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

Episode: Day 350: Faith and Works (2025) — December 16, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the critical relationship between faith and works as outlined in the New Testament, focusing on James 1–2, Philippians 3–4, and Proverbs 30:1–6. Fr. Mike unpacks the teachings of both St. James and St. Paul, examining the Catholic understanding of how faith, works, and grace come together in salvation. He emphasizes the practical implications for daily Christian living—encouraging listeners to move from merely hearing God's Word to doing it.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction: Where We Are in Salvation History

• Transition in Readings:
  • “We’ve departed from the historical books now…we’re starting essentially the letters and then the Book of Revelation…Today we’re reading James chapters one and two, Philippians chapters three and four, and Proverbs chapter 30, verses one through six.” (02:10)
• Encouragement to Listeners:
  • Only 15 days left in the Bible in a Year journey—“You can do it if you like. If you don’t, that’s just fine. It is day 350.” (02:40)

2. Background on the Letter of James

• Who Was James?
  • “James is, as he says, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. James is most likely, according to St. Jerome, the son of Clopas and Mary, the wife of Clopas…The ancient tradition has always been Mary [Jesus’ mother] was a virgin…James, a cousin of Jesus.” (23:05)
• Audience:
  • Written to “the twelve tribes in the dispersion”—Jewish Christians outside Palestine.
• James’ Letter as ‘Proverbs of the New Testament’:
  • “Almost every line is another little gem…another pearl where we can take and just apply to our lives.” (26:15)

3. Pearls of Wisdom from James 1–2

Trials and Steadfastness

• Steadfastness in Faith:
  • “Count it all joy…when you meet various trials, for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (Paraphrased reading; 26:45)
  • “Blessed is the man who endures the trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12; 28:05)

Wisdom and Humility

• Asking God for Wisdom:
  • “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting…” (~29:00)

Controlling the Tongue

• Speech and True Religion:
  • “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain.” (James 1:26, discussed at 29:30)
  • Fr. Mike’s reflection:
    • “We just say stuff—gossip, detraction…When we do that, we are demonstrating that we don’t belong to the Lord. This is just bonkers.” (30:20)

True Religion

• Caring for the Vulnerable:
  • “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27, 31:00)

4. Faith and Works: The Core Message of James 2

• Warning Against Partiality:

  • “Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?...Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom?” (32:05)

• Foundational Teaching:

  • “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead…Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” (33:10)

• Justification—Catholic Perspective:

  • Fr. Mike explains the difference in Paul’s and James’ use of “works”:
    • “When St. Paul is writing about works, he’s talking about works of the law…not justified by works of the law.”
    • “We’re saved by grace, through faith, working itself out in love…Scripture makes it absolutely clear today, faith without works is dead, and that faith cannot save us.” (34:20)
  • Notable Quote:
    • “The only time those words ‘faith’ and ‘alone’ are together in the Scriptures are here, right here in chapter two of James, verse 24, when James says, ‘You can see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.’” (35:30)

• Fr. Mike’s Tone on Unity:

  • “I do believe that the Lord Jesus is calling you to become Catholic, but that’s not the point…the point right now is just to explain a little bit about…where do Catholics get the truth that we need both faith and works? Well, here we are.” (36:25)

5. Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 3–4

The Surpassing Worth of Christ

• Paul’s Transformation:
  • “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ…For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ…” (Phil 3:7-8, 38:20)
  • Fr. Mike’s explanation:
    • “That word refuse is actually the word for—we’ll say dung. I count everything…to be fertilizer, we’ll say, compared to knowing Jesus Christ.” (38:50)

Righteousness and Resurrection

• Righteousness Through Faith:
  • “Not having a righteousness of my own based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” (39:30)

Pressing Onward

• “I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14, 40:10)

Exhortations for Christian Life

• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice.” (Phil 4:4, 41:00)
  • “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7, 41:20)
• Advice on Discipline of Thought:
  • “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely—if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil 4:8, 42:15)
  • Fr. Mike’s reflection:
    • “The law of exposure is those things you think about, those things you expose yourself to—those are the things that shape your heart and shape your minds…That’s one of the reasons why for the last 350 days, we’ve been listening to God’s word.” (42:40)

6. Closing Thoughts & Prayer

• Integration of Teaching into Life:
  • “Help us to be not only hearers of the Word, but also doers of your Word…let this time we’ve spent listening to your Word not simply wash over us and we just forget it…Help us to put this into practice, to put the love in our hearts into action in our lives.” (44:00)
• Hope for Unity Among Christians:
  • “I’m praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” (Final lines, 46:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Faith and Works:
  • “Faith without works is dead, and that faith cannot save us.” (34:50, Fr. Mike)
• On Paul’s Surrender:
  • “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ.” (38:20)
• On Anxiety:
  • “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…” (41:20)
• On the Christian Mind:
  • “Whatever is true…honorable…just…pure…lovely…if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (42:15)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Intro, context, and readings overview: 00:00–03:00
• Who is James? (historical background): 23:00–24:00
• James as New Testament ‘Proverbs’: 26:15
• Practical gems from James 1: 26:45–31:00
• Faith and works in James 2—Catholic teaching focus: 33:10–36:25
• Philippians, knowing Christ as greatest good: 38:20–39:00
• Rejoice, anxiety, and the law of exposure: 41:00–43:00
• Closing prayer and encouragement: 44:00–46:10

Tone and Style

Fr. Mike blends passionate teaching with warmth, humor (“We’ll say dung…we’ll say fertilizer”), and an earnest drive for unity among all Christians. His style is scripturally rooted, practical, and always invites listeners not just to learn, but to allow Scripture to transform their minds and lives.

Summary Takeaways

• Faith must be lived out through works; they cannot be separated.
• True religion cares for the vulnerable and remains unstained by the world.
• Knowing Christ far surpasses any achievement or possession.
• Spend mental energy on what is pure, honorable, and excellent—these shape your heart.
• Unity in Christ remains a hope and prayer for all believers.

“I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.” — Fr. Mike Schmitz (46:05)