Podcast Summary: "Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz"

Episode: 2/8/26 Wasted Potential

Date: February 7, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Theme: Turning Wasted Potential into a Life of Purpose through Christ

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the theme of "wasted potential" in light of Jesus’ call for his followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Drawing from both the Sunday Gospel reading (Matthew 5:13–16) and the real-life transformation story of Darrell Woods Sr., Fr. Mike challenges listeners to recognize the gifts they have received in Christ and not let them go to waste. He unpacks what it means to live as salt and light, emphasizing that every Christian already possesses all they need to live out God's mission—right now, wherever they are.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Gospel Call: You ARE Salt and Light

• Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:13–16 (00:02–01:00)
• Jesus tells his disciples:
  • "You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world."
  • These are declarative statements, not future possibilities or mere potential.
• Fr. Mike emphasizes:
  • "He doesn’t say, ‘This is what you might have. This is what you might be.’ He says, ‘No, you are the salt of the earth. This is your potential. You are the light of the world. This is your potential.’" (28:44)

2. Darrell Woods Sr.: A Story of Heartbreaking and Redeemed Potential

• Fr. Mike recounts interviewing Darrell Woods Sr., whose early life was marred by tragic loss, poverty, and crime (01:00–04:20).

  • Raised in hardship; lost his father in the womb; mother struggled with addiction.
  • Despite being loved by grandparents, Darrell ran away at 12 to join his mother.
  • Supported by a neighborhood figure (“Superfly”), but soon fell into crime, selling drugs by 14, shot, and became a father as a teenager.
  • At 18, arrested and by 19 sentenced to life without parole for a crime he didn’t commit (aiding after a murder he didn’t participate in).
  • Spent 29 years in prison: so much “wasted potential.”

• Fr. Mike’s insight:

  • "If you look at Darrell Woods, you might think like, man, that was so much wasted potential." (04:00)
  • "Wasted potential is just a tragedy—it’s in all of our lives, right?" (06:15)

3. What Is Real Potential and How Is It Lost?

• Distinction between “potential” and “potential potential” (05:10–07:34)

  • Actual potential is having the resources and opportunity—and simply not using them.

• Applied especially to youth:

  • "To be young means to have potential… People who are not young… have it too, just a different kind." (07:58)
  • Even the massively wealthy (like Warren Buffett) would envy the unique potential of youth.

• Key Point: All Christians, through Christ, have real, God-given potential—the tragedy is when we waste it.

4. Our Spiritual Gifts Are Already Ours—Don’t Waste Them

• St. Paul’s Letter: Emphasizing the Cross as proof that God has already chosen us (09:55–11:05)

  • "This is proof that God has already made his choice for you."

• Jesus has done all this for us already:

  • Forgiven, filled with the Holy Spirit, adopted by God, made new creations.
  • The issue is not waiting to be chosen or to earn it—these gifts are already given.

• Fr. Mike’s Challenge:

  • "The question is, out of all that we’ve been given, has it been wasted on us? ... All of these gifts you have and I have—and we just don’t use them as—wasted." (13:30)

5. God Knows Our Mess, Our Flaws, and Calls Us Anyway

• "Do we realize that the things we believe disqualify us are absolutely no surprise to God?" (14:50)
• Jesus chose us knowing our weaknesses and our sins.
• Every moment of prayer, Mass, confession, is a declaration:
  • "Jesus, I am not going to let what you did for me go to waste on me." (15:42, 23:09—affirmed again)

6. Darrell Woods: Transforming Wasted Years into Purpose

• In prison, Darrell turns to deep prayer and Scripture (16:05–17:25).
• He makes the commitment:
  • "Jesus, I will not let what you did for me go to waste on me."
• Starts “Cared Straight” (inspired as an alternative to “Scared Straight”):
  • Not about scaring at-risk youth but loving them, because:
    • "These are kids who have been scared their whole lives. They've never been loved." (26:45)
  • Even in prison, Darrell becomes salt and light.

7. Salt and Light: The Meaning Unpacked

• Salt (22:19):
  • Valued in ancient world—salary derives from salt.
  • Preserves, heals, adds flavor; brings out goodness in others.
  • "When Jesus says, be salt… live in such a way that the goodness around you is revealed."
• Light:
  • Light reveals the truth, allows others to see reality.
  • "Salt makes life good and light makes truth visible." (31:20)
  • Hiding these gifts or letting them go unused is the real tragedy—not that we become evil, but ineffective.

8. Letting Grace Flow Through Us—Not Letting It End with Us

• Fr. Mike’s deeper challenge:

  • "God, I don’t want to let what you did for me end with me. Give me a mission." (34:00)

• We often wait for the 'right moment' or circumstances, but Jesus says we are already called now.

• Darrell didn’t wait—he started ministering to youth just four years into his sentence.

  • "You can start right where you're at. Why? Because you are the salt, and you are the light, and you have nothing to wait for." (36:55)

9. Darrell Woods—From Prisoner to Police Commissioner

• Darrell now serves as Vice Chair of Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners—overseeing the very system that once imprisoned him. (38:05)
• His “wasted potential” is redeemed:
  • "His story is not a tragedy. His story is what could have been wasted potential is actually used for the glory of God." (39:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being chosen by God, regardless of our flaws:
  “He knew your weakness when he chose you, that God knew what your struggles were going to be when he claimed you. Do you realize the truth that Jesus knew your sins when he picked up the cross?… He did that so you and I could have new life.” (14:55–15:35)

• Darrell’s own realization in prison:
  “Lord Jesus, if I get convicted, you are all I have left. And I’ve wasted my life up to this point. I cannot waste my life from this point.” (17:00)

• On salt and light:
  “Salt makes life good and light makes truth visible. That’s why Jesus says, if you waste that… it’s a tragedy.” (31:28)

• On responding to God’s gifts:
  “I will not let what you did for me go to waste on me… I will not let what you did for me end with me. Give me a mission.” (34:00–35:10)

• Darrell’s attitude after injustice:
  “We say God is good all the time. All the time, God is good, right?… You gotta mean it.” (30:01)

Important Timestamps

• 00:02 – Gospel reading: Matthew 5:13–16 (“You are the salt of the earth…”)
• 01:00–04:20 – Introduction to Darrell Woods’ life and the concept of wasted potential
• 05:10 – Explaining “real potential” vs. hypothetical
• 09:55 – St. Paul’s core message: God has already chosen you
• 13:30 – Has God’s grace been wasted on us?
• 16:05–17:25 – Darrell’s prison turning point; prayer and commitment
• 22:19 – The four properties of salt; application to Christian life
• 26:45 – Darrell’s “Cared Straight” program—love, not fear
• 28:44 – Jesus’ words: “You ARE salt… you ARE light”
• 31:28 – Salt and light: the tragedy of hidden potential
• 34:00–35:10 – “Don’t let what you did for me end with me”
• 36:55 – You have nothing to wait for: start now
• 38:05 – Darrell’s current role: Board of Police Commissioners
• 39:45 – Final encouragement: transforming tragic potential into God’s glory

Episode Takeaways

• Every Christian is already called and equipped—don’t waste your God-given gifts.
• Wasted potential isn’t just about what we lack, but about what we have and leave unused.
• Our flaws and failures don’t surprise God; His choice and love remain.
• Practically, being salt and light means living in such a way that others see goodness and truth through us—right where we are, with what we have.
• Don’t wait for perfect circumstances. Like Darrell Woods, you can start bringing light and hope now.
• Make it your declaration:
  • “I will not let what Jesus did for me go to waste on me, and I will not let it end with me.”