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

Episode: Day 64: The Lord (2026)
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz / Ascension
Date: March 5, 2026
Readings: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 446-455

Main Theme & Purpose

Day 64 of "The Catechism in a Year" focuses on the title "Lord" as applied to Jesus Christ. Fr. Mike Schmitz explains the scriptural roots, theological significance, and spiritual implications of calling Jesus "Lord." Building on previous discussions of Jesus as "Christ" (Messiah) and "Son of God," this episode deepens listeners’ understanding of the unique Christian confession that attributes divine sovereignty to Jesus. The episode aims to uncover why calling Jesus “Lord” is not just a title of respect but a profession of faith-filled adoration, commitment, and acknowledgement of His true divinity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Biblical Root of "Lord"

• Jewish Tradition and the Name of God (Yahweh)

  • The Old Testament name for God ("Yahweh") was so sacred it was only uttered by the high priest once a year (00:55).
  • In Greek translation, "Yahweh" becomes "Kyrios" ("Lord"), which is how most English Bibles represent the divine name.
    • Fr. Mike: "That sacred name is so sacred... it is translated in Greek as the name Kyrios, which means Lord." (02:20)

• "Kyrios" in the New Testament

  • The New Testament uses "Lord" (Kyrios) for both the Father and what is new—for Jesus, signaling His divinity.
  • Jesus claims the title in both veiled and explicit ways, especially in encounters after His resurrection (03:00).

2. The Meaning of "Lord" in the Gospels

• An Expression of Faith and Respect

  • Those asking Jesus for help in the Gospels often call Him "Lord" (e.g., "Lord, my servant is dying"), at first as a title of honor (02:45).

• St. Thomas's Declaration—A Turning Point

  • Upon encountering the risen Christ, Thomas exclaims, "My Lord and my God," signifying both faith and love—a pivotal Christian profession (03:40).
    • Fr. Mike: "That combination, but also that expression, gives us a new connotation of love and affection that remains proper to the Christian tradition." (04:00)

• Connection to Divine Sovereignty

  • Jesus' life demonstrates sovereignty over nature, illness, demons, death, and sin, presenting evidence of actual divinity, not just honor (06:45).
    • "He demonstrated his divine sovereignty by works of power... he is truly Lord, right? He has dominion." (06:55)

3. Theological Implications of Jesus as Lord

• Confession of Jesus' Divinity

  • To call Jesus "Lord" is to recognize Him as "God from God, light from light, true God from true God. He is fully God, just as the Father is fully God." (04:25)

• Exclusive Worship and Allegiance

  • Early Christians refused to submit to any power—political or otherwise—in an absolute sense. Only God is Lord.
    • "Caesar is not the Lord... we may never submit ourselves fully in an absolute manner to anything or anyone, to any other power other than God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (05:25)
  • The 'Solemnity of Christ the King' in liturgy boldly affirms Jesus' lordship over history (05:40).

• Christian Prayer Rooted in Christ's Lordship

  • Catholic prayers end or open with titles like "Lord be with you," "through Christ our Lord," and the invocation "Come, Lord Jesus" — reflecting the deep roots of this title (05:58, 14:30).

4. Living Out Christ's Lordship

• Personal Surrender to Jesus’ Dominion

  • Jesus' lordship means surrendering every aspect of life—past, present, and future—into His care.
    • "If Jesus is the Lord of my life... he has access to every piece, every part of my life, past, present and future." (07:25)
  • True Christian confession means letting Jesus truly be "my Lord," not just "the Lord."

• The Role of the Holy Spirit

  • "No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3; referenced at 14:50).
    • Fr. Mike: "It is the Spirit of God dwelling inside of us that allows us to proclaim and mean... that Jesus Christ is truly the Lord." (14:55)

5. Catholic Identity Hinges on Christ's Lordship

• Defining What Makes a Christian
  • To be Christian means believing Jesus is the Son of God—fully divine.
    • "To be a Christian, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God...if I don’t believe in his divinity, then I’m not a Christian." (11:00)
  • C.S. Lewis is quoted, reminding listeners that Christianity is defined by belief and profession—not merely by ethical niceness (11:32).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reverence for the Name of God:
  "That sacred name [Yahweh] is so sacred... it is translated in Greek as the name Kyrios, which means Lord."
  — Fr. Mike, (02:20)

• On Thomas’ Confession:
  "Thomas says, 'My Lord and my God.' That combination... gives us a new connotation of love and affection."
  — Fr. Mike, (04:00)

• On Personal Submission:
  "If Jesus is the Lord of my life, of course he’s the Lord of today... he has access to every piece, every part of my life, past, present and future."
  — Fr. Mike, (07:40)

• On Christian Allegiance:
  "Caesar is not the Lord... we may never submit ourselves fully in an absolute manner to anything or anyone... other than God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
  — Fr. Mike, (05:25)

• On Belief and Christian Identity:
  "To be a Christian, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God... if I don’t believe in his divinity, then I’m not a Christian."
  — Fr. Mike, (11:00)

• The Spirit’s Role in Confession:
  "No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit."
  — Fr. Mike, (14:50)

Important Timestamps

• Introduction & Overview: 00:05–01:30
• The Sacred Name & Lordship in the Old Testament/NT: 01:30–04:30
• Thomas & the New Meaning of “Lord”: 04:00–04:30
• Liturgical Affirmations of Lordship: 05:40–06:15
• Jesus’ Demonstration of Sovereignty: 06:45–08:00
• The In-brief Summary of Titles: 09:50–10:30
• Christian Identity Defined by Divinity of Christ: 11:00–12:10
• Living Lordship Out Personally: 12:40–13:50
• Holy Spirit and Confessing “Jesus is Lord”: 14:50–15:30

Summary Table: Catechism Titles Covered

| Title | Meaning/Etymology | Significance | |---------------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Jesus | "God saves" | The name signifies His mission to save His people from sin | | Christ | "Anointed (Messiah)"| Declares Jesus as the long-awaited, Spirit-filled Savior | | Son of God | Divine sonship | Expresses Jesus’ unique and eternal relationship with the Father | | Lord (Kyrios) | Divine sovereignty | Confessing Jesus’ divinity, authority, and worthiness of total allegiance |

Final Reflection & Call to Action

Fr. Mike calls listeners to internalize and live out the confession "Jesus is Lord," letting this truth shape every part of their life. He emphasizes that this is only possible through the Holy Spirit, and urges the community to pray for the grace to fully embrace Jesus’ lordship with joy and freedom.

Closing Blessing:
"I'm praying for you because it's a big deal... to say Jesus is not just the Lord, but he is my Lord. So please, let's pray for each other that we can say that and mean it." (15:30)

For listeners seeking an understanding of why and how Christians call Jesus “Lord,” this episode provides both theological grounding and practical encouragement to surrender to the lordship of Christ in every aspect of life.