
In our reading of Numbers 14 today, Fr. Mike highlights how the rebellion of the Israelites which was marked by distrust and fear, will have consequences for their children. We also read today Deuteronomy 12, and Psalm 95.
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Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz.
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And you're listening to the Bible in.
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The Year podcast where we encounter God's.
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Voice and live life through the lens of Scripture.
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The Bible in the Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
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Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today.
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Today is day 63, and so we're going to be reading from Numbers, chapter 14, Deuteronomy, chapter 12, and Psalm 95. We'll be praying Psalm 90.
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As always, the Bible translation that I'm.
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Using is the Revised Standard Version, the second Catholic edition.
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And I'm using the Great Adventure Bible.
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From Ascension, which is phenomenal because it has all of the periods divided. It has some notes there that are incredibly helpful. If you want to track down one.
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Of those Bibles, you can go to.
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Wherever awesome Bibles are sold.
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Also, if you would like to download.
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Your own Bible in a year reading.
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Plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com bibleina year.
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And if you have not yet on day 63 subscribed to this podcast, you can go into your app, which you are using right now, and hit click or punch subscribe and you will be subscribed today.
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As I said, we are reading from.
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Numbers, chapter 14, Deuteronomy, chapter 12, and.
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We are praying Psalm 95, the book.
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Of Numbers, chapter 14. The people rebel.
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Then all the congregation raised a loud.
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Cry, and the people wept that night.
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And all the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron.
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The whole congregation said to them, would.
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That we had died in the land.
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Of Egypt, or would that we had died in this wilderness.
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Why does the Lord bring us into this land to fall by the sword?
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Our wives and our little ones will become prey.
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Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?
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And they said to one another, let.
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Us choose a captain and go back to Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Sons of Israel, and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb.
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The son of Jephunneh, who were among.
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Those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes, and said to all the congregation of the Sons of Israel, the land which we passed through to spy it out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and.
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Give it to us a land which flows with milk and honey.
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Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them. And the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.
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And the Lord said to Moses, how long will this people despise me?
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And how long will they not believe in me?
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In spite of all the signs which.
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I have wrought among them?
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I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them.
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And I will make of you a.
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Nation greater and mightier than they. Moses intercedes for the people. But Moses said to the Lord, then.
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The Egyptians will hear of it. For you brought up this people in.
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Your might from among them. And they will tell the inhabitants of this land, they have heard that you.
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O Lord, are in the midst of this people. For you, O Lord, are seen face to face. And your cloud stands over them. And you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have.
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Heard your fame will say, because the.
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Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore.
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To give to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness. And now I beg you, let the.
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Power of the Lord be great as you have promised.
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Saying, the Lord is slow to anger and abounding in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.
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But he will by no means clear the guilty. Visiting the iniquity of fathers upon children upon the third and upon the fourth.
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Generation, pardon the iniquity of this people.
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I beg you, according to the greatness.
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Of your mercy and according as you.
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Have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now.
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Then the Lord said, I have pardoned according to your word.
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But truly as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the proof these 10 times and have not hearkened to.
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My voice, shall see the land which.
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I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.
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But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me.
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Faithfully, I will bring into the land.
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Into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites.
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Dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and.
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Set out for the wilderness, by the way to the Red Sea. God's punishment of the disobedient.
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And the Lord said to Moses and.
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To Aaron, how long shall this wicked congregation murmur against me?
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I have heard the murmurings of the.
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Sons of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say to them as I live, says the Lord.
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What you have said in my hearing.
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I will do to you.
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Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and all of your number numbered from 20 years old and upward who.
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Have murmured against me.
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Not one shall come into the land.
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Where I swore I would make you dwell. Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in.
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And they shall know the land which you have despised. But as for you, your dead bodies.
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Shall fall in this wilderness, and your.
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Children shall be shepherds in the wilderness.
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40 years and shall suffer for your faithlessness until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness, according to.
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The number of days in which you spied out the land.
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For every day a year you shall.
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Bear your iniquity 40 years.
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And you shall know my displeasure. I, the Lord have spoken.
