Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz - 08/25/19 Hope and Discipline

Episode Date: August 26, 2019

Homily from the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. Discipline is the mark of the mature Christian. We have to do difficult things all of the time. Why do we do them? We do them because we hope. We have the confidence that what we do makes a difference. The hope that, even when discipline becomes difficult, the discipline makes a difference. Mass Readings from August 25, 2019: Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalms 117:1-2Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30

So when it came to like the question of the beginning of Mass before Mass asked about like what's like something difficult you've done or what's something hard you've done I don't know if anyone mentioned like just going to college Because I don't know if the last last couple days have been one of those like yeah, this has been a really difficult time If you don't I'm not like show of hands how many hate your life right now But like one of those questions of like oh my gosh Why does it seem so hard because like I was planning all summer actually maybe with the last couple years like I can't wait to leave home and go to Duluth and you get here and it's like I I'll kind of, it can be hard. And the question can come up like, why is this so difficult?

And the answer is really simple. It's because it is. That's just the answer. Because it's difficult. Because that whole process of like, I mean, think about this. We have asked people to do this always. Okay, leave everyone who knows you and who loves you and it cares about you and go to a place where no one knows you, no one loves you, and no one cares.

We love you. But like, no one cares. It's like, no wonder it seems hard because it is actually hard. Like, no wonder it seems difficult because it actually is difficult, which brings up this question in my mind, which is like, why do we do difficult things? Like, why do we do things? I mean, it doesn't just have to be able to leave home and go to college? Why college?

Why get your plan? Okay, hopefully your plan is to actually study here. So why study? Like, why, like, have online letters, why I have to write this whole paper? Why do I take a class that I do not enjoy? Why do I get a job maybe you someday? You might not enjoy. If you're an athlete, like, why do that?

Why do difficult things? If you ever become a get married, like, that's hard. It's hard to get married. It's easy to get married. Hard to be married. Having children, like, raising those. Why do we as human beings do difficult things? I don't know if you ever stopped and asked that question,

because you do difficult things all the time. Why? I think it comes down to one word, one thing, because of hope. When it comes down to it, the reason we do difficult things is because we believe that it actually makes a difference when you do difficult things. And think of the last time, the last difficult thing you did,

it was because you had a hope that, like, okay, this will matter. That this actually makes a difference either in my life or this will make a difference in someone else's life. The reason why we do any difficult thing. We would never do a difficult thing if we didn't actually believe that it would, made a difference. We would never do anything difficult if we didn't actually believe that it came down to the fact that it matters. Like even being here

right now, you guys, we normally do not have mass at 9 a.m. for a.m. for a I do not like it. 10.30 a.m. is the normal mass time. You guys, it's just painful. Why? Because it's not that painful. But like, I'm kind of a drama person. I believe it makes a difference. The reason you got out of bed this morning and got here on time, got to this place, is because you show up to Mass this morning because you believe at some level it matters that you're here. At some level, it matters that you show up. In some level, at some level, it makes a difference. So the reason we do hard things is because we believe it actually makes a difference. And that's why it's just like, it's so cool.

What's at the heart, that hope is at the heart of every disarmine. we've ever embraced. So the letters of the Hebrews today is chapter 12. The author talks about discipline. And he says this. He says, endure your trials. It's discipline. He says, at the time, no discipline seems a cause for joy. And we're like, yeah, amen to that, brother. Like, at the time, no discipline seems a cause for joy. But later it bears the fruit of righteousness, bears a fruit of peace. Like, the discipline equals this later on, we get something. So what's discipline? Here's a definition of discipline. discipline is the willingness and the ability to sacrifice what I want now for what I want more later. Just definition of discipline.

The willingness and the ability to sacrifice what I want now for what I want more later. And so, like, I want to stay up late, but I want more to get up early. I want to have this fourth piece of cake. But I want more to not look like someone who ate the fourth piece of cake. I want to just hang out with friends, instead of setting, but I want more to graduate and actually be employed, like, later on. So, discipline is the willingness and the ability to sacrifice what I want now for what I want more later on.

It's like a trade. And that's why discipline, that he talks about in the letter to the Hebrews, discipline is the mark of the mature Christian. Like having discipline is the mark of the mature Christian. And this is what this might be the point. where you're like, okay, yeah, because like, okay, two Christians are really tough, or like, two Christians, like, do tough things. And, like, that's not what I'm saying. Not at all. I'd say discipline is the mark of the mature Christian because the heart of discipline is hope.

The heart of discipline is hope. Why? Because if discipline is the willingness and the ability to sacrifice what I want now for what I want more later on, every time you engage in discipline, it's because you're exercising hope. You believe that if I sacrifice this now, it'll actually matter. it'll make a difference. So again, for the last time, maybe. Discipline is the willingness and the ability to sacrifice now for what I want more later. And the heart of discipline is the conviction, the belief,

the hope that that actually matters, that that actually makes a difference, which is one of the reasons why, in the letter to the Hebrews, he says this, he says, so please, brothers and sisters, do not lose heart. Like in the midst of discipline, and in the midst of hard things, in the midst of difficult stuff, do not become discouraged. Because if I lose heart, if I become discouraged, what happens is I stop.

