The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: Day 2 – The Fall of Adam and Eve
Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)

Episode Overview

Day 2 of The Bible in a Year podcast journeys through Genesis chapters 3 and 4, encompassing the fall of Adam and Eve, the first consequences of original sin, and the story of Cain and Abel. Fr. Mike explores the deep theological and personal implications of these passages, emphasizing how humanity's choice to distrust God led to brokenness—and yet, God’s care and hope persist. The episode also includes a reading and brief reflection on Psalm 104, a hymn celebrating God’s creative power.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Narrative of the Fall (Genesis 3)

[01:25 – 04:17]

• Temptation by the Serpent:
  The serpent, described with a term that elsewhere means "leviathan" or "dragon," is not just a passive snake—it's a figure of profound threat (11:31). Satan doesn’t challenge the existence or authority of God but plants doubt about God’s trustworthiness:
  • “Did God really say…?” (13:12)
  • The serpent implies that God is withholding something good, challenging Eve to believe God’s love is incomplete.
• The First Sin:
  Eve sees the tree is good, takes the fruit, eats, and gives some to Adam, who also eats. Their eyes are opened; realizing their nakedness, they experience shame and attempt to cover themselves (13:45).
• God’s Confrontation and the Heart of the Father:
  Fr. Mike stresses the importance of “how we hear God’s question” to Adam (“Who told you that you were naked?”), suggesting it’s a voice of heartbreak rather than wrath (16:42).

  "What we hear is the heartbreak of the Father in his voice. Because he knows the plan he had for his children." – Fr. Mike [16:45]

• Consequences:
  Only the serpent is actually cursed; for Adam and Eve, Fr. Mike suggests their “punishments” are remedies—ways to re-learn love through sacrifice (17:49).
  • Eve: pain in childbearing, complex relationships.
  • Adam: toil and labor in a now-challenging world.

  "They're made for love, remember? They're made for labor, leisure, and love. They failed to choose love. And love always involves sacrifice." – Fr. Mike [17:49]

• Exile and Divine Mercy:
  God drives them out, guarding the tree of life—not as a cruel punishment, but as protection:

  "God doesn't want them to live in this brokenness forever... God’s saying, 'No, stay away from the Tree of Life, because I don’t want you to live in this brokenness for eternity.'" – Fr. Mike [19:17]

2. God’s Continued Care

[19:19 – 20:18]

• Despite betrayal, God still clothes Adam and Eve with "garments of skins"—an act of mercy that points to sacrifice and the cost of love.

  "Here's God continuing to provide, continuing to care for the man and the woman... something had to die for God to be able to love Adam and Eve." – Fr. Mike [19:19]

3. Cain and Abel: The First Brothers (Genesis 4)

[20:18 – 23:56]

• Offerings and Discontent:
  Abel offers his best ("firstlings of his flock"), whereas Cain offers “whatever.” God favors Abel’s genuine offering over Cain’s indifferent one.
  • Fr. Mike challenges listeners: Do we give God our best, or just what's left? (21:35)
• Sin, Anger, and Responsibility:
  God warns Cain:

  "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it." [22:20] Fr. Mike interprets:
  "Even when we are broken, even when we are angry, even when we are tempted, we do not have to sin... You can be the master of the evil that is within you." [22:36]

• Murder and Aftermath:
  Cain kills Abel, is confronted by God, and punished—not killed, but marked and protected. The narrative escalates quickly from disobedience to violence.

4. Reflection on Sacrifice and Belonging

[23:40 – 23:56]

• The throughline: Love always involves sacrifice; trusting and belonging to God is different from merely believing in God (13:43).
• Fr. Mike encourages setting aside the “first fruits” of one’s day for prayer—giving God our best, not our leftovers.

5. Psalm 104: Praise for God the Creator

[07:48 – 10:57]

• Psalm 104 is read as a hymn to God’s creative and sustaining power, contrasting the human failure in Eden with God’s continual generosity to creation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sin’s Nature:

  "It's not a challenge of God's authority. It's not a challenge of God's existence. It's a challenge of God's trustworthiness." – Fr. Mike [13:43]

• God’s Grief:

  "We could hear the true heart of the Father... What we hear is the heartbreak of the Father in his voice." – Fr. Mike [16:39–16:45]

• On the Remedies of the Fall:

  "Love always involves sacrifice. And so now for Eve to love... she will bring forth life in pain and learn that love involves sacrifice." – Fr. Mike [17:49] "For Adam... to love requires sacrifice." – Fr. Mike [18:17]

• On God’s Continued Care:

  "God continues to provide, continuing to care for the man and the woman... He clothed them with garments of skin..." – Fr. Mike [19:19]

• On Worship and Offering:

  "Do I give God the best, or do I just give God whatever's left? Because one offering is acceptable and gives glory to God, and the other offering might in some ways be meaningless." – Fr. Mike [21:43]

• On Mastery Over Sin:

  "Even when we are broken... we do not have to sin. God is declaring that we do not have to sin. You can be the master of the evil that is within you." – Fr. Mike [22:36]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction and Structure: [00:04–01:25]
• Genesis 3-4 Reading: [01:25–07:31]
• Psalm 104 Reading: [07:31–10:57]
• Opening Prayer & Reflection: [10:57–11:31]
• Analysis of Genesis 3 (The Fall): [11:31–19:17]
• Analysis of God's Mercy & the Path Forward: [19:17–20:18]
• Cain and Abel Commentary: [20:18–23:56]
• Reflection on Sacrifice and Belonging: [23:40–23:56]

Themes and Takeaways

• The Core Test: The main challenge is not believing in God, but choosing to belong to Him and trust Him.
• Sin and Its Consequences: Sin stems from mistrusting God’s love and leads to shame and brokenness. The path back involves sacrifice, not punishment.
• God’s Persistent Care: Even after humanity’s fall, God actively cares for His children, hinting at redemption.
• Mastery Over Sin: Temptation is universal, but God insists we have the capacity to resist and master it.
• Giving God Our Best: True worship means offering the “first fruits,” not our leftovers, in prayer and life.

This episode sets the foundation for understanding human sin, divine justice and mercy, and the road to redemption—a journey that Fr. Mike guides with relatable clarity and pastoral care.