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

Episode: Day 341: Eternal Weight of Glory (2025)
Date: December 7, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Podcast by Ascension

Episode Overview

On Day 341 of The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike leads listeners through readings from Acts 20, 2 Corinthians 3–5, and Proverbs 28:25-28. The episode focuses on the trials and mission of St. Paul, the nature of the new covenant, the experience of suffering and perseverance, and the glory that awaits those who remain faithful. Through reflection and prayer, Fr. Mike draws deep personal and communal applications for living the Christian faith amidst both joy and hardship, culminating in the enduring hope of “an eternal weight of glory.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Acts 20: Paul’s Journeys, Preaching, and Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

• Paul's Movement & Ministry: Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece, encouraging disciples, narrowly escaping a plot against him, and continuing to Troas (00:59).
  • Memorable incident: Eutychus falls asleep during a long sermon, tumbles from a window, and is revived by Paul (01:33).
  • Fr. Mike sees humor and consolation here for preachers:
    “Gives a lot of comfort to a lot of preachers who may have put some people to sleep in their time.” (13:20)
• Code for the Mass: Gathering “to break bread” is identified as code for Eucharist and the Mass:
  “That gathering on the Lord’s day, gathering to break bread, the breaking of the bread...this is code for the Mass.” (13:10)
• Paul’s Address to the Ephesian Elders:
  • Paul’s humility, trials, and perseverance.
  • Prophetic awareness: The Holy Spirit warns of “imprisonment and afflictions,” but Paul remains steadfast, seeking to fulfill his ministry above personal safety (03:10 - 04:14).
  • Emotional farewell: The elders weep as they realize they may never see Paul again, highlighting the deep bonds of Christian leadership and love (04:55).

2. Reflections on Paul’s Example

• Expecting Suffering, Not Earthly Comfort:
  “Following after Jesus Christ and doing his work isn’t bringing me worldly peace…it isn’t bringing me all this success. I know that what awaits me is imprisonment and afflictions. And he doesn’t blame God for that, he doesn’t get mad at God about it.” (14:44)
  • Fr. Mike emphasizes that discipleship often brings hardships, yet Paul models resilience akin to Jesus “setting his face like flint toward Jerusalem.” (15:35)
• Leadership by Love:
  • Paul is loved not for his strictness, but for how deeply he loves others:
    “They knew that they were loved by him. They loved him back…that’s a message for us.” (16:31)
  • Application for listeners: Fr. Mike reflects on leadership—whether in ministry, parenting, or the workplace—should be marked by love and presence, so others miss you in your absence, not feel relieved (17:23).

3. 2 Corinthians 3–5: The New Covenant and Spiritual Transformation

• Contrast of Old and New Covenants (3:00)
  • The “old covenant” with Moses had splendor, but the “new covenant” in the Spirit is greater, transformative, and lasting.
  • Notable quote:
    “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor 3:17, 18:31)
  • “We all, with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Cor 3:18, 18:44)
• Treasure in Earthen Vessels: Humility in Ministry
  • Christians hold the Gospel’s treasure in “earthen vessels” (fragile, human bodies), showing the greatness is from God, not us (08:07).
  • Fr. Mike recalls a song from his youth about earthen vessels, relating it to the humble containers God uses:
    “I have the most incredible message in the world, but I am not the most incredible messenger. I hold the most incredible treasure in the world, but I’m holding it in a very ordinary container.” (19:35)
• Suffering and Hope: The Eternal Weight of Glory
  • Endurance in hardship is given meaning by the promise of eternal glory:
    “Though our outer man is wasting away, our inner man is being renewed every day. For this slight, momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Cor 4:16-17, 09:00; 20:28)
  • Fr. Mike references C.S. Lewis’s “The Weight of Glory,” recommending focusing not on what is seen and temporary, but the unseen and eternal (21:00).
  • Christians “walk by faith, not by sight” (09:37).

4. Ministry of Reconciliation & Our Identity in Christ

• Ambassadors for Christ:
  • Christians are called to act as agents of reconciliation, as God has reconciled the world to Himself through Christ (10:34).
  • Notable verse:
    “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17, 11:30)
  • The message is not about personal reputation, but serving out of the love of Christ (11:05).

5. Proverbs 28:25-28: Wisdom and Righteous Living

• Themes:
  • Trust in the Lord brings enrichment.
  • Generous living and reliance on wisdom, not self, leads to deliverance.
  • “He who trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” (12:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Preaching and Sleepy Listeners:
  “Eutychus is falling asleep during his sermon. That gives a lot of comfort to a lot of preachers who may have put some people to sleep in their time.” (13:22)
• On Embracing Suffering in Ministry:
  “I realize that following after Jesus Christ and doing his work isn’t bringing me worldly peace…He has the heart of the Master, right? Jesus, who knew he was going to experience persecution…And nonetheless, he set his face like flint toward Jerusalem.” (14:44-15:35)
• On Loving Well as a Leader:
  “They loved him back. And so this is why here they are weeping at the idea that they would never be able to see him again in this life. That…it’s a message for all of us…Would they weep if this was the last time they saw me?” (16:24-17:06)
• Transformation by the Spirit:
  “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another.” (18:31-18:44)
• Christian Humility and Mission:
  “We have the most incredible gift that has ever been given…yet we hold it in clay pots…so it’s not about us, the ones who are holding the treasure. It’s about the treasure.” (19:35-19:56)
• Suffering and Hope:
  “This slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Because we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen.” (2 Cor 4:17; 20:28-21:00)
• On Judgment and Living in Love:
  “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…We are saved by grace through faith working itself out in love…knowing we’ll be judged on our actions.” (21:55)

Key Timestamps

• 00:59 – 05:14: Acts 20: Paul’s journeys, the raising of Eutychus, and farewell to the Ephesian elders.
• 05:14 – 12:12: 2 Corinthians 3–5: The new covenant, treasure in earthen vessels, reconciliation.
• 12:12 – 12:43: Proverbs 28:25-28.
• 12:43 – 22:46: Fr. Mike’s commentary & reflection. Highlighted insights, practical application, and prayer.

Conclusion

Fr. Mike concludes by encouraging listeners to continue striving to “love like Jesus and live like Jesus,” and prays for all to become more Christlike through God’s Word and the transforming power of the Spirit.
“I’m praying for you that you continue to love like Jesus and to live like Jesus. Please pray for me that I can love like Jesus and that I can live like Jesus.” (22:40)

For further reflection:

• What “treasure” has God given you that you hold in an “earthen vessel?”
• How do you handle moments of suffering or discouragement in faith?
• Are your acts of leadership—within your family, workplace, or community—marked by love that others would miss if you were gone?

Next episode: Stay tuned for Day 342.
God bless!