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

Episode: Day 280: The People of the Covenant (2025) – October 7, 2025

Overview of the Episode

Fr. Mike Schmitz leads listeners through pivotal Old Testament readings—Nehemiah 12, the conclusion of Esther (9–11), and Proverbs 21:21–24. He highlights the deep significance of the people of the covenant, the resilience of the Jewish people in history, and the ongoing faithfulness of God to His promises—even in the face of suffering and uncertainty. The episode reflects on the celebration of Purim, the legacy of deliverance, and the enduring promise made to Abraham and his descendants.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. End of Esther and the Feast of Purim

(Reflection begins ~18:30)

• Continuation of Purim:
  Fr. Mike explains that Purim, established in Esther, continues to be celebrated today.

  “The feast of Purim is a feast that is continued to be celebrated today. There are a lot of customs … it's really fascinating.” (18:45)

• Cultural and Religious Traditions:
  He draws parallels between Purim and Christian feasts (e.g., Christmas, All Hallows Eve) to explain how original religious practices can be transformed or distorted over time, while the “kernel” of the tradition remains.

• Esther as an Enduring Story of Hope:
  Especially throughout Jewish history, for communities facing persecution (e.g., the Shoah/Holocaust), Esther provides enduring hope and meaning.

  “…you can imagine how many Jews would look to Queen Esther and look to the story of Esther as. Yeah, this is the same story that here we are once again… we're hated because we belong to the Lord.” (19:55)

• Term 'Shoah' vs. 'Holocaust':
  Fr. Mike notes that ‘Shoah’ is often preferred over ‘Holocaust’ since “holocaust” (a burnt offering) has a positive connotation in the Bible, while the Shoah was a tragedy.

  “...many Jews who don't like the term holocaust because in the scriptures … Holocaust is a good thing, right? … Shoah is, you know, kind of the preferred term in many circles.” (21:05)

2. Self-Defense and Restraint of the Jews in Esther

(~22:15)

• Violence and Restraint in Esther:
  While the Book of Esther records the Jews defending themselves against their enemies (with significant violence), it notes repeatedly that “they laid no hands on the plunder."

  “…even while the Jews took vengeance, right?...they killed a lot of people. It reveals that they also showed restraint...they didn't plunder them. And that reveals something very core...” (22:30)

• Justice and Mercy:
  This restraint shows a ray of hope, justice, and even mercy amid the violence:

  “...in a broken world, that shows a ray of hope...a ray of justice...a ray of mercy, even. Because they were given permission to plunder. But they didn't. And I think that's significant.” (22:58)

3. Nehemiah 12: The Reestablishment of Worship and Community

(~24:00)

• Restoration in Jerusalem:
  Nehemiah 12 details the dedication of Jerusalem’s walls, the purification of the people, and the organization of temple services under the leadership of priests and Levites.
• Joy and Community:
  The dedication is marked by great rejoicing—“the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.” The people renewed their roles in worship, stewardship, and service.

4. The Faithfulness of God Through Salvation History

(~25:30)

• Recap of the Covenant Story:
  Fr. Mike reviews the long journey from Abraham to the post-exilic return, reminding listeners of God’s ongoing promise:

  “We journeyed with Abraham…God is promising Abraham…he would have a kingdom…land…children…And as that grew…then you have Joseph…enslaved…set free by God…conquest…divided kingdom…exile…And now here they are…back in their homeland…” (25:38—26:35)

• Context of Hope Amid Political Rule:
  Despite return from exile, the Jews are still under foreign rule (first Persians, soon to be Greeks then Romans), and God’s promise seems unfulfilled—but the story is not over.

  “You realize that God has still made a promise…But you can imagine…for hundreds of years…the kingdom has been divided… the people of God…exiled…and now they're still under rule of others...” (27:00)

• Invitation to Trust God's Plan:
  Fr. Mike applies this lesson to our lives:

  “We don’t know how God is going to be with us…or save us…but we know that he is. We know that he is going to save us…to fight for us. And we have faith because…God has been faithful to them…he is faithful…and he will be faithful to us as well.” (28:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Purim’s Modern Relevance:

  “You can imagine the number of Jewish people who ... looked to the Book of Esther...especially throughout the course of the last 2,000 years...when nations ... sought to eliminate Jews from the face of the earth.” (19:55)

• On Restraint in Destruction:

  “...they slew 500 men the day before, and then 75,000 ... But they took no plunder. Yep, they were willing to kill ... but they didn't plunder them. And that reveals something very core.” (22:35)

• On the Permanence of God’s Promise:

  “We know that he is going to save us. He is going to redeem us. He is going to fight for us...” (28:22)

• Reflecting on the Journey of Faith:

  “...here's how far we've come for the last 280 days. But here's how far the Jewish people have come for hundreds and hundreds, almost ... 2,000 years. And waiting and trusting and walking and working and worshiping and doing this all in faith.” (27:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Scripture Readings:

  • Nehemiah 12, Esther 9–11, Proverbs 21:21–24 (00:45–17:50)

• After Prayer & Start of Reflection:

  • Conclusion of Esther, meaning of Purim, historical context (18:30)

• Reflection on Violence & Restraint in Esther:

  • Justice, self-defense, and mercy (22:15–23:10)

• Restoration, Worship, and Salvation History Recap:

  • Nehemiah, story of the covenant (24:00–27:10)

• Encouragement to Trust God’s Plan:

  • Parallels to personal faith journeys (27:15–28:50)

Closing Thoughts

Fr. Mike’s tone is warm, reverent, and expansive—offering both spiritual depth and historical perspective. He connects ancient scripture to enduring human questions: the challenge of waiting, the pain of exile, the difficulty of trust, and the enduring hope in God’s faithfulness. As always, he closes by encouraging listeners to remain steadfast and to pray for one another as they continue their journey through the Bible:

“I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” (29:10)