The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Day 277: Such a Time as This (October 4, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through Nehemiah 9, Esther 4 & 14, and Proverbs 21:9-12. The central theme is the power and honesty of prayer in the midst of distress, as demonstrated by Ezra, Mordecai, and Esther. Fr. Mike draws out deep reflections on recognizing God’s faithfulness, confessing our own failures, the stewardship of our gifts and positions, and seeking courage in uncertain times.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

[01:00] Public Confession and Worship in Nehemiah 9

• The Israelites gather in fasting and sackcloth, confessing their sins and reading the Law for a quarter of the day, then spending another quarter in confession and worship.
• Ezra recounts the history of Israel: God’s faithfulness in blessing, rescuing, and keeping His promises, contrasted by the people's repeated disobedience.
  • “Every good thing in your life? Every good thing in my life. It's because of God.” — Fr. Mike [17:15]
• The prayer emphasizes two key truths:
  1. God is the giver of every good thing.
  2. Israel’s suffering is due to their own faithlessness, not God’s failure.
• Fr. Mike highlights the importance of acknowledging both God’s blessings and our own role in our misfortunes:
  • “There's a wisdom in being able to say, no Lord, that was my fault. You had given me every opportunity, and I didn't take it.” [18:40]

[12:40] The Crisis and Courage in Esther 4

• Mordecai learns of the plot to destroy the Jews and mourns publicly. Esther is informed and responds, initially expressing fear of approaching the king unbidden:
  • “All the king's servants... know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called... all alike are to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre.” — Esther [36:50]
• Mordecai challenges Esther, delivering the famous line:
  • “For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” — Mordecai [38:10]
• Esther resolves to act, showing courage:
  • “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf... and then I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” — Esther [39:10]
• Fr. Mike contextualizes: God brings us to places of influence, not just for our sake, but for the sake of His purposes.
  • “We are not owners of our lives, we are merely stewards. And at every moment we get to ask, is it for such a time as this that the Lord God has brought me to this place?” [39:55]

[40:30] Three Powerful Prayers: Ezra, Mordecai, Esther

• Mordecai’s Prayer: He clarifies in prayer that his refusal to bow to Haman was not pride, but faithfulness to God.
  • “You know all things, Lord... I did not do this, lest I set the glory of man above the glory of God.” — Mordecai [41:20]
  • “Hear my prayer and have mercy upon your inheritance. Turn our mourning into feasting that we may live and sing praise to your name, O Lord. Do not destroy the mouth of those who praise you.” [42:00]
• Esther’s Prayer: With humility and anguish, she lays aside all signs of royal privilege and prays for deliverance.
  • “Help me, who am alone and have no helper but you, for my danger is in my hand.” — Esther [44:05]
  • “O Lord, do not surrender your scepter to what has no being, and do not let them mock at our downfall, but turn their plan against themselves…” — Esther [44:45]
• Fr. Mike highlights that both Mordecai and Esther pray not out of resentment, but trust, powerfully demonstrating what it looks like to bring fears and pain honestly before God.
  • “Her prayer is so powerful, her prayer is so open and honest before God. So she's not bitter, she's not resentful, and she is not powerless, even though, yes, in the king's palace, she's a real victim. But she is not a powerless victim in this moment.” [47:30]

[48:15] The Dignity and Complexity of Esther

• Fr. Mike offers a candid meditation on Esther’s true situation: externally a queen, but internally, a woman deprived of agency and trapped—a “victim in a golden cage.” Despite her suffering, Esther resists bitterness and puts her hope in God.
  • “Is it any mystery why people love Queen Esther? This woman who all those on the outside [see] a life of privilege. But for her, she knows that it's a life of pain. But she doesn't give in to bitterness or resentment for that pain. But she still trusts in God.” [49:15]
• Esther’s honest prayer and sacrificial courage set her apart as a model of faith under trial.

[03:30] Lighthearted Wisdom in Proverbs

• Fr. Mike lightens the mood by highlighting the humor in Proverbs 21:9:
  • “It's better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious woman... I would also, I'm obviously equal opportunity here, [say] than to live in a house with a contentious person, [someone] who just wants to argue for the sake of arguing.” [03:45]
• He underscores the Nugget of Wisdom in this proverb, noting its universal relevance and the importance of seeking peace in relationships.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “If I perish, I perish.” — Esther [39:10]
• “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” — Mordecai [38:10]
• “We are not owners of our lives, we are merely stewards.” — Fr. Mike [39:55]
• “Every good thing in your life...it's because of God.” — Fr. Mike [17:15]
• “She is not a powerless victim in this moment...she realizes that no matter what the situation, no matter where she is, she has power because she has the Lord.” — Fr. Mike [47:30]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:00] Nehemiah 9 reading and Ezra’s public confession/prayer
• [12:40] Esther 4—Mordecai’s mourning, the plot to destroy the Jews, Esther’s dilemma
• [36:50] Esther’s legal risk in approaching the king
• [38:10] Mordecai’s challenge (“such a time as this”)
• [39:10] Esther’s decision and resolve (“If I perish, I perish”)
• [41:20] Mordecai’s prayer of humility and dependence
• [44:05] Esther’s prayer—sackcloth, humility, trust
• [03:45] Proverbs 21 humorous reflection on contentiousness
• [47:30] Fr. Mike’s reflection on Esther’s courage and spiritual dignity

Episode Tone and Style

Fr. Mike’s tone balances reverent engagement with scripture, heartfelt honesty in prayer, and occasional lightheartedness (especially with Proverbs). His reflections are pointed, warm, and inviting, encouraging listeners to bring both gratitude and frailty to God, and to discern their place in God’s providence—especially in “such a time as this.”

Summary by Section:

• History and honesty before God: Ezra’s prayer models confession of dependence and fault.
• Mordecai and Esther’s crisis: Real courage is risking comfort and power to answer God’s call.
• The Prayers: Humility and faith move God’s story forward, not privilege.
• Proverbs: Even wisdom literature can be relatable and bring a smile.

Final Thought

Through Nehemiah, Esther, and Proverbs, listeners are invited to consider: What privileges, positions, or pain has God allowed in your life? Might it be “for such a time as this”? Will you respond with resentment or with trusting courage, as Esther did?

“I’m praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz [End]