{"podcast":{"title":"Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz","slug":"sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176","podcast_index_feed_id":614176,"rss_url":"https://feeds.fireside.fm/fathermikehomilies/rss","website_url":"https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm","image_url":"https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/1/1b1273a3-3711-4e9f-b187-36a4f8791359/cover.jpg?v=2","author":"Ascension","episode_count":420,"summary":"Every week, Catholic priest Fr. Mike Schmitz delivers powerful homilies based on the Sunday Mass Scripture readings, inviting you to live more fully as the person God created you to be. Engaging and motivating, these 20-30 minute homilies will help ground your faith, fortify your heart, and transform your life. Fr. Mike Schmitz preaches from Duluth Minnesota, where he serves as the Newman chaplain for University Minnesota Duluth’s Bulldog Catholic campus ministry.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-26T16:18:17.339342+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176"},"episode":{"title":"04/26/26 The Next...: The Next Road","slug":"04-26-26-the-next-the-next-road","published_at":"2026-04-25T16:45:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176/04-26-26-the-next-the-next-road","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176","url":"https://fathermikehomilies.fireside.fm/20260426","audio_url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/1b1273a3-3711-4e9f-b187-36a4f8791359/9b7f6b06-e7a4-43ac-a0b9-c926478951a8.mp3","summary":"Stop searching for the perfect path and focus on the next right step. This homily explores how to navigate life's uncertainties by staying attuned to the voice of Jesus.","meta_description":"Fr. Mike Schmitz discusses overcoming the fear of making wrong choices by focusing on the 'next right road' and deepening our love for God.","key_points":["Main idea: There is no such thing as a perfect road; there is only the next right direction","Practical takeaway: Use the concept of metanoia—changing your mind to change your direction—when you realize you are on the wrong path","Failure mode: Paralysis caused by the fear of making the wrong choice or the regret of not finding the 'ideal' path","Lesson from history: The souls in purgatory regret missed opportunities for kindness, truth, and most importantly, loving God more deeply","Practical takeaway: Focus on the immediate opportunity to love God in the present moment, through prayer and the Eucharist"],"chapters":[{"start_ms":60000,"title":"Recognizing the Shepherd's Voice","summary":"An introduction to the Gospel of John, focusing on how the sheep follow the shepherd because they recognize his specific voice."},{"start_ms":180000,"title":"The Anxiety of Choice","summary":"Reflecting on the question 'What are we to do?' that arises after major life transitions and spiritual milestones."},{"start_ms":240000,"title":"The Myth of the Perfect Road","summary":"Using Robert Frost's poetry to illustrate the common human struggle with the fear of regret and the search for the 'right' path."},{"start_ms":540000,"title":"The Power of Repentance","summary":"Exploring 'metanoia' as a tool for progress, where turning back toward God is the most effective way to find the right way."},{"start_ms":1140000,"title":"Lessons from Purgatory","summary":"Examining the three great regrets of the souls in purgatory: wasted time, missed opportunities for kindness, and a lack of love for God."},{"start_ms":1320000,"title":"Taking the Next Right Road","summary":"A final call to action to stop seeking perfection and simply focus on following Jesus through the next immediate choice."}],"topics":["Faith","Christianity","Spiritual Growth","Catholicism","Decision Making","Regret","Prayer","Jesus Christ"],"duration_seconds":1341,"processing_state":"processed","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176/episodes/04-26-26-the-next-the-next-road/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sunday-homilies-with-fr-mike-schmitz-614176/04-26-26-the-next-the-next-road.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}