24 September 2023 - Only By Grace Reflections

NOTE: Please click the Subscribe key on YouTube and press the black notification bell to receive the daily reflections. Or, open in YouTube for easy access. View and Like. Thank you. TOPIC: WILL I SERVE IN THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD WITH A GRATEFUL HEART? First Reading: Isaiah 55: 6-9 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 2-3, 8-9, 17-18 Second Reading: Philippians 1: 20c-24, 27a Alleluia: Acts 16: 14b Gospel: Matthew 20: 1-16a In an interview with Fr. Mike Schmitz he said "I was getting ready to get married to an amazing woman, but in my prayer, I said, "God I will do whatever you want me to do." In my prayer, I realized God was saying, I will love you no matter what you choose, but I am calling you to a different path." Fr. Mike Schmitz was raised a Catholic. He grew up in Northern Minnesota, in a family where the only reason he can skip attending the Holy Mass is when he is really sick. During his elementary days, he did not like the church. He would go to Holy Mass and openly made fun of the priest during the entire mass. When he was 15 years old he experienced a moment of grace. He had this conviction of personal sin. He said “Oh my God I have done those sins, I can’t save myself, I need a savior. During that time he did not know how to pray but he knows a priest and where the priest live. So he took his bike, went to the priest and requested for a confession. Mike Schmitz realized 3 things after the confession: First, he said, I am so grateful to our Lord Jesus because I came in sinful and I came out completely forgiven from all of my sins because of Jesus. Second, he said, God, if you want me to be a priest, I would hear anyone who wants to hear confession, and I will hear their confession any time they want. Third, he is still open to entertain a relationship to a beautiful lady. He went to college to learn more about his faith. After College, he became a full time missionary in Central America. He got really sick during his mission in Central America to the point that someone called a priest to give him an Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion. That experience prompted him to start asking questions in a really deep way and then fell in love with God and the church. In a chapel he heard God’s voice crystal clear and he said “I will be your priest.” He called her girlfriend and said, “I think I’m going to the seminary next year”. As he spoke those words he felt sadness and joy at the same time. Her girlfriend said, “If this is what God wants for you, God also wants this for me. Fr. Mike Schmitz is now serving as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He is a presenter in Ascension’s Chosen, Altaration, and The 99 programs, and has a channel on Ascension Presents. He is also the host of the Ascension podcasts The Bible in a Year and The Catechism in a Year. The gospel today invites us to put our focus on the generosity of Jesus, and to accept his invitation to work in his vineyard to share the good news of salvation to everyone with a grateful heart. May we emulate the example of Fr. Mike Schmitz who was so grateful to the love and mercy of Jesus and joyfully accepted the invitation of Jesus to work in his vineyard as a priest.   This is the 1248th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings. [NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Israel Silud, as he brings us today's reflection. All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS] #OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist