The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Day 315: The Virtue of Mercy (2025)
Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension
Scripture Readings: Luke 6–8; Proverbs 26:1–3

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the theme of mercy as illuminated in Luke chapters 6 to 8. Fr. Mike explores Jesus’ radical teachings on loving enemies, the historical novelty of mercy as a virtue, and our call as Christians to live out mercy in daily life. The episode contrasts mercy with justice, reflects on human worth and brokenness, and contemplates the transformative nature of God’s love as revealed in Christ’s actions and teachings.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sermon on the Plain and Radical Mercy

• [03:50] Fr. Mike notes the similarity and differences between the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew) and the “Sermon on the Plain” (Luke). The core is “The Beatitudes” and the radical command to “love your enemies”.
• Emphasizes Jesus’ directive to do good not only to friends, but to those who hate us—a command that is “radically different” and countercultural.

Fr. Mike: “When Jesus teaches about love for enemies, he is asking us to do something that is radically different…mercy was not considered to be a virtue (in the ancient world), it was considered to be a weakness.” ([05:10])

2. Mercy and Justice: A New Virtue

• [05:40] Fr. Mike explains that prior to Christianity, mercy was often seen as a failure of justice or as weakness. Jesus introduces mercy as a higher law—a divine attribute that surpasses just repayment or fairness.
• He unpacks the Latin word “misericordia” (mercy) as “where love meets our need…where love meets us in our misery.”

Fr. Mike: “Mercy is love when we need to be loved the most and we deserve to be loved the least.” ([06:40])

3. Illustration: The Centurion and Worthiness

• [07:35] Fr. Mike highlights the story of the centurion whose humility—“I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof”—conflicts with others’ claims of his worthiness.
• Draws a parallel to John the Baptist’s own humility, underscoring a spiritual truth: we all need mercy.

Fr. Mike: “Our world would say, ‘Don’t get down on yourself, you are worthy!’ And the centurion and John, they know the truth. The truth is, I’m not. I’m not worthy of this love…but I need it. And that’s every single one of us.” ([08:25])

4. Balancing Our Worth and Brokenness

• [10:10] Fr. Mike discusses holding in tension our God-given worth (“ontologically, I’m good”) with our moral brokenness.
• Warns against both forgetting our value in God and ignoring our need for divine mercy and transformation.

Fr. Mike: “We can focus on our sin, our brokenness, and forget our goodness…On the other hand, we can be so focused on our goodness that we forget our brokenness. There’s that fine line that we’re called to walk.” ([10:45])

5. Greatness in the Kingdom: John the Baptist and Us

• [12:05] Jesus’ statement: “Among those born of women, none is greater than John, yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” is explored.
• Fr. Mike’s interpretation: John, great among prophets, had not received the gift of baptism and adoption as a child of God, a gift bestowed on all Christians.

Fr. Mike: “The gift given to you and to me in our baptism—where God makes us into his beloved sons and daughters…means you have been raised greater than John the Baptist, not because you and I are more virtuous, but because the grace of God resides in you.” ([13:00])

6. Dependence on Grace to Live the Christian Call

• [14:05] Fr. Mike urges listeners not to rely on themselves, but to pray for God’s help in living out their baptismal dignity and the call to mercy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mercy vs. Justice

  “Unless there’s a higher law, a higher law than justice…this higher call is mercy.” ([05:35])

• On Mercy’s Definition

  “Mercy is love that we do not deserve. Mercy is love when we need to be loved the most and we deserve to be loved the least.” ([06:41])

• On Christian Identity

  “Not because you and I are more virtuous than [John the Baptist], but because the grace of God resides in you…the Holy Spirit abides in you. Incredible.” ([13:35])

• On Prayer and Daily Struggle

  “Help us to live up to our baptism. We need God’s grace to be able to do this.” ([14:30])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:50] – Connection between Sermon on the Mount and Sermon on the Plain
• [05:10] – The historical novelty and revolutionary concept of mercy
• [06:41] – What mercy truly means (“love when deserved least”)
• [07:35] – Reflections on the centurion’s humility and our need for mercy
• [10:45] – Walking the fine line between recognizing worth and brokenness
• [13:00] – The meaning of Jesus’ praise for John the Baptist vs. baptized Christians
• [14:30] – The importance of grace and relying on God

Conclusion

Fr. Mike Schmitz closes with a prayer, summing up the challenge and hope of Christian life: to recognize both our unworthiness and our belovedness, to accept God's undeserved mercy, and to strive—with grace—to live as sons and daughters of God, sharing mercy with others as Christ shares it with us.

“I’m praying for you, please pray for me…I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” ([15:50])

Useful Takeaway

This episode invites listeners to reflect on the revolutionary call to mercy, understanding that true greatness comes not from our virtue but from God’s grace given to us—calling us beyond justice to patient, humble, transformative love for even our enemies.