I stop everything. If I stop hoping, then I stop striving. If I stop hoping, then what happens is, again, I've lost scripture. I've lost my heart. Because it's normal for difficult things to be difficult. The reason why they're difficult is because they're hard to do. They're difficult. that's not a problem.

The problem is when I get to this point where I don't just lose, it's not just difficult, but I've lost hope, I've lost my heart, I become discouraged, I don't believe this matters anymore. That's maybe where some of you've been. Maybe that's where you are now, that place where it's just like, what difference does it make? Like when it comes to the next step in life, it's really easy to ask that question. So what difference does it make? Why keep trying?

That's why the letters of the Hebrews is all about like, listen, fight against that temptation to lose your hope. In fact, this is the beginning of what we heard today. It was Hebrews chapter 12 verse 5. The beginning of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 is incredible. He says this. He says, we're surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses. Therefore, let's rid of ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us

and persevere in running the race that's set before us. And what he's trying to say in the concept of all this discipline stuff is like, listen, you've been set on a path. Like, he might not know how, you may not know why, but you're actually on a racetrack. You're on a path. There's this path that God has placed you on right now. And it's not an accident. And it's not random. It's actually completely on purpose.

Here you are. So why would I become discouraged? Why would I lose heart? Because I know that God has actually set me on this path. Where you are right now. is exactly where you are supposed to be. And what you do right now, what I do right now, actually makes a difference.

And so he says, he says, so keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, who's the leader and perfector of our faith. And it goes on, oh, it's so good. He says, consider how Jesus endured such opposition from sinners in order that you might not grow weary and you might not lose heart.

So again, you might be in this place where he's just like, man, what difference does it make? give my heart to anybody. Just going to lose it. Why try? I'm just going to fail. Why sacrifice what I want now for what I want more or later? It might not work out. What differences make? And here is the author saying, Jesus, he endured so much opposition. He endured being crushed. He endured the cross. Why? So that you would not grow weary and so you would not lose heart. So when you got to that place where it's just like, man, it's falling apart that you wouldn't. give up, that you wouldn't be discouraged, that you wouldn't lose heart. Because again, we can

become discouraged when the discipline becomes difficult, but you can handle any discipline when you know it makes a difference. We can become discouraged when the discipline becomes difficult, but you can handle any difficulty when you know what makes a difference. You can do this. What do a lot of people do? I don't know what other people do. I don't know what other people are going to do. What you can do, though, is you can keep running. That's one of the things from the gospel today. You know, the guy comes up to Jesus and says, Lord, will only a few be saved? I don't know if you notice this, but Jesus doesn't say yes or no. So frustrating. Jesus doesn't give like, well, actually, the percentage is this. He doesn't give a number. This guy comes up

and he asks this big question like, Lord, what's the, what's the path for the whole world? And Jesus says, you. He actually, in this little section of scripture we heard today, He uses the word you, Y-O-U, 11 times, at least. And this guy has this big question about, what would all people, all people be saved? And he says, no, no, no, no, you strive. You run. You race.

Other people, I love them. But listen, what I'm asking of you is, this is about you. And this is about your race. This is about your life, about your choice, it's about your discipline, your willingness and ability to give up what you want now for what I have in store for you, what you want more later on. And so that we have the question, this is the last thing. Like, what do I do then?

Okay, here's the first week of school. Here's the first Sunday mass. Class starts tomorrow. So, Father, what do I do now? Okay, this is the deal. Is that supposed to live a discipline life? And God has a path for me and a plan for me. Okay, what do I do next?

It's really, really simple, actually. Because we have a tendency, I don't know me, not you, but I have a tendency to overcomplicate things. And when I overcomplicate things, I'm like, I'm going to do all the things. And then I get overwhelmed. so over-application means to overwhelm, leads to overwhelming, and so we're going to make it really simple.

I just invite you, this year do one thing. This year, do one thing. Just have this in mind. When it comes to this, okay, discipline, willingness to sacrifice, what I want now for more later, because I know what makes a difference, this one thing will make all the difference. Show up.

That's it. When it comes down to it, just show up. So we have classes, typically, I think. usually. They don't take attendance. Well, some of them might, but typically don't take attendance. You can skirt around that. Show up. We don't take attendance at Mass. I mean, we could start, I guess. Taking a note, we'll start doing that. We don't, but show up. Like, this is the greatest thing. It's so cool. Here you are in this place, this new phase in your life where you actually get to make a choice about, like, what kind of life, what your life looks like, what the shape of

your life is. Like, are you a, are you a woman after God's own? heart, are you a man of prayer? Show up. Not do it perfectly, just do it. Because that makes all the difference. Willingness to just, okay, I'll be back next Sunday. Not as early. I'll show up to prayer on a regular basis. Not perfectly. I have work. I'm not going to call on sick when I'm not sick. To just be the kind of person who shows up is the kind of person that you actually end up wanting to be even after you failed, actually especially after you failed, to not be discouraged because you're not done to be able to take that next step in hope, knowing that that hope, that discipline, that just showing up will not only make a difference, it makes all the

difference.