The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 263: The Father's Generosity
Date: September 20, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

Fr. Mike Schmitz explores four chapters from Matthew’s Gospel (18–21), highlighting Jesus’ teachings on greatness, forgiveness, God’s relentless generosity, and the challenge of resentment when God blesses others. The episode emphasizes how the Father’s unstoppable love pursues each person, and our lifelong call to reflect this generosity and forgiveness toward others.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Humility and True Greatness

• Jesus teaches that greatness in the kingdom requires becoming like a little child: open, humble, and trusting.
  • Quote: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest.” (Matthew 18:3–4; [00:30])
• Fr. Mike draws out how this childlike humility is essential, not just for entering heaven, but for encountering God daily.

The Seriousness of Temptation

• Jesus’ strong words about “cutting off” what causes us to sin (not meant literally, but as a call to radical action).
  • Fr. Mike relates this to “things in our lives we tolerate” that pull us away from God—suggesting practical steps, such as limiting technology, when it leads us to sin or distraction.
  • Quote: “There are things in our lives that cause us to sin that we simply tolerate…things that can be adjusted or eliminated.” (Fr. Mike, [07:05])

The Lost Sheep: God’s Relentless Pursuit

• Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep illustrates God’s passionate desire to restore those who have wandered.
  • Quote: “The Lord rejoices when you let him take you home… Even if your past or your present is full of brokenness, the Lord rejoices when you let him take you home.” (Fr. Mike, [09:30])
• Fr. Mike encourages listeners to see God as “the hound of heaven, chasing us down” ([03:24] in prayer).

Forgiveness: Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

• Jesus expects limitless forgiveness (“not seven times, but seventy times seven”).
  • The king forgives an impossibly large debt (10,000 talents—“34 lifetimes’ wages”) but the servant refuses to forgive a small amount (100 days’ wages).
  • Quote: “In comparison to how we have sinned against the Lord, those who have sinned against us–it pales in comparison.” (Fr. Mike, [12:05])
• Fr. Mike speaks compassionately to listeners struggling with deep wounds, acknowledging some hurts are “impossible to forgive” without God’s grace.

Divorce, Wealth, and the Challenge of Discipleship

• Jesus teaches on divorce, returning to God’s original intent: lifelong, faithful union.
• The story of the rich young man:
  • Jesus advises him to "sell what you possess and give to the poor… and follow me," exposing the attachment to wealth as a barrier.
  • Disciples’ amazement that “it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom”—but Christ adds: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” ([14:00–16:30]).
  • Quote: “If you find yourself in resentment and unforgiveness…as I realize I on my own can’t forgive. So God, you need to help me. Help me forgive.” (Fr. Mike, [12:55])

The Laborers in the Vineyard: The Father’s Generosity

• Parable about late-arriving workers being paid the same as those who labored all day—provokes envy.
  • The landowner’s question: “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:15; [17:05])
• Fr. Mike highlights our tendency to resent God’s generosity towards others, especially after long, faithful service.
  • Quote: “Are you envious because God is generous?... The Father gets to be generous and He gets to bestow his blessings as He wants, as He sees fit, as He wills.” (Fr. Mike, [17:45])
  • Suggests this calls for humility and gratitude—accepting both God’s grace and His freedom to love others as lavishly.

Additional Teachings and Parables

• Jesus predicts His death for a third time ([18:20]),
• Teaches servant leadership in response to the mother of James and John seeking special honors ([19:15])—“whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”
• Miracles: Healing of two blind men (emphasizing faith and persistence, [20:00])
• Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday narrative), cursing the fig tree, cleansing the temple, and parables directed at religious leaders, challenging hypocrisy and lack of response to God’s call ([21:30–24:30]).

Proverbs Reflection

• Proverbs 19:13–16—addresses family discord, the “continual dripping of rain” (as a metaphor for nagging), and the value of a prudent spouse.
• Fr. Mike uses playful tone, noting the image of nitpicking is not limited to wives; applies equally to any spouse ([04:20]).
• Quote: “Whenever people are nitpicking... it can be one of those, you know, just a little drip, drip, drip of rain. And I liked the image.” (Fr. Mike, [04:40])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On God’s pursuit of us:
  • “You are the hound of Heaven and you chase us down. Please never stop chasing us down. As often as we run away, run after us... As often as we fall, pick us up.” (Fr. Mike's prayer, [03:24])
• On forgiveness:
  • “If I’m not willing to forgive those who have hurt me the most, then I can’t be forgiven by the Father.” (Fr. Mike, [11:40])
• On envy of God’s generosity:
  • “If He gives someone else more than He gives to me, it just highlights His generosity... It just highlights how good He is.” (Fr. Mike, [17:55])
• Closing encouragement:
  • “We need His grace even to accept His grace. Is that crazy? So we pray for each other. I am praying for you. Please pray for me.” (Fr. Mike, [19:30])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] – Introduction and reading plan explanation
• [00:30] – The call to childlike humility
• [03:24] – Opening prayer: God’s pursuit
• [04:20–04:40] – Proverbs “dripping rain” illustration
• [07:05] – Radical action against sin (cut it off/pluck it out)
• [09:30] – Parable of the lost sheep and God’s joy in our return
• [11:40–12:55] – Forgiveness and the parable of the unmerciful servant
• [14:00–16:30] – The rich young man: difficulty and grace in discipleship
• [17:05–17:55] – Laborers in the vineyard and confronting envy of God’s generosity
• [19:15] – Servant leadership: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant”
• [19:30] – Closing encouragement and mutual prayer

Tone & Style

Fr. Mike’s tone blends pastoral warmth, practical realism, and cheerful humility. He acknowledges human struggles with temptation, forgiveness, and jealousy, always returning to God’s patience, mercy, and overflowing generosity—urging listeners to “pray for each other” as they walk together in faith.

Summary

In Day 263, Fr. Mike draws listeners deeper into the heart of the Gospel: the Father’s unstoppable generosity and forgiving love. Through the parables and teachings of Jesus, we’re invited to humility, radical self-examination, and a courageous openness to extend—rather than block—God’s grace to others. The episode closes with a call to mutual prayer and an assurance that God’s relentless love is always pursuing us, no matter where we are or how far we’ve wandered.