Overview of Day 265: Sins of Omission (2026)
In this episode of Bible in a Year, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks through Matthew 25–26 and Proverbs 19:21–24, highlighting Jesus’ call to be prepared, bear fruit, care for “the least of these,” and remain faithful in the midst of suffering. The reflection centers on three major ideas: readiness for Christ’s return, the danger of sins of omission, and Jesus’ honest yet trusting prayer in Gethsemane as the Passion begins.
Scripture Readings Covered
Matthew 25
- The wise and foolish maidens: a parable about being prepared and ready for the bridegroom.
- The talents: a warning against burying what God has entrusted to us.
- The judgment of the nations: Jesus identifies himself with the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned.
Matthew 26
- Jesus’ death is foretold.
- The anointing at Bethany.
- Judas’ betrayal for thirty pieces of silver.
- The Last Supper and institution of the Eucharist.
- Jesus predicts Peter’s denial.
- Jesus prays in Gethsemane and is arrested.
- Jesus is brought before Caiaphas and condemned; Peter denies him three times.
Proverbs 19:21–24
- Human plans are secondary to the Lord’s purpose.
- Loyalty is prized.
- Fear of the Lord leads to life.
- A lazy person is pictured as unable to complete even the simplest task.
Main Themes and Teachings
1) Being spiritually prepared
Fr. Mike explains that the oil in the parable of the wise and foolish maidens symbolizes the relationship with God and the virtue cultivated over time. This is not something another person can give you at the last minute.
Key point: readiness is personal; faith must be lived and developed, not borrowed.
2) The call to bear fruit
The parable of the talents shows that God expects us to use what he has given us. Fr. Mike connects this to the fig tree episode: Christians are meant to produce fruit, not merely preserve what they’ve been given.
Key point: discipleship means active stewardship, not passive safety.
3) Sins of omission matter
The judgment of the nations becomes the episode’s major focus. Fr. Mike stresses that Jesus condemns not only evil acts, but also the failure to do good.
He emphasizes:
- feeding the hungry
- giving drink to the thirsty
- welcoming the stranger
- clothing the naked
- visiting the sick and imprisoned
Key point: “I didn’t do the good I should have done” can be spiritually devastating.
4) Faith and works are inseparable
Fr. Mike connects Matthew 25 to the teaching of St. James: faith without works is dead. He presents the corporal works of mercy as concrete expressions of authentic faith.
Key point: faith is proven by love in action.
5) Gethsemane: honesty plus trust
In Jesus’ prayer, Fr. Mike highlights two essential elements:
- Honesty: “Let this cup pass from me.”
- Trust: “Not my will, but yours be done.”
Key point: faithful prayer tells God the truth and still submits to his will.
Notable Illustrations and Examples
Fr. Mike’s family story
He shares how his mother, a nurse, once dreamed of being a medical missionary, and how that desire was ultimately lived out in her care for her family.
Mother Teresa’s wisdom
He recalls her advice to people wanting to serve the poor:
“Go back to your families and love them.”
This reinforces the idea that serving the needy often begins at home and in ordinary relationships.
Takeaways
- Be spiritually ready; don’t wait until the last minute.
- Invest what God has given you so it bears fruit.
- Watch for sins of omission—the good you failed to do.
- Treat acts of mercy as essential Christian discipleship.
- Pray honestly, but always with trust in God’s will.
- Love the people nearest to you; that is often where holiness begins.
Closing Prayer Emphasis
The episode ends with gratitude for Jesus’ sacrificial love and a plea to receive that love, live as people “bought at a price,” and remain faithful through prayer and mutual support. Fr. Mike also thanks listeners for praying for him and reminds them he is praying for them in return.