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

Episode: Day 348: Rules for the New Life (2025)
Date: December 14, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension

Episode Overview

In Day 348 of "The Bible in a Year," Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through Acts 27; Ephesians chapters 4, 5, and 6; and Proverbs 29:22–24. The episode centers on Paul’s perilous sea journey to Rome, St. Paul’s exhortations for Christian living (“Rules for the New Life”) in the Letter to the Ephesians, and the call to unity and transformation in Christ. Fr. Mike’s reflections focus on embracing God’s will in every circumstance and understanding the radical call of mutual submission, love, and “spiritual armor” in the daily Christian battle.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Paul’s Treacherous Journey to Rome (Acts 27)

• Scene: Paul, en route to Rome to stand trial, endures a violent shipwreck alongside 275 others.
  • The narrative is first-person ("we"), indicating Luke’s presence.
  • Despite hardships, Paul demonstrates unwavering trust in God’s providence.
    • Memorable Moment: Paul encourages his shipmates as hope fades—“Take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told” (Acts 27:25).
• Reflection: Fr. Mike relates Paul’s “leaning in” to adversity to our modern tendency toward self-pity during difficulties.
  • Quote [18:49]:
    “Here’s St. Paul and he doesn’t give any indication...that he’s trusting in the Lord and saying, okay, this is God’s will. This is God’s will for me right now. And this is the secret to holiness.” — Fr. Mike
  • Theme of accepting both God's perfect and permissive will in challenging times.

2. Unity and Transformation in Ephesians

• Unity in the Body (Ephesians 4:1–16)
  • Christians are urged to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling,” fostering humility, patience, and unity.
  • Emphasis on diverse gifts—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—working together for the maturity of the whole body.
    • Notable Quote [21:01]:
      “We are to grow up in every way into him, who is the head, into Christ...” — Fr. Mike (paraphrasing Paul)
• Put Off the Old, Put On the New (Ephesians 4:17–32)
  • Believers must “put off the old man,” rejecting former pagan ways, and “put on the new man” in righteousness and holiness.
  • Specific instructions:
    • Speak the truth.
    • “Be angry, but do not sin.”
    • Do honest labor and give to those in need.
    • Speak to edify, not to tear down.
    • “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
• The Call to Imitate Christ (Ephesians 5)
  • Imitate God as beloved children; walk in love as Christ loved us.
  • Reject immorality, impurity, covetousness.
  • Act as “children of light,” seeking what is pleasing to the Lord.

3. Rules for Christian Relationships and Mutual Submission (Ephesians 5:21–6:9)

• Marriage: “A Race to the Bottom”
  • The often-controversial command “Wives, be subject to your husbands” and “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church.”
    • Deepened Explanation: Fr. Mike explains that submission is not inferiority but mutual self-giving, rooted in verse 21: “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
    • Memorable Analogy [24:44]:
      “Husbands and wives are basically racing to the bottom...No one gets to lord it over anyone else. It’s a race to serve.”
    • “How did Christ love the Church? That he gave himself up for her. That he laid down his life for her.”
  • Quote [25:21]:
    “It is not by having her do for you whatever you want, but by humbly submitting yourself and laying down your life so that she can have life.” — Fr. Mike
• Children and Parents, Slaves and Masters
  • Obedience and honor in families.
  • For slaves and masters, the call is to mutual good treatment; Paul addresses dignity within existing social structures of the time.
  • Equality and Complementarity: All relationships, even those with power differentials, are to be marked by respect and service.

4. The Spiritual Battle and the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–20)

• The True Enemy
  • Christians are reminded that “our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities...spiritual hosts of wickedness.”
• Armor of God
  • Belt of truth
  • Breastplate of righteousness
  • Gospel of peace (shoes)
  • Shield of faith
  • Helmet of salvation
  • Sword of the Spirit (Word of God)
• Call to Prayer and Perseverance:
  • All are encouraged to “stand”—to hold firm in adversity.
  • Quote [28:18]:
    “Because we’re in a battle...St. Paul makes it absolutely clear. Our battle is not against flesh and blood...Therefore, take the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.” — Fr. Mike

5. Proverbs 29:22–24 Insights

• Warnings against wrath, anger, pride, and partnership in wrongdoing.
• The humble are honored; integrity is valued.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On Accepting God’s Will ([18:49]):
  “This is the secret to holiness, is to be able to lean into that and be able to say, okay, whatever is happening, this is God’s will for me right now. Even if it’s not good, right? ... it is his permissive will that he allows us to be in a certain situation.” — Fr. Mike
• On Mutual Submission in Marriage ([24:44]):
  “Husbands and wives are basically racing to the bottom... No one gets the lorded over anyone else. It’s a race to serve. It’s a race to be subject to the other.”
• On the Armor of God ([28:18]):
  “Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness...” — Fr. Mike
• On Christian Living ([21:18]):
  “Be angry, but do not sin. ... Only speak what is good for edifying, to build up people around you... be kind to one another and put away malice and be tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:04] – Introduction, reading of Acts 27 and Ephesians 4–6, Proverbs 29
• [18:49] – Reflection on Paul’s shipwreck and accepting God’s will
• [21:01] – Unity in Christ and putting on the “new man”
• [24:44] – Deep dive into Ephesians 5: Marriage as “a race to the bottom”
• [28:18] – “Armor of God” and spiritual warfare
• [30:58] – Closing encouragement and blessing

Tone and Style

Fr. Mike’s tone is conversational, pastoral, insightful, and deeply encouraging. He blends scriptural teaching with relatable personal anecdotes (“When there’s a traffic jam, my mind goes right to, ‘I shouldn’t even be on this trip’”), making the message both theologically rich and accessible for listeners seeking to grow in holiness.

Final Thoughts

This episode reinforces the transformative call of Christian life: to embrace unity, self-giving love, and God’s will in every circumstance; to see relationships through Christ’s love; and to recognize the spiritual battle facing all believers. The invitation: put off the old, put on the new, and “race to the bottom” in mutual service and love.