Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: 2/1/26 Counterfeit Happiness
Date: January 31, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the theme of "counterfeit happiness" by drawing directly from the Sunday Gospel reading—the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1–12. He explores the ways we chase false versions of happiness through wealth, power, pleasure, and fame, and contrasts these with the true happiness found in the teachings and life of Jesus. Using stories, cultural touchstones, and examples from Scripture, Fr. Mike makes a compelling case for pursuing authentic joy and fulfillment as exemplified by Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Gospel and the Beatitudes

• [01:00–03:00] Fr. Mike reads the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12), highlighting their importance:

  "If the Sermon on the Mount is the heart of Jesus' teaching, the Beatitudes are the heart of the Sermon on the Mount."

• He explains the term “blessed” (makarios) as meaning “happy”—not in the superficial sense, but as a profound sense of contentment rooted in God’s ways.

2. Counterfeit Happiness: Modern Examples

• Frank Abagnale & “Catch Me If You Can”

  "He just looked the part...he was living the life of a counterfeit and he was using counterfeit checks." [03:30]

  • Fr. Mike recounts the true story of Frank Abagnale, who deceived many by pretending to be someone he wasn't, drawing a parallel to how we impersonate happiness by chasing the wrong things.

• Fool’s Gold & the California Gold Rush

  "They would think that they struck it rich...only to find out those flakes were a thing called pyrite. We call it fools gold." [05:00]

  • Just as prospectors were duped into trading real value for worthless pyrite, so too do we trade our lives for “fool's gold” in the form of fleeting or counterfeit happiness.

3. The Four Counterfeits of Happiness

[06:30–40:00]
Fr. Mike identifies four main “counterfeits” we often chase:

A. Wealth

• The Lie: “I’ll be happy when I have enough.”

  "The counterfeit, the lie is this: that self-sufficiency equals safety...But that's a lie. It's a counterfeit." [09:00]

• Personal experience: No matter the amount of wealth, “tragedy doesn’t care—death doesn't discriminate.”
• Jesus’ Teaching:

  "Happy are the poor in spirit...happy are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness. To be poor in spirit...means to be desperate, happy are you who are needy." [10:10]

B. Power

• The Lie: “I’ll be happy if I’m in control; if I win.”

  "The counterfeit happiness of power is this declaration: I have to win. When I win, I'll be happy." [13:00]

• Story: Executive with “hundreds of millions of dollars” bonus, yet still working obsessively—for him, it’s not about wealth but power.
• Example: Michael Jordan’s relentless drive; great on the court, but this need for power did not translate to lasting joy.

  "That same thing that made him happy was a counterfeit happiness." [18:00]

• Jesus’ Teaching:

  "Happy are you who are meek. Happy are you who are merciful." [19:20]

  • Meekness: "Strength placed at God's service."
  • Merciful: Extending grace, not crushing others.

C. Pleasure

• The Lie: “I’ll be happy if I minimize pain and maximize feeling good.”

  "We numb ourselves, we distract ourselves...emotions cannot be selectively numbed." [22:00]

• Cultural Reference: "Chandelier" by Sia—pleasure as a mask for pain.

  "If my goal is to minimize pain and maximize pleasure...we realize this: emotions cannot be selectively numbed." [24:00]

• Jesus’ Teaching:

  "Happy are you who mourn." [26:45]

  • Avoiding pain or grief only numbs all emotions; true healing comes from allowing oneself to feel, mourn, and find comfort in God.

D. Fame

• The Lie: “I’ll be happy if I’m seen/admired.”

  "When everyone loves you, you can never be lonely...but when everyone loves me, that's about as happy as I can be. That's counterfeit happiness." —[Counting Crows, Mr. Jones] [30:15]

• Modern Example: Study showing children aspire to be YouTube stars.
• Vanity: The “inordinate preoccupation with what other people think of me.”
• Jesus’ Teaching:

  "Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are those persecuted for the sake of righteousness...who choose faithfulness over approval." [34:00]

4. Learning to Spot the Counterfeit

• Secret Service Analogy

  "They had them study not the counterfeit; they had them study the real thing...when they studied the genuine article, they could accurately spot the counterfeit." [37:05]

• Similarly, to avoid counterfeit happiness, study the “genuine article”—the person and portrait of Jesus.
• The Beatitudes are not “8 steps to living the life you’ve always wanted,” but a portrait of Christ’s own heart and path to true happiness.

5. The Invitation

• Final Reflection & Challenge:

  "Open your heart, open your mind, open the Gospels and just study the portrait of Jesus...see the painting of a heart that knows it needs God...see a portrait of someone who has eyes that can weep without despair, hands that don't clutch at control..." [39:30]

• The call is to examine Jesus’ life closely—not for a formula, but to encounter the real and reject the counterfeit.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Counterfeit Pursuits:

  "Who would spend something that has real value on something that is counterfeit? ... Every one of us, because that's what we do with our lives." —Fr. Mike, [05:50]

• On Wealth’s False Security:

  "We recognize that no matter how much you have, tragedy doesn't care. Death doesn't discriminate." —Fr. Mike, [09:30]

• On Numbing Pain:

  "Emotions cannot be selectively numbed...If we suppress pain and grief and fear, we're also simultaneously going to suppress joy and gratitude and happiness." —Fr. Mike, [24:20]

• On the Beatitudes as Portrait, Not Plan:

  "Jesus isn't giving a plan, he's painting a portrait...When he says happy are the meek, he's describing Himself." —Fr. Mike, [38:00]

• On Discipleship:

  "The invitation this week—Watch Jesus in the Gospels...to see the real thing and not give everything away for counterfeit happiness." —Fr. Mike, [40:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02–03:00: Introduction, Gospel Reading (Matthew 5:1–12)
• 03:00–06:00: Frank Abagnale & Fool’s Gold analogy
• 06:30–10:30: The Four Counterfeits of Happiness—overview and first, Wealth
• 13:00–19:20: Power (investment exec, Michael Jordan story)
• 22:00–27:00: Pleasure (Sia's "Chandelier," emotional numbing)
• 30:00–34:00: Fame (Counting Crows lyrics, YouTube fame, vanity)
• 37:00–38:30: Secret Service analogy—Spotting Counterfeits
• 39:30–41:00: Invitation—Focus on Jesus as the portrait of true happiness

Conclusion

Fr. Mike Schmitz’s homily offers a powerful examination of the ways we chase after happiness in all the wrong places, and the toll that “counterfeit happiness” takes on our lives. Through biblical insight, practical examples, and direct challenges, he encourages listeners to recognize these false pursuits and instead follow the pattern set by Christ—a path of humility, mercy, vulnerability, and faithfulness that leads to genuine joy.

For further reflection:
Spend time reading the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12) and consider how Jesus’ example invites you beyond the allure of wealth, power, pleasure, and fame toward the happiness only he can give.