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

Episode: Day 295: Israel's Expectations

Date: October 22, 2025

Episode Overview

On Day 295, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores Israel's hopes and expectations during a period of fleeting peace and autonomy under Simon (from 1 Maccabees 14), paired with readings from Sirach (34–35) and Proverbs (23:22–25). Fr. Mike reflects on how Israel believed the restoration of the kingdom was imminent, yet God’s plan unfolded differently than expected. The episode delves into themes of trust, prudence, sincere worship, and the difference between generosity and transactional faith.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Simon’s Leadership and Israel's Brief Golden Era

[00:04–14:30] (1 Maccabees 14 Reading & Reflection)

• Simon’s Achievements: Simon is described as a "great guy"—a restorer who brings peace, expands borders, provides for the nation, and strengthens sovereignty.

• Iconic Imagery of Peace: Fr. Mike highlights verse 12, noting its beauty and recurring significance:

  "Each man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was none to make them afraid."
  (1 Maccabees 14:12, referenced at 14:01)

• Hamilton Connection: Fr. Mike notes the resonance of this line in American history via the musical "Hamilton," but emphasizes its biblical origin and deep symbolism for rest and security.

• Reflection on Israel’s Expectations:

  • Israel, under Simon, enjoyed a rare rest, believing perhaps "this is the time" God would restore the full kingdom as promised to David.
  • Fr. Mike points out the human tendency to design God’s next move:

    “God, this is how the next step goes...You raise up a descendant of David and put him on the throne. That’s the next thing.”
    (Fr. Mike, 15:42)

  • Instead, history soon brought further subjugation—first by Greeks, then by Rome. The restoration they imagined did not arrive.

• God’s Unanticipated Plan:

  • Rather than political dominion, God prepared to bring salvation in an unexpected way—through "an unlikely savior," Jesus, the King of Kings, entering history humbly.

  “...Our Lord God was going to enter himself, not raise up another Judas, not raise up another Jonathan or Elijah or David or Simon like today—he’s going to raise up himself. He would become one of us. And no one saw that coming.”
  (Fr. Mike, 16:45)

2. Wisdom, Prudence, and the Value of Experience

[18:10–21:30] (Sirach Reflection, Ch. 34)

• Beyond Book Knowledge—Living Wisdom:

  • Sirach extols not just knowledge but the wisdom gained through living and experience.
  • Fr. Mike emphasizes prudence:

    “Prudence is the ability to do the right thing at the right time and in the right way.”
    (Fr. Mike, 19:33)

  • Example from Sirach:

    “An educated man knows many things, and one with much experience will speak with understanding. He that is inexperienced knows few things, but he that has traveled acquires much cleverness.”
    (Sirach 34:9–10, read at 18:35)

• Importance of Experiential Learning:

  • Wisdom comes from trials, travels, and even dangers survived—living faith transforms book learning into practical, godly prudence.

3. True Worship—Generosity vs. Transactional Faith

[21:30–24:30] (Sirach 35 Reflection)

• Genuine Sacrifice & Generosity:

  • Sirach warns that upright action and a generous heart are essential in worship.
  • Fr. Mike underscores:

    “Glorify the Lord generously, and do not stint the first fruits of your hands. With every gift, show a cheerful face and dedicate your tithe with gladness. Give to the Most High as he has given.”
    (Sirach 35:7–9, read at 22:00)

• God Cannot Be Bribed:

  • Sirach explicitly warns not to offer bribes, and Fr. Mike sees in this a potent spiritual warning:

    “Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it.”
    (Sirach 35:12, highlighted at 22:50)

• Guarding Against a "Mercenary" Heart:

  • Fr. Mike warns of slipping into a mindset where gifts to God are traded for blessings:

    “How many times does [faith] slip into, ‘I’m kind of a mercenary, kind of a mercenary heart where I give it to the highest bidder’? So God says, don’t avoid that. Be on guard against that bribery. Be on guard against the mercenary heart.”
    (Fr. Mike, 23:30)

• Christian Life is About Free, Full Gift:

  • God invites us to give because we have already received freely, and warns against thinking we can control Him with our offerings.

4. Faith, Submission, and Unanticipated Blessings

[16:35–17:55; 24:10–end] (Fr. Mike’s Wrap-up)

• We often dictate to God what the "next step" should be in our lives—God’s actual next step is often wholly unanticipated and laden with grace beyond what we imagined.

  “The step I’m going to take is going to bring you more blessings than you could possibly imagine. But it is not the step you anticipate.”
  (Fr. Mike, 17:03)

• We should pray for hearts open to God’s will, not transactional but trusting and generous.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Each man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was none to make them afraid.”
  – 1 Maccabees 14:12, Fr. Mike’s favorite line, referenced at 14:01

• “Our Lord God was going to enter himself...not raise up another Judas, not raise up another Jonathan or Elijah or David or Simon like today, he’s going to raise up himself. He would become one of us. And no one saw that coming.”
  – Fr. Mike, 16:45

• “How many times in our life we say, God, this is the next step you have to take. And he can say to us, ‘Nope, that’s not actually the next step I have to take. The step I’m going to take is going to bring you more blessings than you could possibly imagine. But it is not the step you anticipate.’”
  – Fr. Mike, 17:03

• “Prudence is the ability to do the right thing at the right time and in the right way.”
  – Fr. Mike, 19:33

• “The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten...Give to the Most High as he has given...For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.”
  – Sirach 35:7/9–10, highlighted at 21:40

• “Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it.”
  – Sirach 35:12, highlighted at 22:50

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:04 – Episode introduction & readings
• 00:30–14:30 – 1 Maccabees 14 reading and reflection on Simon’s rule and Israel’s expectations
• 14:01 – Fr. Mike spotlights "vine and fig tree" imagery
• 14:35–17:55 – Reflections on God’s unanticipated plan for Israel (and us)
• 18:10–19:55 – Sirach 34: Wisdom vs. knowledge, prudence explained
• 21:30–24:00 – Sirach 35: Generosity in worship, warning against bribery
• 23:30–24:30 – Fr. Mike’s reflection on the "mercenary heart"
• 24:10–end – Closing prayers, exhortation to live generously, seek prayer for hearts open to God’s will

Tone & Style

Fr. Mike maintains a warm, conversational, and encouraging tone, sharing personal connections, biblical insights, and practical applications. He blends scriptural commentary with relatable spiritual advice, using stories (like his mention of "Hamilton") to make the scripture accessible.

Summary

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through a rich period in Jewish history—Israel’s temporary autonomy under Simon—drawing out deeper lessons on expectation, trust, wisdom, and worship. The heart of the message: God’s plans often exceed our imaginations and narratives. He urges listeners to anchor their hope in God’s generosity, grow in prudent wisdom, and offer worship that is free, sincere, and not transactional—a perspective both humbling and filled with hope for those navigating the uncertainties of faith.