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

Episode: Day 330 – Saul’s Conversion
Date: November 26, 2025
Main Readings:

• Acts of the Apostles 9 (Saul’s Conversion)
• Romans 15–16 (Conclusion of Paul’s Letter to the Romans)
• Proverbs 27:18–20

Episode Overview

This episode powerfully explores the dramatic conversion of Saul (later Paul) as recounted in Acts 9, the conclusion of Paul’s impactful letter to the Romans, and a brief reflection from Proverbs. Fr. Mike unpacks how Jesus identifies himself with the Church, the role of suffering in Christian life, and how real relationships—friendship and family—drive the spread of the Gospel. The episode stands out for its deep personal reflection and stirring encouragement for believers to connect faith to daily living and community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Conversion of Saul (Acts 9)

• Saul, originally a fierce persecutor of Christians, encounters the risen Christ on the road to Damascus.
• The narrative highlights Saul’s temporary blinding, his transformative encounter with Jesus, and his subsequent healing by Ananias.
• Jesus’ identification with his followers:

  “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ... “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (10:10)

2. Jesus’ Identification with the Church

• Fr. Mike’s Reflection: Jesus does not ask Saul why he persecutes “my followers,” but why he persecutes “me,” underlining the unity of Christ with his Church.
  • “Here’s Jesus identifying himself with the church that he instituted. … When you persecute the church, you’re persecuting me. This is so important. So important.” (19:57)
• The communal nature of Christianity: Faith is not “just Jesus and me,” but always lived within the context of community and the Church.

3. Ananias and the Ministry of the Church

• Jesus chooses not to heal Saul directly a second time; instead, he sends Ananias, showing how God now works through his Church.
  • “Why wouldn’t Jesus just appear to Saul again and heal him? … Because … the last age is the age of the Church. This last age is the age of the Holy Spirit working through the Church.” (21:40)
• The event underscores how God’s grace and healing operate through people—especially within the Body of Christ.

4. Suffering as Part of Christian Vocation

• God tells Ananias that Saul is a “chosen instrument” who “must suffer for the sake of [Jesus’] name.”
  • “Every chosen, every beloved of God experiences great suffering.” (23:30)
• Fr. Mike links Paul’s call to suffer with the broader Christian experience:
  • “Why would we think that we would escape, that we wouldn’t participate in his sufferings? … Of course we’re going to suffer for the Lord.” (24:20)
• Suffering should not surprise us, and while it is difficult, it is purposeful and we are never abandoned.

5. Miracles by Peter: Aeneas and Tabitha (Dorcas)

• Briefly highlights Peter’s miraculous works in Lydda and Joppa: healing a paralyzed man and raising a devout disciple, Tabitha, from the dead.
  • “God’s … power working through his people.” (25:10)

6. Personal Dimension of the Early Church (Romans 16)

• Paul’s final chapter is filled with personal greetings—demonstrating the relational, familial nature of the Church.
  • “It is people with names that Paul knows. It’s people with names that everyone knows. It’s relationships.” (26:13)
• The primacy of friendship and family in evangelization and discipleship is emphasized.
  • “The Gospel is advanced primarily through friendships and through family. That is the key… Deep conversion will happen through friendships. Deep conversion will happen through family.” (26:37)

7. Encouragement and Prayer

• Fr. Mike calls listeners to pray for their friends and family, fostering hope and deepening faith through community.
  • “We have friends and we have family that we desire … to know the love of God in Jesus Christ. And so we need to pray for them.” (27:30)
• He ends with his signature mutual prayer request:
  • “I continue to lift up you all in my prayers. … Please pray for me.” (27:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On suffering and purpose:
  “Yes, he’s chosen, and he’s going to suffer a lot for the sake of my name. How are we any different?” — Fr. Mike Schmitz (23:20)

• On the communal identity of the Church:
  “It’s always Jesus in the context of community… It’s all about God’s power working through his Church on earth.” — Fr. Mike (21:17)

• On the relational nature of evangelization:
  “The church will continue to grow and Jesus Christ will continue to be known primarily through friendships and through family.” — Fr. Mike (26:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 03:28 | Reading: Acts 9 – Saul’s Conversion | | 12:13 | Reading: Romans 15 & 16 – Conclusion and Personal Greetings | | 18:55 | Reading: Proverbs 27:18–20 | | 19:57 | Fr. Mike: Jesus identifies with the Church | | 21:40 | Fr. Mike: Why Jesus works through the Church | | 22:55 | Fr. Mike: Suffering in the Christian life | | 25:10 | Fr. Mike: Peter’s Miracles & God’s Power | | 26:13 | Fr. Mike: The real people behind the early Church | | 26:37 | Fr. Mike: Gospel and deep conversion through relationships | | 27:54 | Closing prayers and mutual intercession |

Tone & Style

Fr. Mike’s delivery is warm, direct, and relational, blending scriptural insight with practical encouragement. His style includes light humor (e.g., joking about math at the episode’s start, affectionately using “Dorcas"), and expresses heartfelt concern for listeners’ spiritual lives.

Summary

Day 330 of The Bible in a Year offers a vivid recount of Saul’s dramatic conversion, a poignant close to Romans, and a call to embrace suffering as part of God’s chosen path. It reminds listeners that faith is always communal, that God continues to act powerfully through his Church, and that lasting transformation happens through friendships and family. The episode closes with Fr. Mike’s signature reminder to pray for one another, knitting the community of listeners into the ongoing story of salvation.