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

Episode: Day 41 – The Day of Atonement (2026)
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)

Overview

This episode of “The Bible in a Year” focuses on Scripture readings from Exodus 23, Leviticus 16 (the Day of Atonement), and Psalm 77. Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on themes of justice in Israel’s law, the significance of God’s feasts, and the deep symbolism of Yom Kippur. Drawing connections to Catholic Christian worship, he encourages listeners to see these ancient practices as central to salvation history and intimately connected to the Mass and sacraments today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Justice in Israel’s Law (Exodus 23)

[16:22 – 22:47]

• God’s mandates on justice transcend partiality, advocating fairness to both poor and rich.
• Israelites are reminded not to follow the crowd in doing evil and not to oppress strangers, recalling their own time as aliens in Egypt.
• The law insists on treating even your enemy’s animals with care—a call to radical neighbor-love:
  • “If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden... you shall help him to lift it up.” (Exodus 23:5)
• Fr. Mike highlights a dual temptation: to do injustice against the poor, or to do injustice for the sake of the poor, both of which are rejected in Scripture.
  • Quotation [23:41]:

    “To do injustice for the sake of the poor is condemned, and also to do injustice against the poor is condemned. And that’s such an incredible, beautiful balance… It’s almost as if God himself knows human nature.” – Fr. Mike

• Justice and mercy are to be held in tension; God knows “the hardness of your heart and… the softness of your heart,” calling for true fidelity.

2. Sabbath, Festivals, and Worship

[23:00 – 27:40]

• God commands annual feasts: Passover (Unleavened Bread), Harvest (Pentecost), and Ingathering (Tabernacles).
  • All Jewish males are instructed to make pilgrimage to worship at these times.
• Fr. Mike explains the Christian fulfillment of these feasts, especially drawing parallels to the liturgical calendar (Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost).
  • Quotation [24:53]:

    “That third feast is the festival of Tabernacles. So you have the first festival of Passover… then the feast of weeks, or Pentecost… and the third… might be the one that we are least familiar with.” – Fr. Mike

3. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) – Leviticus 16

[27:41 – 36:50]

• Yom Kippur is introduced as a solemn annual day for atonement and forgiveness, not one of the three pilgrimage feasts but highly significant.
• Key Rituals:
  • The High Priest (Aaron) offers a bull for his own sins and two goats—one sacrificed, the other (the “scapegoat”) sent into the wilderness bearing Israel’s iniquities.
  • The scapegoat is “for Azazel”—a mysterious figure discussed but not fully explained.
• Fr. Mike’s Honest Admission [32:35]:
  • “Who is Azazel? And the answer is kind of a mystery… There are theories, but… I am not going to weigh in on it because I know enough not to weigh in on stuff I don’t necessarily know about.”
• The concept of the scapegoat is foundational—a visible carrying off of sin, a profound image of forgiveness and mercy.
• Symbolism for Christians:
  • Fr. Mike urges listeners to see these rituals as preparation and foreshadowing of Jesus, the Lamb of God who “takes away the sins of the world.”
    • Quotation [35:45]:

      “Who is Jesus? Well, he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world… All of this is a foreshadowing. It’s a preparation for what you and I are doing on a daily basis, especially on a weekly basis when it comes to the sacrifice of the Mass.”

4. Bridging Old Covenant and Catholic Worship

[36:51 – 40:23]

• The ancient rites are not mere historical curiosities; they are intimately tied to Mass, Eucharist, and even the sacrament of Confession.
• Fr. Mike encourages making personal connections between ancient worship and Catholic practices:
  • “Please, my invitation is, as we continue… strive to make that connection for yourself between what the people of Israel were commanded to do back then and what you and I, as Catholic Christians, are commanded to do right now.” [36:22]
• Understanding Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy as critical to understanding the “shape” of Christian worship.

5. The Spiritual Depth of Scripture and Sacraments

[40:24 – 42:12]

• The Bible is more than a text—it’s only fully alive when united with prayer, worship, and sacramental life:
  • “This journey through the Bible is only one dimensional as long as we stay away from the sacraments… then our experience of the Bible will be so thin, so black and white, instead of in full, vibrant color.” [41:13]
• Listeners are urged to keep praying for each other and persevere in embracing both Scripture and sacraments.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Wisdom in Justice
  “It’s almost as if God himself knows human nature. Wow. Who would have imagined?”
  — Fr. Mike [23:56]

• On the Purpose of Laws
  “As soon as the people of Israel are set free from their being poor, from their bondage, from their slavery, God is saying both I know the hardness of your heart and I know the softness of your heart…”
  — Fr. Mike [24:08]

• On the Mystery of Azazel
  “When I say I don’t know, it’s—I know theories, but I don’t know the actual answer. And so I have to apologize, that’s my ignorance.”
  — Fr. Mike [32:37]

• Old Covenant as Preparation for Christ
  “These are not merely ancient books. They are a number of books where the Lord God revealed his heart, prepared a people for the day when God Himself will become one of us and offer Himself for the sake of the entire world and for the glory of the Father.”
  — Fr. Mike [40:00]

• On Living the Scripture
  “Our experience of the Bible will be so thin… so black and white… instead of in full, vibrant color… let’s keep praying for each other, both in our private prayer as well as when we go to Mass, when we go to confession, when we encounter the true and living God.”
  — Fr. Mike [41:20]

Important Timestamps

• 00:04 – Episode introduction and reading plan explained
• 01:28 – Reading: Exodus 23
• 16:22 – Reading: Leviticus 16 (Yom Kippur)
• 30:37 – Reading: Psalm 77
• 34:53 – Fr. Mike’s reflection: Laws concerning justice
• 36:22 – The festivals and their Christian significance
• 40:24 – Encouragement to pray and unite Scripture with sacramental life

Episode Flow

• Introduction and readings from Exodus 23 (laws of justice and worship), Leviticus 16 (Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur), Psalm 77 (recalling God’s might and faithfulness).
• Fr. Mike’s reflections: justice, feasts, the meaning of Yom Kippur, mystery of Azazel, and how all these point forward to Jesus and Catholic worship.
• Exhortation to make connections between ancient texts and Christian practice, and to keep prayer and sacraments at the heart of the journey.

Tone

Fr. Mike maintains an energetic, thoughtful, and inviting tone, blending theological depth with humble curiosity and pastoral encouragement. He welcomes mystery where appropriate and repeatedly invites listeners to see their lives as connected to the story of Scripture.

This summary provides a comprehensive and engaging overview of the episode, allowing listeners or readers to grasp both the content and the spirit of Day 41: The Day of Atonement.