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In The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way. Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year podcast follows a reading plan inspired by The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, a ground-breaking approach to understanding salvation history developed by renowned Catholic Bible scholar Jeff Cavins. For each period in the timeline, Jeff will join Fr. Mike for a special episo ...
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An interview podcast for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, KS
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Fr. Mike reflects on the story of Susanna's righteousness in the book of Daniel. While celebrating Susanna's virtue, Daniel's wisdom, and God's faithfulness, Fr. Mike also warns us that, like the corrupt elders in the story, we too can allow our hearts to become perverted by the things we fix our eyes on. The readings are Jeremiah 30, Daniel 12-13,…
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Fr. Mike highlights verse 11 from Jeremiah 29: "I know the plans I have for you...plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Since we know God is a good Father, we too can count on this promise and know that God has a plan for each of us. The reading are Jeremiah 28-29, Daniel 10-11, and Proverbs 16:13-16. For the complet…
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Day 242: The Role of King Nebuchadnezzar (2024)
28:11
28:11
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Fr. Mike explains why God asks his people to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar even though it seems contradicting. We learn that God can use evil circumstances to win the hearts of his people back. In Daniel, as we read about the vision of the ram and the goat, Fr. Mike reminds us that prophecy is always shrouded in mystery. Today we read Jeremiah 2…
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Day 241: Daniel and the Den of Lions (2024)
28:38
28:38
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As we read the epic story of Daniel in the den of lions, Fr. Mike points out Daniel's valor and faithfulness in the midst of his powerless. We also learn the meaning of Daniel's vision of the four beasts and the ancient of days. Finally, Fr. Mike explains the prophetic significance of Jeremiah's vision of good and bad figs. Today's readings are Jer…
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Fr. Mike touches on Proverbs 16:3, which is about giving everything in our lives to the service of the Lord. He also emphasizes how important it is to humble ourselves before the Lord, so to avoid becoming like the false prophets Jeremiah talks about today. Today's readings are Jeremiah 23, Daniel 4-5, and Proverbs 16:1-4. For the complete reading …
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Day 239: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (2024)
28:42
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Fr. Mike shares one of his favorite Bible verses, and guides us through the story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as they are thrown into the fiery furnace. He also emphasizes the significance of their Hebrew names, and how powerful name changes are in Scripture. Today's readings are Jeremiah 22, Daniel 3, and Proverbs 15:29-33. For the complete …
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Fr. Mike walks us through the fall of Jerusalem, and the intense lament of Jeremiah as he watches the people of Israel fall into captivity. He also introduces us to the Prophet Daniel, and his incredible gift of discerning dreams and proclaiming God's Word. Today's readings are Jeremiah 20-21, Daniel 1-2, and Proverbs 15:25-28. For the complete rea…
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Fr. Mike guides us through the last two chapters of Ezekiel, explaining the biblical significance of the water flowing from the right side of the temple, and how it foreshadows Christ's passion. He also emphasizes the imagery of the clay and the potter in Jeremiah, signifying how our lives are meant to be open for God to mold and shape, according t…
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Fr. Mike focuses on the concept of being rich in love instead of rich in wealth today, as we read about the heart of a mother and father in our verse from Proverbs. He also emphasizes the presence of sacrificial love in the vocation of marriage and family through God's decision to keep Jeremiah single, saving him from more suffering. Today's readin…
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Fr. Mike focuses on the prophet Jeremiah’s continued sorrow and explains how lying prophets bring forth destruction. He invites us to examine what lies in our lives are bringing destruction. We also continue reading about Ezekiel’s vision, and see the glory of the Lord return to the temple. Today’s readings are Jeremiah 14-15, Ezekiel 43-44, and Pr…
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Fr. Mike teaches us about recognizing our limitations especially when trying to compete with God. We also see how the Lord listens to Jeremiah’s complaints and responds to him in a peculiar but hopeful way. Today’s readings are Jeremiah 12-13, Ezekiel 41-42, and Proverbs 15:9-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear.…
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Fr. Mike shows us from our reading of Jeremiah that when we give our hearts and minds over to idols we become foolish. The way of man is not in himself, we need the Lord to guide and correct us. In Ezekiel, we read about the vision of the measuring of the temple and Fr. Mike shows us how the early Church Fathers would read the Old Testament in ligh…
