorable quote:
  “That’s what it is to hide…so many of us are with God our Father. We hide…But you have nothing to hide. Not even your sin.” (31:40)

5. The Only Right Answer: Jesus (33:37–End)

• At the heart of the homily, Fr. Mike returns to the fundamental question: Why should we let you into heaven?

• The only right answer isn’t a list of personal achievements or acts of piety but:
  “Because of what Jesus Christ has done for me.” (34:25)

• Memorable quotes:
  “I got nothing to offer—Jesus offered it all.
  I got nothing to prove—Jesus has purchased us at a price.
  I got nothing to hide—Jesus Christ has conquered death and sin and everything that could keep us away from the Father.” (34:40)

• The call to “train for heaven” starts now, living out these truths in daily prayer and relationship with God.

• Closing challenge: Can you approach God, today and always, simply and confidently, saying:
  “I got nothing… because Jesus has died for me, and now I live for Him.” (35:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Event | |-----------|-----------------|-------------| | 03:55 | Fr. Mike | “At some point they’re going to expect you to get up and start to say some words and sometimes just all you have is, ‘I got… I got nothing.’” | | 10:28 | Fr. Mike | “If we bring to God a resume and say, ‘God, this is why you should love me,’ our resume…is the exact same resume that disqualifies us when we fail.” | | 20:01 | Fr. Mike | “You do not have to convince God to listen. You do not have to audition for an audience. You have nothing to prove.” | | 31:40 | Fr. Mike | “That’s what it is to hide…so many of us are with God our Father. We hide…But you have nothing to hide. Not even your sin.” | | 34:25 | Fr. Mike | “Because of what Jesus Christ has done for me.” | | 34:40 | Fr. Mike | “I got nothing to offer—Jesus offered it all. I got nothing to prove—Jesus has purchased us at a price. I got nothing to hide—Jesus Christ has conquered death and sin and everything that could keep us away from the Father.” | | 35:50 | Fr. Mike | “I got nothing… because Jesus has died for me, and now I live for Him.” |

Episode Structure & Key Timestamps

• 00:02–02:45 – Gospel Reading and Introduction
• 02:46–05:40 – Seminary Story: “I Got Nothing”
• 05:41–11:30 – Resume Faith and Its Pitfalls
• 11:31–14:10 – Step 1: Nothing to Offer
• 14:11–22:19 – Step 2: Nothing to Prove (and Jesus’ Revolutionary Teaching)
• 22:20–33:36 – Step 3: Nothing to Hide (Including Stories of Hidden Weakness)
• 33:37–36:00 – The Only Right Answer: Jesus

Takeaways

• We approach God not as performers or achievers, but as beloved children, humble, unafraid, and honest.
• Our salvation and hope rest in Jesus alone—His work, His love, His sacrifice.
• To truly encounter God in prayer and life, remind yourself: “I got nothing to offer, nothing to prove, nothing to hide…because Jesus has done it all.”

This homily is an encouragement to rest in the sufficiency of Christ, to abandon both pride and shame, and to confidently draw near to God with empty hands and an open heart.