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

Episode: Day 351: Draw Near to God (2025)

Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Date: December 17, 2025
Main Theme:
A deep dive into the conclusion of the Letter of James (chapters 3–5), the beginning of Paul’s Letter to the Colossians (chapters 1–2), and Proverbs 30:7–9. Fr. Mike reflects on wisdom, the Christian’s relationship to the world, suffering, and how to draw near to God in daily life.

Scripture Readings Covered

• James 3–5: Taming the tongue, two kinds of wisdom, friendship with the world, patience in suffering, and the prayer of faith.
• Colossians 1–2: Paul’s gratitude, the supremacy of Christ, life in Christ, and warnings against false teaching.
• Proverbs 30:7–9: A prayer for integrity and moderation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Humility, Self-Distrust, and Reliance on God (Proverbs 30:7–9)

• Fr. Mike opens with Proverbs 30’s wisdom, highlighting the petitioner’s desire for “neither poverty nor riches” but only “the food that is needful.”
• Quote [21:16]:

  “Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you... or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30 paraphrase)

• He relates this to conversion—how true wisdom begins with a “distrust of self and a trust in the Lord.”
• Fr. Mike shares the story of St. Philip Neri, who daily prayed for protection from himself, acknowledging the human tendency to fall:
  Quote [22:11]:

  “Watch out for Philip today, Lord, because if you give him a chance, he will betray you.”

• Reflection: We ought not judge others harshly; instead, “there but for the grace of God go I.”

2. James on Christian Life: Tongue, Wisdom, and the World (James 3–5)

Taming the Tongue & Living Undivided

• James warns of the tongue’s power—how “no human being can tame the tongue; a restless evil, full of deadly poison” [04:45].
• On duplicity:
  Quote [26:40]:

  “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. Stop being a person of two minds.”

• Example from Elijah: We must choose whom to serve wholeheartedly—God or worldly idols.

Drawing Near to God

• James urges submission to God, resistance to the devil, and active drawing near to God.
• Memorable Verses Explained [24:10]:

  “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”

• Fr. Mike connects the spiritual battle to St. Peter’s teaching (upcoming), emphasizing the reality of evil and necessity of active resistance.

On Planning and Trusting God’s Will

• Mention of a missionary priest, Fr. John McHugh, who modeled humility by always saying, “Lord willing,” echoing James’s reminder not to presume about tomorrow [29:00].

Warning to the Rich

• Fr. Mike reminds listeners that, globally, most Americans are among the wealthy and must heed James’s warnings about ill-gotten wealth and luxury.
• He reflects on social justice and personal responsibility with consumer goods, raising conscience about potential indirect exploitation [31:05].

Confession, Anointing of the Sick, and Community Healing

• James 5 inspires the Catholic sacraments of confession and anointing of the sick.
• Quote [33:45]:

  “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord...”

• Fr. Mike discusses the scriptural basis for these practices, emphasizing the power of prayer, community intercession, and forgiveness.

3. The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ (Colossians 1–2)

• Paul introduces Christ as the “image of the invisible God,” the preeminent one through whom and for whom all things exist [36:00].

• Fr. Mike highlights Colossians 1:24—Paul’s mysterious statement about “completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”

  • Quote [37:12]:

    “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church.”

  • John Paul II’s teaching: Christ’s redemptive suffering was wholly sufficient, but Christians are graced with participating in redemption by offering their own suffering for others.
  • “Jesus Christ offers us, he gives us a share, a particle of his cross that we might participate in his work of redemption, which is just incredible.”

• Fr. Mike reassures listeners in suffering that, while the reasons for trials may remain unknown, believers do know to “unite it to Christ’s suffering,” petitioning God to use it for the world’s redemption [38:16].

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Distrust of Self, Trust in the Lord

  “The first two movements of conversion are a distrust of self and a trust in the Lord. And I think that’s so wise.” (Fr. Mike, 22:32)

• On Drawing Near to God

  “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:7–8, read and reflected at 24:10)

• On God's Presence

  “You are nearer to us than we are to ourselves… You’re nearer to us than our very heart is in our chest.” (Fr. Mike, prayer at 20:12)

• On Wealth and Responsibility

  “Let God’s words, when he speaks about wealth, convict us... because St. James, the Lord’s word, does convict those who have lived on earth in luxury and in pleasure.” (Fr. Mike, 31:22)

• Redemptive Suffering

  “When we suffer in Christ, we participate in the redemption of the world—not because his suffering was insufficient…but so that you and I might have the privilege of sharing in his redeeming work.” (Fr. Mike, 37:30)

Important Timestamps

• Proverbs reflection on self-distrust and reliance on God: 21:00–23:00
• James on resisting the devil and drawing near to God: 24:00–27:00
• Personal anecdote about Fr. John’s “Lord willing”: 28:30–29:30
• Warning against neglecting justice as the rich: 31:00–32:30
• Origin of confession and anointing of the sick: 33:00–35:00
• Supremacy of Christ and redemptive suffering (Colossians): 36:00–38:30

Tone and Style

• Warm, personal, pastoral, sometimes self-deprecating and humorous.
• Grounded in Catholic teaching yet accessible for all Christian listeners.
• Always focused on real-life application and the journey of faith.

Final Blessing and Call to Prayer

Fr. Mike closes expressing gratitude for God’s nearness and the journey through Scripture, praying especially for listeners enduring suffering:

“We might not know why this is happening, but we do know what to do with it—to unite it to Christ’s suffering and say, Lord God, use this…” [38:16]

He encourages mutual prayer—“please pray for me”—as the year draws to its close.

This episode offers practical wisdom for humility, vigilance, trust, and hope—inviting all to draw near to God, to resist temptation, to be healed in community, and to embrace redemptive suffering in Christ.