Podcast Summary: Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: 3/1/26 Autobiography: Title
Date: February 28, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Theme: What is the “title” of your life story, and how does it shape the way you see yourself, your past, and God’s love?

Episode Overview

This week, Fr. Mike Schmitz continues his Lenten series "Autobiography" by reflecting on the power of the “title” we give our own lives—how the internal speech or narrative running through our minds becomes the lens through which we interpret all of our experiences. Drawing from Scripture (the Transfiguration, Parable of the Prodigal Son), real-life stories, and personal anecdotes, Fr. Mike challenges us to examine what voice shapes our identity: the voice of regret and resentment, or the voice of the Father claiming us as beloved.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Every Life Has a Story—and a Title

• The Lent series is about realizing your life is a story, and you are its author.
• This week moves from beginnings to titles: What is the theme, or the internal speech, that summarizes your entire life? (06:43)
• "The title summarizes the theme that runs throughout your entire story...It's the filter, the perspective. If you want to know who I am, if you want to understand my story, this is the lens." – Fr. Mike (07:15)

2. The Power of Internal Speech / The “Title”

• The “title” is the speech constantly running through our minds:
  • How we see ourselves.
  • How we view others and God.
• Cites Fr. Walter Ciszek, a priest imprisoned in Russia:
  • Despite torture and brokenness, his book's title—and life’s theme—was He Leadeth Me.
  • Not bitterness, but trust:
    • “There will be a tomorrow and we have to live in it, and God will be there as well.” (10:45)

Memorable Quote:

"Every person has a speech that lives inside them...and that speech can become the title of our autobiography." – Fr. Mike (09:22)

3. Scripture as Story: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15)

The Younger Son:

• His internal speech/title: “I no longer deserve to be called your son... Treat me as you would treat one of your hired servants.” (18:45)
• He rehearses this line as he returns home, believing he is now fatherless, a disappointment, disqualified.
• The Father interrupts:
  • Runs to him, embraces him, celebrates him.
  • "This son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." (20:47)
  • The Father rewrites his speech, changing the title from “Disqualified” to “Claimed”.

The Older Son:

• His speech: “Look, all these years I have slaved for you...but when this son of yours comes back...for him you slaughter the fattened calf.” (29:58)
• Relates to “good kids”; the danger of resentment.
• The older son’s title: “I am only valuable because I am not a problem.”
• Fr. Mike: "Resentment is deadly because it slowly rewrites the story of what happened so your wound becomes the lens through which you interpret everything." (35:57)

Memorable Quote:

"It’s possible to stay at home and remain lost." – Fr. Mike (28:04)

4. Stories of Identity and Forgiveness: Immaculée Ilibagiza

• Survived Rwandan genocide, hidden in a tiny bathroom for 91 days.
• Internal struggle: Couldn’t pray the Lord’s Prayer—“Forgive us...as we forgive those...” because she couldn’t forgive.
• Eventually allowed the Father’s voice to speak her true identity—overwrote anger with forgiveness.
• The literal title of her autobiography: Left to Tell—not as an orphan, but as a witness to mercy and the possibility of new life. (23:42)

5. The Dangers of Resentment and Canonizing Our Wounds

• Fr. Mike discusses Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, naming it after his wound as “the backup plan to the one who matters.”
• Warns: Resentment can freeze us, paralyze us, make a painful chapter into the title of our whole book. (37:45)
• "Resentment turns it into, 'This is my story.' I'm not just remembering what happened. I'm letting it narrate who I am." (36:24)

6. The Remedy: Tell Your Speech—Then Listen for the Father’s Title

• Both sons must tell their “speech” to the Father, who responds with the true title: Beloved. Claimed. Son.
• The cure is honest confession, followed by silent listening for God’s voice.
• The Transfiguration (Gospel reading): The Father breaks in to claim Jesus as “my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (48:28)
  • This title is meant as a lens through which Jesus and we interpret the hardest chapters of our lives.

Memorable Quote:

"If resentment marks our speech, then resentment writes our title. So what we have to do is tell the Father our speech, and then, in silence, listen to his voice." – Fr. Mike (48:45)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the function of a title:
  • “The title summarizes the theme that runs throughout your entire story...It's the filter, the perspective.” (07:15)
• On Fr. Ciszek’s hope:
  • “There will be a tomorrow and we have to live in it, and God will be there as well.” (10:45)
• On the tempting speech of the prodigal:
  • “I no longer deserve to be called your son. I’ll be your slave.” (18:45)
• On the Father’s response to the prodigal:
  • “This son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” (20:47)
• On the trap of resentment:
  • “Resentment slowly rewrites the story of what happened so your wound becomes the lens through which you interpret everything.” (35:57)
• On the older son's misperception of self:
  • "My value lies in not being a problem." (33:53)
• On healing and identity:
  • “Resentment is powerful, but it doesn’t have the power to move. Resentment has the power to paralyze.” (41:21)
  • “The Father’s voice is strong enough to let you know—and to let me know—that we’ve been claimed, words powerful enough to undo resentment and rewrite the title of our autobiography.” (49:22)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Introduction & Lenten series context: [03:30–07:18]
• Fr. Walter Ciszek story: [08:05–11:53]
• Parable of the Prodigal Son—explication: [12:00–18:20]
• Immaculée Ilibagiza’s story: [21:10–26:15]
• Analysis of the older son and resentment: [28:00–39:10]
• Prince Harry’s “Spare” and theme of wounds as titles: [39:18–41:27]
• Remedy: telling your speech to the Father, listening for His title: [44:00–50:00]

Key Takeaways

• The “title” of your autobiography defines how you interpret every chapter, especially the hard ones.
• Resilience, forgiveness, and identity come from letting the Father rewrite your story’s title with His truth.
• Tell your honest speech to God. Let Him claim you anew and speak the true title: Beloved. Claimed. His child.
• The narratives of Fr. Ciszek and Immaculée show the radical difference it makes to let God, not wounds or resentment, write your title.
• As the Gospel Transfiguration reveals, the Father’s voice is the one strong enough to name you, especially in your lowest moments.