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

Episode: Day 308: Little by Little (2025)

Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension

Main Theme and Purpose

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through readings from 2 Maccabees 11, Wisdom 11–12, and Proverbs 25:8–10. The central focus is God’s intervention in history, the persistent mercy and patience He shows to humanity, and our corresponding call to both rely on God’s help and take responsible action ourselves. Fr. Mike weaves in reflections on how these ancient stories apply to our everyday struggles, emphasizing the theme that God corrects and redeems His people “little by little.”

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. God’s Intervention and Human Cooperation

(2 Maccabees 11)

• God shows up, but so must we: Fr. Mike highlights the episode where Lysias besieges Betzur and Judas Maccabeus rallies the people to prayer and action. God’s ally—a heavenly horseman—appears, but the people also “hurled themselves like lions against the enemy.”
  • “God shows up and he’s present. And then the people also have to fight... God expects us to move as well.” (19:45)
• Not a passive faith: Drawing a parallel to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25, Fr. Mike stresses that faith is active:
  • “Yes, [God] absolutely is present, and yes, he absolutely is calling us to act in this world.” (21:15)
• Memorable moment: Fr. Mike jokes, "King Antiochus, he thinks he's going to put the hammer down on the Jews. And what does he realize? He doesn't realize that Maccabeus means hammer. So joke's on you, Lysias." (13:20)

2. God’s Testing: Warns with Love, Judges with Justice

(Wisdom 11)

• Two types of divine scrutiny:
  • “You tested them as a father does in warning, but you examined the ungodly as a stern king does in condemnation.” (Wisdom 11:10, cited at 23:12)
    • The faithful are corrected to build strength; the ungodly are subject to condemnation.
• Discussion of the seraph serpents in Israel’s wilderness wanderings.
  • Fr. Mike: “It wasn’t that God created serpents to come upon the people... they were already there, but God had been protecting them.” (24:40)
  • Key idea: We often have no sense of the dangers God spares us from daily.

3. The Consequences of Sin: Punished by the Sin Itself

• Quoting Wisdom 11:16:
  • “That they might learn that one is punished by the very things by which he sins.” (25:32)
• Fr. Mike reflects:
  • “How many times have we reached out to something that was a sin... and yet we realize that we are punished by the very things through which we sin.” (26:00)
• This wisdom frames God’s prohibitions not as arbitrary, but as rooted in a deep knowledge of our well-being.

4. God’s Patience: Correction ‘Little by Little’

(Wisdom 12:2, 8, 10)

• The central phrase:
  • “You correct little by little those who trespass and remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin, that they may be freed from wickedness...” (Wisdom 12:2; emphasized at 27:30)
• God gives even evil-doers a chance to repent, “judging them little by little” instead of a single, overwhelming blow.
• Fr. Mike’s personal reflection:
  • “I marvel at how many times God has been so patient with me. How many times God has been so patient with us, that he corrects us little by little, rather than just destroying us immediately.” (28:00)

5. Proverbs: Caution in Conflict

• Proverbs 25:8–10 is referenced to counsel patience, discretion, and privacy when handling disputes.
  • “What your eyes have seen, do not hastily bring into court... Argue your case with your neighbor himself and do not disclose another’s secret.” (Proverbs, cited at 33:18)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On God’s Presence and Our Action:
  “It’s not, okay, Jesus, take the wheel. I’m going to let go... It’s, Lord, help me... I’m going to steer. Lord, help us... We’re going to take up arms and hurl ourselves like lions against the enemy.” (19:45 – 21:00)

• On Divine Correction:
  “Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass, and remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin, that they may be freed from wickedness...” (Wisdom 12:2, cited at 27:30)

• On Spiritual Community:
  “We are journeying with people who are in the highs of life and the lows of life. And so we absolutely need to pray for each other. Please know that you’re being prayed for. I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.” (32:10)

Important Segments and Timestamps

• [04:45] – Reading of 2 Maccabees 11: Lysias besieges Betzur and the miraculous intervention
• [12:40] – Discussion of the meaning of “Maccabeus” and God’s presence in battle
• [19:45] – Reflection on the partnership between God’s help and human responsibility
• [23:15] – Wisdom 11 explained: God as Father warning in love vs. stern King condemning in justice
• [25:32] – The principle that “one is punished by the very things by which he sins”
• [27:30] – Exploration of ‘little by little’ correction and God’s patient love
• [32:10] – A call to community and mutual prayer
• [33:18] – Proverbs reading and its application to daily conflict

Tone and Language

Fr. Mike’s tone is warm, relatable, and often lightly humorous, balancing reverence for Scripture with an accessible, conversational style. He keeps his reflections practical and often personal, making connections between the history of salvation and everyday spiritual struggles.

Summary Takeaway

Day 308’s message is clear: God is always present, merciful, and patiently working for our transformation, correcting us “little by little.” That same patience invites our active participation in God’s work, both in facing life’s battles and in growing toward holiness. Fr. Mike’s encouragement is to be open to God’s ongoing correction, to trust in His mercy, and to support one another in prayer—step by step, day by day.