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

Episode: Day 311: God Fights for You (2025)
Date: November 7, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Key Readings: 2 Maccabees 14, Wisdom of Solomon 17–18, Proverbs 25:18–20

Main Theme

The episode centers around the often-messy reality of salvation history, highlighting how God’s presence and power are made manifest not in neat, “Hallmark movie” circumstances, but in real, difficult, and even violent situations. Fr. Mike reflects on how God fights for his people, both in the literal battles of Israel’s history and in struggles against darkness and sin, culminating in Christ himself as the ultimate warrior who enters into our mess to save us.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Scripture Readings Recap

• 2 Maccabees 14 (The betrayal, conflict, and the tragic death of Razis)
• Wisdom of Solomon 17–18 (Darkness and deliverance in Egypt; God’s judgment and mercy)
• Proverbs 25:18–20 (Metaphors for betrayal, misplaced trust, and insensitivity)

2. The “Messiness” of Scripture and Salvation History

• Fr. Mike emphasizes that the Bible does not present a tidy narrative:
  • “Life is not a Hallmark movie.” (17:05)
  • The stories we encounter are complex—full of violence, betrayal, and suffering.
  • Despite the horror and mess, God works through broken people and tragic circumstances.

3. Analysis of 2 Maccabees 14 and the Death of Razis

• The reading describes political intrigue and brutality:
  • Alcimus’s betrayal and alignment with Gentile powers
  • Nicanor’s shifting allegiances, from enemy to friend to enemy again
  • The graphic suicide of Razis, who chooses death over capture and humiliation
• Fr. Mike discusses how even the most gruesome stories reveal God’s presence:
  • “Here is the story, here is our story.… Here’s the way God is present even in crazy scenarios like this.” (18:50)
  • The violence highlights the reality that “God is somewhere in the midst of all of it, just like in my life.” (19:38)

4. Reflection on Wisdom of Solomon: “There Are No Secret Sins”

• Fr. Mike highlights a passage about secret sins:
  • “For thinking that in their secret sins they were unobserved behind a dark curtain of forgetfulness, they were scattered, terribly alarmed and appalled by specters…” (20:56)
• He underscores:
  • No sin is truly hidden—God sees all, even what we believe is secret.
  • “There is no such thing as secret sins.… there’s also no secret virtue.… The attempt matters. God sees. God cares.” (21:28)
  • While sinful secrecy is not possible, genuine striving after righteousness is also noticed and valued by God.

5. “Still Heavier Than Darkness Were They to Themselves”

• Commentary on the poetic description of darkness falling upon Egypt but not Israel:
  • “While over those men alone, heavy night was spread… still heavier than darkness were they to themselves…” (22:19)
• Fr. Mike interprets this as:
  • “Because they belonged to false gods, because they had conspired to kill the firstborn… They were darkness—heavier than darkness were they to themselves.” (22:49)

6. The Divine Warrior: Christ as the Word that Fights for Us

• A key moment from Wisdom 18:14-16, which Fr. Mike likens to both the Exodus and the Nativity:
  • “For while gentle silence enveloped all things… your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of your authentic command…” (24:21)
• Fr. Mike draws a parallel between this imagery and the coming of Christ:
  • “Here is Jesus Christ himself, the Word made flesh, leaping forth from the throne… fighting for you.” (25:10)
  • God’s justice and mercy meet as Christ enters the world to vanquish sin and death:
    • “You are worth fighting for. So be fought for.” (25:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the realism of the Bible’s narrative:

  “It is not neat. It is not tidy. It is powerful. But it’s not clean. It’s messy.” (17:44)

• On the absence of secrecy before God:

  “There is no such thing as secret sins.… and to comfort us: there’s also no secret virtue.” (21:28)

• On God’s presence in the harshest times:

  “Here’s God somewhere in the midst of all of it, just like in my life he’s somewhere in the midst of all of it. Some days we see it more clearly… some days we know it more certainly… but every day we know that it’s true.” (19:38)

• On Christ as our divine warrior:

  “The Word leapt forth from the mighty throne of heaven to come to this earth and to fight… and so we trust in him, we trust in his ability to fight, we trust in his willingness to fight, that he wants to fight for you today.” (25:34)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:15] – Start of 2 Maccabees 14 reading (betrayals, shifting alliances, and Razis’s death)
• [18:00] – Fr. Mike’s commentary: “Life is not a Hallmark movie”
• [19:38] – Reflection on God’s presence in violence and messiness
• [20:56] – Quoting Wisdom of Solomon 17 on secret sins
• [21:28] – Discussion: “There is no such thing as secret sins… or secret virtue”
• [22:19] – “Still heavier than darkness were they to themselves”
• [24:21] – Highlighting Wisdom 18:14–16 as prophecy and nativity
• [25:10] – Jesus as the Word who “leaps” from heaven for us

Tone & Closing Thoughts

Fr. Mike’s tone is reflective, honest, and pastoral—unafraid to confront the violence and messiness in Scripture while consistently pointing toward God’s redemptive action and unfailing presence. The episode ends with a prayerful reminder: no matter how dark or chaotic our circumstances, God is present, sees our struggles and virtues, and counts us worth fighting for—even to the point of sending Christ into battle on our behalf.

Host’s Final Words:

“I’m praying for you. Please pray for me … I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. Last day tomorrow of the Old Testament and then all New Testament, all the time. God bless.” (End)