What Jesus Needs From You This Holy Week

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Episode: What Jesus Needs From You This Holy Week
Release Date: April 17, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "What Jesus Needs From You This Holy Week," Father Mike Schmitz delves into the profound theme of presence and support during times of distress, drawing inspiration from the events of Holy Week. Released on April 17, 2025, this episode seamlessly weaves together reflections on faith, human limitations, and the enduring example of Jesus Christ.

1. The Challenge of Being Unable to Fix Others' Troubles

Father Mike opens the discussion by addressing a common human experience: encountering someone in distress and feeling powerless to fix their problems.

“I can't fix this. What do you do?" [00:35]

He narrates the emotional turmoil that arises when we realize that, despite our best intentions, we cannot always provide solutions or alleviate others' suffering. This sets the stage for exploring a deeper, more meaningful response to others' needs.

2. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: A Model of Surrender

Transitioning to the biblical narrative, Father Mike reflects on Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane during Holy Week.

“Jesus is him voluntarily submitting himself, surrendering himself to the Father and to whatever the Romans dish out.” [02:10]

He emphasizes that Jesus, amidst his anguish and suffering, does not seek to evade his destiny or request intervention to fix his predicament. Instead, He demonstrates profound trust and acceptance of God's will.

3. The Disciples' Role: Staying with Jesus

Father Mike contrasts the natural inclination to solve problems with Jesus' request to His disciples.

“He doesn't ask them to fix it. He doesn't ask them to run off into the woods... He just asks them to stay with me.” [04:20]

This pivotal moment highlights the importance of presence over action. Jesus invites His followers to remain by His side, supporting Him through observation and prayer rather than attempting to change the outcome.

4. Application: Where Is Jesus Inviting Us to Stay?

Expanding on Jesus' invitation, Father Mike encourages listeners to identify where they can "stay" with Jesus during Holy Week.

“Where is he inviting you and me to stay right now? Where is he inviting us to stay with him?” [06:45]

He suggests various moments from the Passion—such as the Last Supper, the washing of the disciples' feet, the Eucharist, and the moments leading up to the crucifixion—as opportunities to accompany Jesus in His journey of sacrifice and love.

5. Lessons from the Book of Job: The Power of Presence

Drawing a parallel with the Book of Job, Father Mike illustrates the impact of simply being present with someone in suffering.

“When they just sit there, when they just stay, he knows there's someone there with him.” [11:30]

He points out that Job's friends found solace in their silent companionship, contrasting sharply with their later attempts to offer explanations and solutions, which only deepened Job's despair. This underscores the value of empathy and support without the immediate need to resolve issues.

6. Practical Steps: Embracing the Invitation to Stay

Father Mike provides actionable insights for listeners to apply the episode's message in their lives during the Triduum.

“Pick a spot and do what Jesus asks. Watch and pray and stay.” [17:15]

He urges individuals to choose specific moments or aspects of Jesus' Passion to accompany Him, whether it be during the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the journey to the cross, or the moments in the tomb. This intentional presence serves as a testament to one's faith and solidarity with Christ's suffering.

Conclusion

Father Mike Schmitz concludes the episode by reaffirming the central theme of presence over action. He reinforces the call to stay with Jesus through prayer and observation, especially during the sacred days of Holy Week.

“God bless.” [23:50]

Key Takeaways

• Presence Matters: Sometimes, the most supportive action is simply being there without attempting to fix or change the situation.
• Jesus' Example: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus demonstrates ultimate surrender and invites His disciples to share in His experience through presence and prayer.
• Personal Application: Listeners are encouraged to find personal ways to "stay" with Jesus during Holy Week, embracing moments of reflection, prayer, and silent support.
• Lessons from Scripture: The story of Job emphasizes the importance of empathy and presence, illustrating that sometimes words and solutions are less impactful than simple companionship.

This episode serves as a poignant reminder of the power of presence and the profound impact it can have on both the giver and the receiver, especially in times of trial and suffering.

