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

Episode: Day 326: Life in the Spirit (2025)
Date: November 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on pivotal themes from Acts of the Apostles chapter 5 and Romans chapter 8, exploring integrity, obedience to God, suffering for Christ, and the transformative "life in the Spirit." Fr. Mike highlights how scripture reveals the early Church’s radical witness and St. Paul's profound teaching on being freed from sin and adopted as God’s children through the Holy Spirit. The reflection offers encouragement for perseverance, authenticity, and hope rooted in Christ's love, culminating in prayer and personal challenge.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Story of Ananias and Sapphira: Integrity in Generosity

[06:10–10:00]

• Hypocrisy vs. Authenticity: Fr. Mike explains that Ananias and Sapphira's issue was not withholding money, but pretending to be fully generous. The pretense, "working under the pretense of honesty... that's the problem here."
• Quote:

  "The issue is not that, oh, you only gave X amount of money. That's not the issue. The issue is you made a pretense. The issue is... being a hypocrite. The term hypocrite in Greek is the term for actor, right? I'm pretending to be someone that I'm not actually willing to be." (Fr. Mike, 07:30)

• Moral Takeaway: Authenticity is foundational; we should not seek virtue appearances without genuine commitment.

2. The Apostles’ Boldness and Miracles

[10:01–13:30]

• Extraordinary Signs: The apostles heal many, so much that people strive to touch even Peter’s shadow. Fr. Mike recalls prior context from Jeff Cavins on Peter re-embodying Jesus’ ministry.
• Invitation to Listeners:

  "We're called to allow the Lord to work in our lives in a similar way." (Fr. Mike, 11:20)

• Personal Reflection: He underscores how miraculous events drew crowds, reminiscent of Jesus’ ministry.

3. Imprisonment and Courage: “We Must Obey God Rather Than Men”

[13:31–18:20]

• Apostles Arrested: Despite orders to stop preaching, the apostles persist after an angel frees them.
• Fr. Mike’s Empathy: He notes the apostles’ uncertainty in the moment—“they were filled, I imagine, with a high degree of uncertainty, having no idea how is this going to play out” (14:25)—yet they exhibit boldness.
• Key Quote:

  “We must obey God rather than men.” (Peter, Acts 5:29; repeated with emphasis by Fr. Mike, 15:30)

• Modern Relevance: Christians are still told to “stop speaking, stop living in the name of Jesus Christ”, but like the apostles, must stand firm.

4. Gamaliel’s Wisdom and the Paradox of Opposition

[18:21–21:00]

• Gamaliel’s Counsel: He reminds the council of previous failed movements, concluding:

  "If this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail. But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God." (Acts 5:38-39, summarized by Fr. Mike, 19:15)

• Fr. Mike’s Humor: Playfully riffs on “followers became followawayers,” highlighting how only God’s endeavors persist.

5. Rejoicing in Suffering for Christ

[21:01–23:00]

• The Apostles’ Response: Instead of indignation after being beaten, they rejoice, “counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” (21:50)
• Reflection:

  "If I came before the government... because of my faith in Jesus, I was arrested... tortured... and then let go, I would be indignant... What's the apostles' response?... Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. That's incredible." (Fr. Mike, 22:00)

• Tie-In to Jesus’ Teaching: Cites “Blessed are you when they hate you and persecute you... Rejoice in that day, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Luke 6; Matthew 5)

6. Romans 8: Life in the Spirit and True Adoption

[23:01–32:30]

• Freedom from the Flesh: Paul’s reference to “flesh” as fallen nature, not the body per se.

  "He's not criticizing the fact that we have flesh... he's referring to fallen human nature." (Fr. Mike, 23:50)

• Empowered Living: In Christ and through the Spirit, believers are no longer slaves to the flesh.
• Key Quote:

  "You have this freedom to be able to live according to the law of the Spirit." (Fr. Mike, 24:50)

• Abba, Father – True Sonship:

  "You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry Abba, Father, it is the Spirit himself bearing witness... that we are children of God." (Fr. Mike, expounding Romans 8:15-16, 26:20)

• Adoption Clarified:

  "Every human being is a beloved creature of God... But we become God's sons and daughters through adoption... through baptism." (Fr. Mike, 27:00)

• Pastoral Sensitivity: Fr. Mike gently acknowledges the challenge of calling God “Dad,” inviting healing especially for those with difficult paternal histories.

7. Present Suffering and Future Glory

[32:31–34:50]

• Paul’s Perspective: “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
• St. Teresa of Avila’s Wisdom:

  "Even the worst life will seem like a night spent in a bad motel compared to the glory and love of heaven." (Fr. Mike, 33:50)

• Hope in Waiting: All creation—and we ourselves—groan and hope for adoption’s fulfillment.

8. Assurance of God’s Love: Nothing Can Separate Us

[34:51–end (~38:00)]

• Powerful Proclamation:

  "If God is for us, who is against us?... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Romans 8:31-39, emphasized by Fr. Mike, 35:00+)

• Only Sin Divides:

  "There is no force on earth, no amount of evil... that can take you out of God's hands... The only one who can is ourselves, through sin." (Fr. Mike, 36:00)

• Prayerful Plea: He urges listeners to ask God for perseverance:

  “Help me never... to wander away. And if I do... bring me back.” (Fr. Mike, 36:50)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Hypocrisy:

  "They want to be seen as having a virtue that they're not willing to choose if that makes any sense." (Fr. Mike, 07:55)

• On the Courage of the Apostles:

  "We cannot but speak in the name of Jesus." (Apostles, cited by Fr. Mike, 15:20)

• On Rejoicing in Suffering:

  "Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." (Acts 5:41; Fr. Mike, 22:00)

• On Adoption:

  "We become God's sons and daughters through adoption... when we're given the Holy Spirit." (Fr. Mike, 27:10)

• On Endurance and Hope:

  "The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory... to be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18, 32:40)

• On God’s Unbreakable Love:

  "For I am sure that neither death, nor life... nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39; Fr. Mike, 35:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:10] – Ananias and Sapphira: The Sin of Pretense
• [10:01] – Apostolic Miracles and the Shadow of Peter
• [13:31] – The Apostles’ Boldness: “We must obey God rather than men”
• [18:21] – Gamaliel’s Wise Intervention
• [21:01] – Suffering and Rejoicing as True Witness
• [23:01] – Romans 8: Freedom from the Flesh and Adoption
• [32:31] – Present Suffering vs. Future Glory
• [34:51] – Confidence in the Unshakeable Love of God

Summary Tone

Fr. Mike maintains a warm, energized, and deeply pastoral tone, engaging listeners by combining scriptural exegesis with practical reflection and personal anecdotes. He blends seriousness (regarding sin, adoption, endurance) with enthusiasm ("bonkers chapters today!") and even humor, making profound truths accessible. His empathy shines in challenging topics, especially around spiritual adoption and God as “Dad.”

Final Encouragement

Fr. Mike concludes by praying for perseverance and restoration for all listeners, noting, “There is no external force… that can take you out of the Father's hand. The only one who can is ourselves, through sin... Help me never, Lord, to wander away.”

He signs off with characteristic warmth and encouragement:

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