The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: Day 236: Rich in Love (2025)
Date: August 24, 2025
Main Theme:
This episode explores the profound difference between material and spiritual riches as found in the day’s readings—Jeremiah 16-17, Ezekiel 45-46, and Proverbs 15:17, 20. Fr. Mike reflects on the call to authentic love, reliance on God, fidelity, and letting worship transform us.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Significance of Progress and Perseverance

• [00:04] Fr. Mike opens with heartfelt encouragement, congratulating listeners on reaching Day 236:
  • “That’s not a small thing. That’s like a pretty significant thing. And I’m just really proud of you.”
  • He emphasizes the journey, not just the destination, and the importance of faithfully encountering Scripture each day.

2. Scripture Readings Overview

• Jeremiah 16-17:
  • Jeremiah’s celibacy symbolizes the cost of love and impending judgment on Jerusalem.
  • God’s message: Israel’s suffering is due to idolatry and persistent disobedience.
  • Despite harsh prophecy, God promises future restoration and deliverance even greater than the Exodus.
• Ezekiel 45-46:
  • Instructions for the “holy district,” fair leadership, and proper worship.
  • Emphasizes justice, fair offerings, pure worship, and changed behavior in God’s presence.
• Proverbs 15:17, 20:
  • The true richness of love in daily life.
  • The joys and pains of family relationships and parenting.

3. Powerful Proverbs Reflection

[22:30]

• Fr. Mike highlights Proverbs 15:17:
  • “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.”
• He unpacks the meaning:
  • True wealth is not about possessions but about love and peace in relationships.
  • Material goods have value, but spiritual goods are higher: “There are better goods, right? There are things like love, family... having faith in God.”

4. The Joy and Cost of Family and Love

• Fr. Mike shares a story from his own family, referencing Patch Adams:
  • “You’re only as happy as your least happy child.” [24:40]
  • He applies this to Jeremiah’s command not to marry, explaining that family is a tremendous gift, but deep love can bring deep suffering, especially in times of crisis.

5. Restoration Promised in Turmoil

[26:00]

• After prophesying exile, God also speaks hope:
  • “The days are coming when it shall no longer be said... who brought up the sons of Israel out of Egypt, but... out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them... I will bring them back to their own land.”
• Fr. Mike: “The days are going to come when you yourselves will be rescued... you don’t just have to look back to what God did for our ancestors, but here's what God did for me. And that is just incredible.”

6. On Trust and True Security

• Jeremiah 17:5-8 contrasts trusting in humans versus God:
  • “Cursed is the man who trusts in man... Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.”
• Fr. Mike connects this with Psalm 1, encouraging listeners to “be planted in the right place—trust in the Lord God as the source of our life.”

7. Sabbath Observance and Messianic Expectation

• Jeremiah 17 emphasizes Sabbath rest as a sign of covenant faithfulness and a catalyst for restoration.
• Fr. Mike explains the Pharisees’ later obsession with Sabbath law:
  • “In Jeremiah... the word of the Lord makes it so clear: when people don’t carry a burden on the Sabbath, when they enter into rest, then the Messiah is going to come... We can be a little more patient with the Pharisees.”

8. Worship as Transformation

[32:40]

• Ezekiel’s vision describes worshipers exiting God’s temple by a different gate than they entered.
• Fr. Mike’s reflection:
  • “When you come into the Lord’s presence... you can’t just go back the same way you came. You can’t remain the same as you were before you offered him worship... We need God’s grace. Because we can’t just change ourselves.”
• He challenges listeners to let worship and encountering the Lord truly transform them.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On True Wealth:
  • “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.” (Proverbs 15:17, 22:30)
• On Parenting & Family:
  • “You’re only as happy as your least happy child.” (Fr. Mike’s mother via Patch Adams, 24:40)
• On Restoration:
  • “...the days are going to come when you yourselves will be rescued... and that is just incredible.” (26:00)
• On the Sabbath:
  • “When you do this, then Messiah will come... the word of the Lord makes it so clear.” (30:00)
• On Worship:
  • “You can never, ever, ever go home the way you arrived... the whole point is that we might be changed, that we might be transformed, and that we might be different.” (32:40)
• Closing encouragement:
  • “We need God’s grace. Because we can’t just change ourselves. We need his help to change us. And so we keep praying for each other. I am praying for you. Please pray for me.” (33:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:04 | Introduction, congrats on reaching Day 236 | | 02:10–21:00 | Scripture readings: Jeremiah 16-17, Ezekiel 45-46, Proverbs| | 22:30 | Reflection on Proverbs 15:17 – the richness of love | | 24:40 | Parenting insight: “Least happy child” | | 26:00 | Jeremiah’s restoration prophecy and personal redemption | | 30:00 | Sabbath observance and the coming of the Messiah | | 32:40 | Ezekiel: Worship transforms us; challenging listeners | | 33:20 | Closing prayer and encouragement |

Tone and Style

• Warm, genuine, pastoral, and deeply encouraging.
• Fr. Mike weaves personal experience, theological reflection, and practical application with empathy and clarity.
• The tone is relatable and hopeful, inviting listeners not just to learn but to allow Scripture to shape their daily lives.

Summary

Day 236 centers on the spiritual truth that love surpasses all material wealth and that trusting God leads to real security and lasting joy. Through Jeremiah and Proverbs, we’re reminded of the cost and the beauty of human love, the necessity of obedience, and God’s promise of restoration. Ezekiel’s vision inspires us to approach worship as a transformative encounter, never allowing ourselves to leave unchanged. Fr. Mike closes in prayer, encouraging the community to pray for one another and remain open to God’s daily gifts of grace, even amid sacrifice and challenge.