Podcast Summary: "The Catechism in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz"

Episode: Day 358: Who Art in Heaven (2025)
Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs 2794–2802

Overview:

This episode delves into the phrase "Who Art in Heaven" from the Lord's Prayer, unpacking its meaning in Catholic theology. Fr. Mike explains how this phrase reveals God's transcendence and closeness, reflects our destiny as God's children, and calls us to humble trust and conversion. Through reflection on the Catechism, he encourages listeners to experience God’s personal, imminent love and our true heavenly homeland.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What “Who Art in Heaven” Truly Means

• Not about Location, but Relationship and Majesty:

  • The phrase "Who art in heaven" does not indicate that God is distant in space, but rather points to His majestic, transcendent nature.
  • "This biblical expression does not mean a place, space, but a way of being. It does not mean that God is distant but majestic. Our Father is not elsewhere. He transcends everything we can conceive of His holiness."
    — Fr. Mike [04:30]

• God’s Immanence and Closeness:

  • God’s holiness draws Him near to the “humble and contrite heart.”
  • "It's precisely because he is thrice holy that he is so close to the humble and contrite heart, which is just beautiful."
    — Fr. Mike [02:05]

2. Heaven as Home and Destiny

• Heaven as Our Homeland:

  • The Catechism teaches that the Father’s house is our “true homeland.” Sin has exiled us, but conversion brings us home.
  • "The Father's house is our homeland. Sin has exiled us from the land of the covenant, but conversion of heart enables us to return to the Father, to Heaven."
    — Catechism / Fr. Mike [05:20]

• Already but Not Yet:

  • Christians are already, in Christ, “seated with him in the heavenly places,” yet we groan and long for the fullness of this reality.
  • "We're the people of God already seated with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...at the same time, indeed, we groan and long to put on our heavenly dwelling."
    — Fr. Mike [02:45]

3. Transforming Prayer: From Distance to Communion

• God is With Us Here and Now:
  • Prayer is not a call to a distant God; He is immediately present—closer to us than we are to ourselves.
  • Fr. Mike rebuts the idea that God is “watching us from a distance,” referencing a pop song, and insists God’s presence is here, now.
  • "God is not absent...He is WITH you right now. Pause on this moment....God is truly present right now. As you're listening, he's with you."
    — Fr. Mike [08:05]

4. The Gospel Narrative & Our Return Home

• Christ as the Bridge Between Heaven and Earth:

  • The “symbol of the heavens” recalls the covenant; through Christ’s Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension, heaven and earth are reconciled.
  • "Sin has exiled us from our homeland. And yet Jesus Christ has reconciled heaven and earth, divinity and humanity, God and us."
    — Fr. Mike [12:40]

• Personal Invitation by Christ:

  • Jesus’ promise—“I go and prepare a place for you”—is applied personally. God wants each of us with Him.
  • "He has a place for you and just you..."
    — Fr. Mike [16:30]
  • "'Where I am, you also may be.' Here is Jesus who loves you so much. You're like, yeah, but I'm a sinner...He knows you. He's like, I prepared a place for you."
    — Fr. Mike [15:58]

5. Practical Spiritual Takeaways

• Humility and Trust in Prayer:

  • The proper disposition in prayer is humble, joyful confidence.
  • "Simple and faithful trust, humble and joyous assurance are the proper dispositions for one who prays the Our Father."
    — Catechism / Fr. Mike [07:35]

• Prayer Forms and Spiritual Identity:

  • Praying “Our Father” immerses us in communion with the Holy Trinity and defines our identity as God’s children.
  • "Praying to our Father should develop in us the will to become like him and foster in us a humble and trusting heart."
    — Catechism / Fr. Mike [07:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Immanence:

  • "God, you're closer to us than we are to ourselves."
    — Fr. Mike’s opening prayer [03:25]

• On False Views of God’s Distance:

  • "There was a song way back...Bette Midler, 'God is watching us from a distance'...That's not true. God is present to us. He's imminent."
    — Fr. Mike [09:42]

• On Heaven as Our True Home:

  • "You are made for heaven. In Christ, then, heaven and earth are reconciled."
    — Fr. Mike [05:00]

• On Christ Preparing a Place:

  • "My Father's house has many dwelling places...I'll come back...so that where I am, you also may be."
    — Quoting Jesus, interpreted by Fr. Mike [14:55]

Segment Timestamps

• Intro and Overview – [00:00–02:00]
• Catechism Passage Reading/Explanation – [02:00–07:30]
• Deep Dive: God’s Transcendence and Presence – [07:30–10:30]
• Personal Application: The Nearness of God in Prayer – [10:30–13:30]
• The Gospel in Paragraph 2795: Reconciliation of Heaven and Earth – [13:30–15:00]
• Jesus’ Personal Invitation / Heaven as Home – [15:00–17:00]
• Encouragement, Closing Thoughts, Blessing – [17:00–end]

Final Reflection

Fr. Mike ends on a note of encouragement and intimacy. He invites all listeners to realize and rest in the reality that God truly desires to be with each person:

“Do you realize that God wants to be with you? ... Let our prayer today be that sense of—okay, God, Jesus Christ, Father in heaven, Holy Spirit, come bring me to yourself so that where you are, we also may be.”
— [16:45]

This episode provides a rich, prayerful exploration of a short phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, ultimately pointing to the transformative reality of God’s love, presence, and invitation to eternal communion.