Summary3 min read

Summary of "How to Start Somewhere (Because You Have to Start Somewhere)"

Podcast: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Host: Ascension
Release Date: January 2, 2025

In the episode titled "How to Start Somewhere (Because You Have to Start Somewhere)," Fr. Mike Schmitz delves into the significance of beginnings, particularly in the context of faith, personal growth, and the New Year. Through thoughtful reflections and biblical insights, he encourages listeners to embrace the necessity of starting, even amidst imperfection and uncertainty.

Embracing the Necessity of Starting

Fr. Mike begins by addressing the common sentiment surrounding New Year's resolutions. He acknowledges that many listeners might feel disheartened or exhausted by the cycle of setting and abandoning resolutions. However, he emphasizes that being alive inherently means being a living, growing entity.

[00:45] Fr. Mike Schmitz: "If you're alive, that means living things grow, which means we have to grow. And growing things change."

He underscores that growth is not optional but a fundamental aspect of life. This natural progression necessitates change, prompting the question: What are we changing into?

Biblical Foundations for Starting Somewhere

Drawing from biblical narratives, Fr. Mike explores why God initiates His plans with specific individuals and moments. He references Abraham and his lineage, highlighting that despite their imperfections, God began His covenant with them.

[02:15] Fr. Mike Schmitz: "God had to start somewhere. And he started with Abraham, started with that family. And even though that family was dysfunctional... he had to start somewhere."

Similarly, he reflects on the birth of Jesus, chosen to be born in Bethlehem to a humble family, and the significance of the shepherds—the very individuals on society's fringes—as the first to hear the gospel message.

[04:10] Fr. Mike Schmitz: "It wasn't the wise, it wasn't the powerful. It was people who are actually on the fringe of society."

This choice underscores that God's beginnings are often with those who may not seem ideal or ready by societal standards, reinforcing the theme that starting is more crucial than perfection.

The Power of Imperfection in Faith

Fr. Mike delves deeper into the idea that one doesn't need to have everything in order to embark on a spiritual journey. He challenges the listener's tendency to self-disqualify, thinking, "I need to get my stuff together first."

[05:50] Fr. Mike Schmitz: "You don't have to have it all together to be invited into a relationship with God."

By highlighting the shepherds' role in the gospel story—individuals who were essential yet marginalized—he illustrates that God's invitation is inclusive, extending to all, regardless of their state of readiness or perfection.

Immediate Action Over Postponement

Transitioning from theological insights to practical application, Fr. Mike urges listeners to act now rather than delay their spiritual or personal growth. He poses reflective questions to inspire immediate action:

[07:30] Fr. Mike Schmitz: "What is it that God is asking you to start right now? And why not start now? Because you have to start somewhere."

He emphasizes the urgency and importance of initiating change today, reinforcing that waiting for the "perfect moment" may result in indefinite postponement.

Conclusion

Wrapping up the episode, Fr. Mike reiterates the central theme that beginnings are essential and that each individual has a unique starting point in their journey of faith and personal development. He leaves listeners with a hopeful message that God is actively seeking to begin His work with them, regardless of their current circumstances or perceived shortcomings.

[09:20] Fr. Mike Schmitz: "God is starting with you, and I think God is starting right now."

Fr. Mike concludes with a light-hearted personal anecdote, maintaining an engaging and relatable connection with his audience.

This episode serves as a motivational guide for listeners grappling with the pressure of new beginnings, particularly around the New Year. Fr. Mike Schmitz masterfully combines theological depth with practical encouragement, making a compelling case for the importance of starting, embracing imperfection, and seizing the present moment to foster growth and change.

