Overview of Day 266: Son of the Father (2026)
Father Mike Schmitz concludes the Gospel of Matthew with Jesus’ Passion, death, burial, resurrection, and the Great Commission, then briefly reads Proverbs 19:25–29. The episode highlights the contrast between Jesus, the true Son of the Father, and Barabbas (“son of the father”), while emphasizing the depth of Christ’s love, the meaning of the Cross, and the missionary call to “make disciples of all nations.”
Scripture Readings Covered
Matthew 27–28
- Jesus is handed over to Pilate.
- Judas regrets betraying Jesus and dies by suicide.
- The crowd chooses Barabbas over Jesus.
- Jesus is mocked, scourged, crucified, and dies on the cross.
- The temple curtain tears, the earth shakes, and the centurion declares Jesus the Son of God.
- Jesus is buried in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb.
- The tomb is guarded.
- On the third day, the angel announces the Resurrection to the women.
- Jesus appears to the women.
- The guards are bribed to spread a false story.
- Jesus commissions the disciples on the mountain in Galilee.
Proverbs 19:25–29
- Rebuke can teach the wise.
- Wicked children bring shame.
- Ignoring instruction leads away from knowledge.
- False witnesses and fools are condemned.
Key Reflections from Father Mike
The “Son of the Father” Contrast
- Father Mike reflects on the name Barabbas, meaning “son of the father.”
- Barabbas, a guilty man and murderer, is released.
- Jesus, the innocent Son of the Father, is condemned.
- This becomes a powerful image of humanity’s tendency to choose the false over the true, and sin over holiness.
The Cross and Psalm 22
- Jesus’ cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” is presented as:
- A real expression of suffering and abandonment.
- A quotation of Psalm 22, which begins in lament but ends in hope.
- Father Mike stresses that Jesus was not abandoned by the Father, but truly entered into the feeling of abandonment that human beings experience.
The Meaning of the Resurrection
- The Resurrection is not just a vindication of Jesus’ sacrifice.
- It reveals the power and love of God that:
- Sent Jesus into the world,
- Sustained him through suffering,
- Raised him from the dead,
- And now sends the disciples out on mission.
The Great Commission
- Jesus’ final words in Matthew are central:
- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
- “I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
- Father Mike emphasizes that mission begins where we are:
- In our families,
- With children,
- With friends,
- With people who need care, comfort, and truth.
Historical and Catholic Connection
Relics and Altars
- Father Mike explains the Catholic tradition of placing relics in altars.
- This practice connects the Mass with:
- The early Church,
- The communion of saints,
- And the reality that the faithful dead are alive in Christ.
- He shares a personal note that the cathedral in the Diocese of Duluth contains a relic of Matthew the Apostle, creating a living link to the Gospel writer being read throughout the week.
Main Takeaways
- Jesus is the true Son of the Father, innocent and obedient, unlike Barabbas.
- The Passion and Resurrection are inseparable: the Cross reveals love; the Resurrection reveals victory.
- Jesus entered even our deepest feelings of abandonment so that no human suffering is outside his experience.
- The Gospel ends with mission: followers of Jesus are called to make disciples and trust that Christ remains with them.
- The story of salvation continues through the Church, the sacraments, and the witness of believers.
Closing Prayer Emphasis
Father Mike closes by:
- Thanking God for the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus,
- Asking for help to live the Great Commission,
- Giving thanks for Matthew and the “messianic checkpoint,”
- And inviting listeners to keep praying and keep going forward in faith.