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Fr. Mike reflects on Jeremiah’s sorrow for the people of Israel while reminding us that the one thing we ought to find glory in, is in understanding and knowing God. In our reading of Ezekiel, we hear about God's ongoing promise to restore Israel. Today’s readings are Jeremiah 9, Ezekiel 39, and Proverbs 15:1-4. For the complete reading plan, visit…
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Fr. Mike explains the significance behind the mention of bones in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. In Jeremiah, we learn that the bones of God's people are scattered because of their worship of false gods. In Ezekiel, we see the prophet prophesy over the valley of dry bones and the Lord’s Spirit restoring and moving within them. Today’s readings are Jeremiah …
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Reflecting on the stubbornness of the Israelites' hearts from today's readings, Fr. Mike teaches us that we cannot always trust our imperfect hearts, because they are not always aligned God's law and will, and they can often lead us into false worship. However, we can rely on God who promises to give us a new heart so that we can do what we ought. …
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Fr. Mike explains the beautiful connections between all of our readings today. He emphasizes how good shepherds are willing to face the truth, and also sacrifice for their sheep, like Jesus who laid down his life for us. In our reading of Jeremiah, Fr. Mike also explains that the experience of shame points to the reality that there is something goo…
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Fr. Mike expands on Ezekiel 33 and emphasizes that the role of a prophet, is to be God's watchman and speak whatever it is God wants to be spoken. He stresses the reality that those who are teachers and leaders, who shape and form the consciences of others, have the responsibility to speak the truth even when it's hard. Today's readings are Jeremia…
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Fr. Mike highlights the people of Israel's flaw in trusting in the strength and power of Egypt, not realizing that although Egypt is like a towering cedar tree, the nation will eventually collapse. Fr. Mike also points out Jeremiah's vehement message to Israel to brace themselves for God's judgment. Today we read Jeremiah 4, Ezekiel 31-32, and Prov…
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In our reading of Proverbs 14, Fr. Mike reinforces that freedom is not the same thing as license, true freedom is the power to do what we ought. Fr. Mike also reflects on Jeremiah's repudiation of Israel's cult worship and how its distorted sexuality had serious consequences. Today's readings are Jeremiah 3, Ezekiel 29-30, and Proverbs 14:13-16. Fo…
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Day 225: Our Will Versus God's Will (2024)
25:07
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Fr. Mike reviews one of the most powerful verses in Proverbs, dealing with personal discernment and wanting to follow our own will instead of God's. He also goes into a deeper explanation of the prophet, Jeremiah, and how we ourselves can reflect the actions of Israel in the Old Testament. Today's readings are Jeremiah 2, Ezekiel 28, and Proverbs 1…
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Fr. Mike introduces us to the prophet Jeremiah, who is also known as the Prophet of Doom and the Weeping Prophet. He explains what makes Jeremiah different than the other prophets, and encourages us to cling closely to him as we hear about his difficult call. Today's readings are Jeremiah 1, Ezekiel 27, and Proverbs 14:5-8. For the complete reading…
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Fr. Mike takes us through the last chapter of Isaiah by explaining how our emotions can sometimes get in the way of us responding well to those around us. This means mourning with those who mourn, and rejoicing with those who rejoice, as Isaiah teaches us in preparation for the coming of Christ. Today's readings are Isaiah 66, Ezekiel 25-26, and Pr…
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Fr. Mike explains the relationship between idolatry and adultery, and how one can easily lead to another, especially in our relationship with God. He also talks about the difference between discipline and abuse, as we cover some tough topics today. Today's readings are Isaiah 65, Ezekiel 23-24, and Proverbs 13:21-25. For the complete reading plan, …
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Fr. Mike expands on the passage we read in Proverbs, and emphasizes how important it is to surround ourselves with people who are striving towards holiness. He also reflects on the book of Isaiah, and how these last couple of stories show that God's justice is always aligned with his infinite mercy. Today's readings are Isaiah 63-64, Ezekiel 21-22,…
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Fr. Mike points out that the prophecy from Isaiah 61 is fulfilled by Jesus (as described in Luke 4). In Ezekiel, Fr. Mike draws our attention to the importance of the Sabbath as the sign of the covenant with God. The readings are Isaiah 61-62, Ezekiel 20, and Proverbs 13:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. P…
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