Transcript

[A]

Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and this is Ascension presents. It is also Holy Week. I don't know if you've ever been in a situation where there's someone who's in trouble, there's someone who's in distress, there's someone who just. They're in the midst of it, right? They're in the middle of it. And you realize, I can't fix it. Like, you realize that honestly, no matter what I do, I can't fix this. I can talk, I can try to find solutions, I can try to offer help. But in some ways, like, no, I just, I. I know. The truth is. The truth is I. I can't fix this. What do you do? And I've been praying about this and reflecting on this because of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Especially as we again, as we lead into the Triduum like this, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and then Easter Sunday, we recognize that here's Jesus as he go, as he leaves the Passover meal, right? As he leaves the Last Supper and goes across the Kidron Valley and goes into the garden of Gethsemane. He's in trouble, right? He is distressed. He is in a place of suffering. What were the disciples asked to do? Because here's Jesus, he's in the garden. He is voluntarily submitting himself, surrendering himself to the Father and to whatever the Romans dish out. And what does he ask his disciples to do? You know, it's fascinating. He doesn't ask them to fix it. He doesn't ask them, hey, take me away from this. He doesn't ask them, let's run off into the woods, let's run off into the hills, let's get out of town. He doesn't ask them to do it for him. He doesn't ask them to, hey, give me a pump up speech. What does he ask them to do? He says, stay with me. He says, watch and pray with me. You know, I think for those of us who are kind of like, you know, solution minded, those of us who like to use words, those of us who like, just like, let me fix the problem, this could be the hardest thing to do. It's easy to talk, it's easy to try to fix. It's easy to try to offer solutions. And Jesus doesn't ask for a solution. He doesn't ask for a speech. He just asks them to stay. So here's the question. Where is Jesus inviting you and me to stay right now? Where is he inviting us to stay with him? And what we get to do as we enter into the Triduum is we get to choose spots to stay with him. So maybe it's the Last Supper. I get to stay with him as he's humbling himself and washing the feet of the disciples. I can. I can stay with him as he's giving us the Eucharist. Maybe it's in the Garden of Gethsemane, right there. He just says, hey, watch and pray with me. Stay with me. In this moment where there's, I imagine, so much loneliness, you know, there's also a moment where Jesus is arrested. He's brought to Kai's house. Part of our tradition is that he's put in basically into Caiaphas's cellar, right in the dungeon, in Caiaphas's basement. He's all alone. Maybe it's to stay with him there. Maybe it's to walk with him to Pilate's or what day over to Herod's and back to Pilates. Maybe it's the way of the cross. Maybe it's on the crucifix, wherever it is, the invitation. I think this, this, this weekend is to just stay with him, which is what we're called to do in so many ways with our brothers and sisters, right? I don't know if you know the story of the book of Job. In the Book of Job, you know, devastation, catastrophe befalls him and a couple of his friends, when they hear about it, they do the exact right thing. They, they. They see him and he's so broken, he's so actually just disfigured that they rend their garments and they weep. But then they just sit with him, then they just stay. You know, I think it's fascinating that it isn't until they start to give their speeches, it isn't until they try to give him solutions. It isn't until they try to fix things that everything, everything's ruined. But when they just sit there, when they just stay, he knows there's someone there with him. Is there someone in your life where they don't need your strength and they don't need your solutions and they don't need your speech, they just need you to stay with them? Is there someone, namely the Lord Jesus, who this weekend is inviting you to join him at the Last Supper, to join him in the Kidron Valley, to join him in the Garden of Gethsemane, to join him in Caiaphas's basement, to join him on the way of the Cross, to join him at the cross, to join him in the tomb and there he doesn't need your strength and he doesn't need your solutions and he doesn't need your speech. He just needs you to stay. Pick a spot and do what Jesus asks. Watch and pray and stay for all the sailor sensual resents. My name is Father Mike. God bless.