Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: 123138: Waiting Well: Unconditional Hope
Date: December 20, 2025

Overview: Main Theme and Purpose

In this homily, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the idea of "waiting well," focusing on the final, crucial element: unconditional hope. As the Advent season draws to a close and Christmas approaches, Fr. Mike addresses the harsh reality that, despite waiting with patience and faith, we may not always receive what we fervently desire. He draws on powerful biblical examples, personal stories, and listener experiences to illustrate that true Christian hope rests not in outcomes, but in our relationship with God Himself—trusting His presence and goodness regardless of what happens.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Pain and Practice of Waiting ([04:00]–[09:30])

• Fr. Mike opens by recalling the universal experience of yearning—growing up with Christmas wishlists and sometimes not getting what we most longed for.
• He relates this to spiritual waiting: "We've been in this series called Waiting Well...But what happens when we wait well, and we don’t get what we asked for?" ([05:45])

Quote

"I could do everything right and still not win."
— Fr. Mike Schmitz ([06:40])

• He tells the story of a woman who spent decades hoping for a family, always being told her happiness was just around the corner, only to reach her fifties still waiting.
• Fr. Mike identifies common hopes: waiting to graduate, for a job, a spouse, children, or broader success—and emphasizes these are outcomes, not guaranteed promises.

2. Hope in the Biblical Tradition ([09:31]–[15:25])

• Fr. Mike draws from Matthew’s Gospel and its reference to Isaiah’s prophecy, highlighting a 700-year gap between the promise and its fulfillment.
• Many, including Isaiah, lived and died without seeing the promise realized:
  • Cites Hebrews 11:

    "All of these died in faith, having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar..." ([12:20])

• He asserts: Our faith and hope can’t depend on outcomes.

Quote

"Waiting well means not settling for less than what God wants for us."
— Fr. Mike Schmitz ([12:42])

• Introduces the prophet Habakkuk, who, amidst devastation and starvation, declared:

  "Even if the fig tree should not blossom...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will take joy in the God of my salvation." ([14:30])

3. Modern Examples of Unconditional Hope ([15:26]–[23:15])

• Shares the story of a Protestant pastor and his wife, unable to have children, who responded to skeptics:

  "Even if [God] doesn't...I am still going to love him. I'm still going to seek him. I'm still going to press into him...If God doesn't answer one prayer for the rest of my life, I will still love him and praise him because of what he did on the cross for me." ([17:20])

• Recounts a tragic church bus accident in Radcliffe, Kentucky and a mother who, after losing her only child, responded:

  "The first thing we must do is to praise God for 17 years." ([19:42])

  • She embraces the messenger, acknowledging God's grace and pointing to hope beyond circumstances.

Quote

"To have that kind of hope in a Christian’s heart takes more than just grace before meals. It takes knowing the One in whom we hope."
— Fr. Mike Schmitz ([22:10])

4. The Nature of Christian Hope ([23:16]–[28:00])

• Fr. Mike clarifies common misconceptions:

  • Christian hope is not a wish for better outcomes, nor mere optimism.
  • "Christian hope is relational. It's not trusting in outcomes...God's promise is that in that suffering he’ll be there...Christian hope is this: trust in Another, capital A, extended into the future." ([24:15])

• He summarizes with the core message:

  "We have unconditional hope when we have Him. That’s how we can get to that place like Habakkuk: say, ‘Even if there’s no fig on the trees…yet will I rejoice in the Lord.’" ([25:35])

5. Practical Application: The Blessing Jar ([28:01]–end)

• Tells the story of a couple dealing with infertility who began a blessing jar tradition:

  • Each day, they write down a blessing from God—big or small—and place it in a jar to remind themselves of God’s faithfulness despite unanswered prayers.

• Fr. Mike emphasizes:

  • "We're so preoccupied with this blessing that we haven't gotten, that we had become blind and deaf and numb to all the blessings God has in our lives that he is giving us." ([28:40])

• Admonishes listeners: Even if we don't get what we're praying or hoping for, we can wait well—by praising, rejoicing, and hoping in God Himself.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Time | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |--------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 06:40 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "I could do everything right and still not win." | | 12:42 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "Waiting well means not settling for less than what God wants for us." | | 14:30 | Fr. Mike (Habakkuk) | "'Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will take joy in the God of my salvation.'" | | 17:20 | Protest. Pastor | "If God doesn't answer one prayer for the rest of my life, I will still love him and praise him..." | | 19:42 | Mom/Bus Tragedy | "The first thing we must do is to praise God for 17 years." | | 22:10 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "To have that kind of hope in a Christian’s heart takes more than just grace before meals..." | | 24:15 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "Christian hope is relational. It's not trusting in outcomes...God's promise is that in that suffering, he'll be there." | | 28:40 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "We had become blind and deaf and numb to all the blessings God has in our lives that he is giving us." |

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [04:00] – Fr. Mike’s Christmas gift analogy; setting up the theme of expectations and waiting
• [10:40] – Isaiah’s prophecy and waiting centuries for fulfillment
• [12:20] – Hebrews 11: Hope not realized in outcomes
• [14:10] – The story of Habakkuk’s faith in devastation
• [17:00] – The Protestant pastor’s testimony of faith without outcomes
• [19:30] – The moving story of the mother expressing gratitude in deep loss
• [22:00] – Defining the nature of true Christian hope
• [28:00] – The Blessing Jar: daily practice of gratitude amidst unanswered prayers

Conclusion

Fr. Mike Schmitz delivers a deeply moving homily that grounds hope not in the fulfillment of our wishes or prayers, but in the enduring, unconditional relationship we have with God—who is present with us in all things. The stories and scripture lessons provide a rich roadmap for practicing “waiting well” even when life is deeply disappointing. This homily encourages listeners to actively seek and recognize God’s blessings, fostering a faith that persists regardless of circumstances, especially in the final days of Advent.