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

Episode: Day 340 – The Power of the Holy Spirit
Date: December 6, 2025

Overview

This episode centers on the transformative role and power of the Holy Spirit as witnessed in Acts 19, the beginning of 2 Corinthians, and Proverbs 28 (vv. 22, 24). Fr. Mike reflects on how the first Christians moved from ignorance of the Spirit to living in its power, how faith tangibly changed their community, and Saint Paul’s pastoral love and pain for the Corinthian church. The episode challenges listeners to examine their own openness to being transformed by the Holy Spirit and to live faith in a way that changes the world around them.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Receiving the Holy Spirit: Living in God’s Power

• Acts 19: Paul in Ephesus
  • Paul meets disciples who have never heard of the Holy Spirit. After explaining, he lays hands on them, and they receive the Spirit with evident gifts (tongues, prophecy).
  • Fr. Mike’s Reflection:
    • Many Christians today have “never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (12:11), living without real awareness or access to His power in daily life.
    • “We so often live like the Ephesians did before Paul showed up... We've heard that there was a Holy Spirit, but we never realized that God wants... to fill us with the power of His Holy Spirit and help us walk... by his strength.” (12:34)
    • The Holy Spirit is not optional “dynamite” power—He’s essential for Christian life.

2. Physical Objects & the Power of God

• Miraculous healings with Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons
  • Acts 19 describes extraordinary miracles: “handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them.”
  • Fr. Mike’s Reflection:
    • This is a biblical reason for Catholics venerating certain objects—not superstition, but recognition that “God uses stuff to reach us. We're made of stuff and spirit... God works through stuff by the power of His Holy Spirit to reach our stuff and reach our spirit.” (13:53)
    • The object isn’t magical; God’s grace works through physical means in faith.

3. Demonic Knowledge of Jesus & Authentic Authority

• The Sons of Sceva incident
  • Jewish exorcists attempt to cast out demons “by the Jesus whom Paul preaches”—but are overpowered and humiliated.
  • Fr. Mike’s Take:
    • Demons know those with real authority: “The demons know the Christian, right? They know Paul. The demons even more powerfully know Jesus...” (15:22)
    • “To play with the name of Jesus is dangerous... to cast out without knowing Christ would be foolhardy to say the least.”

4. Renouncing Sin: The Public Burning of Magic Books

• Converts destroyed magic books worth 50,000 pieces of silver instead of selling them (“not passing on evil”).
• Fr. Mike’s Comments:
  • Christians should rid themselves of items/practices that don’t belong in a disciple’s life, regardless of their material value.
  • “They didn't go on eBay and say, I've got these magic books... Instead, they simply destroyed them… This is a huge act of trust in the Lord, this huge sacrifice...” (16:21)
  • True change sometimes requires real sacrifice.

5. Cultural Impact of Living Christian Faith

• Effect on Ephesus’ economy and the riot
  • As conversions increase, idol-makers (led by Demetrius) incite a riot due to shrinking business.
  • Fr. Mike’s Perspective:
    • “This is a model for what we should be as Christians... so fully handed over to the Lord that the culture around us has to change.” (17:19)
    • Change didn’t come through protests or laws, but by simply refusing to participate in evil.
    • True discipleship disrupts the world’s business as usual.

6. Paul’s Heart: Affliction, Correction, and Love

• 2 Corinthians 1–2: Paul’s emotional relationship with Corinth
  • Paul reveals his pain and love for the Corinthians, explaining his previous hard letter was to spare more pain face-to-face.
  • Quote: “For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart, and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” (From reading, cited at 19:39)
  • Fr. Mike’s Reflection:
    • Correction is an act of love: “That's the call of everyone who loves... I might have to say these words that are hard to hear, but... I'm saying this because I love you.” (20:31)
    • Often, God’s Word, pastors, and parents say hard things motivated by love, not judgment.

7. Proverbs: Wisdom for Daily Life

• Selected verses (Proverbs 28:22, 24) remind of pitfalls:
  • Focusing on wealth brings want.
  • Honest rebuke favors over flattery.
  • Rationalizing dishonor to parents aligns with destructive people.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Living Without the Spirit:
  “We so often live like the Ephesians did before Paul showed up... We've heard that there was a Holy Spirit, but we never realized that God wants... to fill us with the power of His Holy Spirit.” – Fr. Mike (12:34)

• On Sacramentals & Sacred Objects:
  “God works through stuff by the power of His Holy Spirit to reach our stuff and reach our spirit. Hopefully that made sense.” – Fr. Mike (13:53)

• On Real Christian Impact:
  “We should be so fully handed over to the Lord that the culture around us has to change... They simply said, we are not participating in this destructive... practice... Because we're Christians.” – Fr. Mike (17:19)

• On Correction Out of Love:
  “I might have to say these words that are hard to hear... I'm saying this because I love you.” – Fr. Mike (20:31)

• On Change and Sacrifice:
  “They simply destroyed them [magic books]... This is a huge act of trust in the Lord, this huge sacrifice.” – Fr. Mike (16:21)

Memorable Timestamps

• [12:11] – Opening prayer and introduction to the topic of the Holy Spirit’s power in Christian life.
• [13:53] – Interpretation of Paul's miracles and the Catholic practice of veneration of sacred objects.
• [15:22] – Reflection on the defeat of the sons of Sceva and the seriousness of spiritual authority.
• [16:21] – The burning of magic books and the radical call to sacrifice for Jesus.
• [17:19] – Christians’ refusal to participate in idol worship and its transformative societal effect.
• [19:39] – Paul’s tearful, loving motivation behind correction in his letters.
• [20:31] – Fr. Mike’s personal, pastoral encouragement on hearing hard truths as messages of love.

Tone & Language

Fr. Mike combines warmth, humility, and directness, addressing listeners as friends and fellow seekers. His language is conversational, passionate, and at times playful (“holy smokes”, “that’s bananas!”), making complex spiritual truths tangible and deeply human.

For Listeners

This episode is a strong encouragement to not merely know about the Holy Spirit, but to open oneself to His power. It challenges Christians to let faith shape their lives so radically that the world around them notices—and sometimes objects! Fr. Mike invites reflection on what we may need to surrender, and reminds us that every difficult word of correction from God or spiritual leaders is grounded in genuine love.

Prayerful conclusion:
Fr. Mike closes with gratitude for the community formed through the podcast, encourages mutual prayer, and assures listeners of his ongoing prayers:
“You have been an incredible gift... I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.”