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You might have given up on the New Year's resolution kind of thing. You might have given up on that sense of, okay, I'm going to keep starting. I'm going to try something new. I'm going to try, period. And yet, here it is. You're alive, which means you're a living thing. And living things grow, which means living things. Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and this is Ascension Presents. Maybe you're, like, over the New Year's resolutions. Maybe you're over starting something new. Maybe you're over trying, which is understandable. I know sometimes like that just can weigh us down and we realize, okay, I'm not going to start something new on New Year's Day. I'm giving up the whole New Year's resolution kind of situation. I get that. But you're alive. That's good news. If you're alive, that means living things grow, which means if you're alive, you're still called to grow. And living things grow. Living, growing things change. See that logic there? Living things grow. Growing things change. So if you're alive, that means you're a living thing. That means you have to. We have to grow, which means we have to change. The question is, what am I going to change into? I was thinking about this particularly when it comes to Christmas. I mean, that's why it's kind of New Year's Christmas all combined with each other. Because of this. Because sometimes people say, like, well, why. Why did God himself choose Bethlehem? Why did he choose 2000 years ago? Why did they choose the Jewish people, you know, 2,000 years before that, with Abraham? Why did he choose that family of, you know, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, all the rest of them? Why did he choose that? And I think the short answer is, the simplest answer is you have to start somewhere. And here's what God did. He willed to start somewhere. And he started with Abraham, started with that family. And that family just grew. And even though that family was dysfunctional, even that family, though that family had so many broken people. Just like our families had broken people, just like we are broken people. He had to start somewhere. Same thing when it came to Christmas Day. Here is Jesus born into this world. God had to start somewhere and even think of epiphany. Epiphany is coming up soon. Epiphany is what? Epiphany is the magi, right? The wise men visit Mary and Joseph and Jesus. This revelation to the world had to start somewhere. But I was thinking about this and praying about how. Who was it who first heard the gospel message. Who was it who first heard, after Mary and Joseph, who were the first people that heard the gospel message? It wasn't the wise, it wasn't the powerful. It wasn't people who are actually even part of society. It was people who are actually on the fringe of society. You've heard the story a thousand times, but too often, I think we hear the term shepherds, like, while shepherds watch their flock by night. And we kind of romanticize that a little bit. Maybe you don't do that, but I know I'm tempted to do that where you think, of course, farmers, farmers are awesome. Because I know a lot of farmers and farmers are awesome. I know a lot of ranchers. Ranchers are awesome. I see those kind of people as they're part of society. In fact, they're the, in some ways, the backbone of society. Make us get a. Get a spoon and whatnot. But in that time in 1st century Israel, shepherds were on the outskirts. I mean, of course they were essential because they were raising the lambs for the sacrifice and everything. But I don't know if you know this, if you're a shepherd, you're dealing with stuff that you can't touch and then go to the temple. So here's the shepherds who are raising the sacrificial flocks, among other things, the sacrificial flocks that would be offered in worship of God. And yet they themselves, unless they had been ritually purified, couldn't actually go to offer that ritual sacrifice, which is fascinating. Why would God go to them? Well, one is because it has to start somewhere. And secondly, he's telling us something with where it starts. And I think one of the messages, one of the powerful messages is you don't actually have to have it all together to be invited into a relationship with God. You don't actually have to have it all together in order to start. You don't have to have it all together for God to notice you, to know you, to care about you, to love you, to call you, to do something great in you. Sometimes we disqualify ourselves by saying, well, I need to get my stuff together right? I need to get my poop in a group. And then. And then I'll be able to be called that. God had to start somewhere. And he started with people who. Everyone else would have said, no, not them. They're not ready. And God said, that's where I'm starting. And here we are today. When it comes to being alive and growing and changing, you don't have to. You don't have to get your stuff together in order to start, because we just have to start somewhere. So here's the question. What is it that you have on your heart that God has said, I just need you to start. I just need you to start today. Not tomorrow. Not tomorrow. Like, when you hear this and you press stop after this, it's to be able to say, okay, what is the thing that God wants me to. He's inviting me to start now. He's inviting me to start today. Tomorrow is too. I mean, not too late, but tomorrow is not on time. Right now is on time. What is it that God is asking you to start right now? And why not start now? Because. Why? Because you have to start somewhere. So why not right now? Where God started was with broken people in a broken world. And he went to the fringes of that broken people and the fringes of that broken world, and they were the first people that he made his revelation of, the fact that he is with us. Right. As I said last week that his name is. I'm here. His name is Emmanuel. His name is God is with us. It was to them, that's where he started. And we all have to start somewhere. So I think God is starting with you, and I think God is starting right now. So starting with you, what is it? What's the next step that you have to take right now that will help you get closer to the Lord? Don't put it off, because we're off to start somewhere. Anyways, from all of us here at Ascension presents, my name is Father Mike. Happy New Year and God bless. Okay, everybody. Did I tell you about how my eyeballs are not working anymore? I mean, I can see. I can see. I just can't tell if it's super in focus or if it's out of focus. Oh, shoot. I had these lights on in the back in the last video. Golly jeepers creepers, did I ruin everything? Did I ruin Christmas? I ruined Christmas. You're gonna ruin great. Here we go.