Podcast Summary

The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 361: The Kingdom and Will of God (2025)
Date: December 27, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Catechism Paragraphs: 2816–2827

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores two petitions from the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come” and “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Drawing from Catechism paragraphs 2816–2827, he delves into the profound theological and practical significance of these prayers. The discussion centers on what it means to pray for God’s kingdom and will in our world, how this is fulfilled most powerfully in the Eucharist, and the radical call to surrender our own will in favor of God’s.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meaning of “Thy Kingdom Come”

• Greek Word “Basileia”:
  • Can mean kingship (abstract), kingdom (concrete), or reign (action).

    “We can be praying, ‘Thy kingship come,’ Lord Jesus, your kingship, let that come down. Or your kingdom, that concrete noun. Or thy reign come.” [17:00]

• Already and Not Yet:
  • The kingdom is ahead of us, brought near in Jesus, and already present in the Eucharist.
  • The Kingdom will come in fullness at Christ’s return, but it is also present now, especially in the Mass.
• Connection to the Eucharist:
  • The Eucharist is “so much more than a worship service” – the kingdom is uniquely present when the Church gathers around the altar.

    “In the Eucharist, the kingdom, as the church gathers around the altar to worship God... that kingdom is in our midst.” [18:11]

  • The “source and summit of the Christian life.”

2. Living for the Kingdom in the Present

• Finality and Mission:
  • Praying “Thy kingdom come” primarily focuses on Christ’s second coming but also fuels commitment to mission in this life.

    “We're praying for Jesus Christ to return, right?... But at the same time, that doesn't distract us from our mission today, here and now.” [21:36]

• Heavenly Focus Inspires Earthly Action:
  • Saints who “did the most good for the most people in this world... had their hearts set on that next world.” [23:44]
• Distinguishing Kingdom and Culture:
  • “Just because now people have iPhones... doesn't mean that the kingdom’s any more present to humanity.”
  • Progress in society and the coming of God’s reign are not identical, but our call to eternal life “reinforces our duty to serve justice and peace.” [25:00]

3. Thy Will Be Done—Theology and Surrender

• Jesus as Model:
  • Christ perfectly fulfilled the Father’s will, even at great personal cost (“Not my will, but yours be done”).
• Radical Inability Without Grace:
  • We are “radically incapable” of uniting our will to God’s on our own.

    “We're radically incapable of what? …to unite our will to the will of the Son in order to fulfill the Father's will, His plan of salvation. We're radically incapable of this.” [29:08]

• Power of Grace and the Holy Spirit:
  • United with Jesus and empowered by the Spirit, we can “surrender our will to him and decide to choose what His Son has always chosen–to do what is pleasing to the Father.”

    “By God's grace, united with Jesus and the power of his Holy Spirit, we can surrender our will to him.” [30:31]

• Real Surrender:
  • Placing our will, even our uncertainty, under God’s dominion.

    “I know what I want, though, and I'm gonna surrender it. I place it under your dominion. You are the Lord. You are the King. I place it all under your kingship.” [31:14]

4. Discernment and Endurance

• Discerning and Doing God’s Will:
  • Through prayer, we discern God’s will and receive the strength to carry it out.

    “We need to discern the will of God, and then we also need to beg God to give us the endurance to do it.” [33:14]

• Not Just Words, But Deeds:
  • “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom... but only those who do the will of my Father in heaven.” [33:38]
• Practical Application:
  • Fr. Mike prays for listeners to have courage and endurance, drawing encouragement from the journey through the podcast itself.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Multiple Translations of “Basileia”:

  “We’re not just praying for a place. We’re praying for a reality. We’re praying for God’s reign; we’re praying for his kingship to be manifest.” [17:30]

• On the Eucharist as the Heart of the Kingdom:

  “The Eucharist is everything… in the Eucharist, and maybe even the Mass alone, the kingdom is in our midst.” [18:25]

• On Action Rooted in Hope:

  “The people who’ve done the most good for more people… their hearts were set on the next life. Their hearts were set on the coming of God’s kingdom.” [23:44]

• On the Challenge of Surrender:

  “We are radically incapable of this. But united with Jesus and with the power of His Holy Spirit, we can surrender our will.” [30:31] “I'm placing my will under his dominion, putting it under his reign...” [31:14]

• On Discernment and Endurance:

  “We know that we need to discern what is the will of God and then to beg God to give us the courage to start and the endurance to do it.” [33:14]

• Encouragement to Listeners Near the End:

  “Here you are on day 361. You have endurance. Even if there’s a bunch of days missed… Here you are. We need the kind of endurance that comes from Jesus.” [34:14]

Important Timestamps

• [00:29] – Fr. Mike introduces the day’s theme: two petitions, “Thy kingdom come” and “Thy will be done.”
• [05:14] – Reading begins: Catechism paragraphs 2816–2827.
• [17:00] – Reflection: Multiple meanings of “basileia.”
• [18:11] – The Eucharist and the presence of the Kingdom.
• [21:36] – Praying for the Second Coming and living in the present mission.
• [23:44] – Saints doing good on earth because of hearts set on heaven.
• [25:00] – Distinguishing progress in culture from growth of God’s reign.
• [29:08] – Our radical inability to do God’s will without grace.
• [30:31] – Surrendering will to God by grace.
• [33:14] – Discernment and endurance in doing God’s will.
• [34:14] – Encouragement for listener perseverance.

Tone and Style

Fr. Mike maintains a warm, passionate, and occasionally playful tone, marked by encouragement and deep reverence for the mysteries of the faith. He weaves humor ("I don't know how to count") with impactful theology, always drawing practical connections to daily life and Catholic practice.

Summary

Day 361 of The Catechism in a Year journeys into the profound hopes of every Christian: that God's kingdom would reign in our world and that His will would be done on earth as in heaven. Fr. Mike unpacks the layers of these petitions, showing how they are present in the Eucharist and must become the posture of the Christian heart—a heart dependent on grace to truly surrender. The episode is both theological and practical, challenging listeners to discern, pray, and act for the kingdom with endurance rooted in the Spirit.