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Surely this will I do to all this wicked generation that are gathered together.
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Against me in this wilderness.
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They shall come to a full end.
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And there they shall die. And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, and who returned.
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And made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing up an evil report against the land.
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The men who brought up an evil.
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Report of the land died by plague before the Lord.
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But Joshua the son of Nun, and.
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Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.
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Of those men who went to spy out the land.
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And Moses told these words to all the sons of Israel. And the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning.
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And went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, see, we are here.
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We will go up to the place.
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Which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned. But Moses said, why now are you.
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Transgressing this command of the Lord? For that will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be.
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Struck down before your enemies.
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For the Lord is not among you.
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For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are before you.
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And you shall fall by the sword because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you. But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the Ark of the Covenant of.
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The Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who.
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Dwelt in that hill country, came down and defeated them and pursued them even to Hormah.
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The book of Deuteronomy. 12 Pagan shrines to be destroyed. Moses continued. These are the statutes and the ordinances.
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Which you shall be careful to do in the land which the Lord the God of your fathers has given to.
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You to possess all the days that you live upon the earth.
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You shall surely destroy all the places.
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Where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods.
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Upon the high mountains and upon the hills and under every green tree you shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall hew down the graven images.
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Of their gods and destroy their name out of that place.
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You shall not do so to the.
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Lord your God, but you shall seek.
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The place which the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes.
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To put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go, and there you.
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Shall bring your burnt offerings and your.
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Sacrifices, your tithes and the offerings that you present, your votive offerings, your freewill.
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Offerings, and the firstlings of your herd.
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And of your flock.
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And there you shall eat before the.
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Lord your God, and you shall rejoice.
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You and your households, in all that you undertake in which the Lord your.
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God has blessed you. You shall not do according to all that we are doing here this day, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes.
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For you have not as yet come.
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To the rest and to the inheritance.
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Which the Lord your God gives you. But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land which the Lord your God gives you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from.
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All your enemies round about, so that.
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You live in safety, then to the place which the Lord your God will.
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Choose to make his name dwell there.
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There you shall bring all that I.
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Command you, your burnt offerings and your.
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Sacrifices, your tithes and the offering that.
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You present, and all your votive offerings.
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Which you vow to the Lord, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your.
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God, you and your sons and your daughters, your menservants and your maidservants, and.
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The Levite that is within your towns.
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Since he has no portion or inheritance with you, take heed that you do.
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Not offer your burnt offerings at every.
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Place that you see, but at the.
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Place which the Lord will choose in.
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One of your tribes.
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There you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that.
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I am commanding you concerning eating, however.
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You may slaughter and eat flesh within any of your towns as Much as you desire, according to the blessings of.
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The Lord your God, which he has given you.
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The unclean and the clean may eat of it.
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Of the gazelle and as of the.
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Deer only you shall not eat the blood.
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You shall pour it out upon the earth like water.
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You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grains, or of your wine, or of your oil, or the firstling of your herd, or of your flock, or any of your votive.
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Offerings which you vow, or your freewill.
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Offerings, or the offering that you present. But you shall eat them before the Lord your God in the place which.
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The Lord your God will choose you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, and the Levite.
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Who is within your towns.
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And you shall rejoice before the Lord.
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Your God in all that you undertake. Take heed that you do not forsake.
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The Levite as long as you live in your land. When the Lord your God enlarges your territory as he has promised you, and you say, I will eat flesh because you crave flesh, you may eat as.
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Much flesh as you desire. If the place which the Lord your God will choose to put his name.
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There is too far from you, then.
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You may kill any of your herd or of your flock which the Lord.
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Has given you, as I have commanded you.
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And you may eat within your towns as much as you desire.
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Just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it.
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The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it. Only be sure that you do not eat the blood.
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For the blood is the life, and.
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You shall not eat the life. With the flesh you shall not eat it. You shall pour it out upon the earth like water. You shall not eat it. That all may go well with you.
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And with your children after you when you do what is right in the.
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Sight of the Lord. But the holy things which are due.
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From you and your votive offerings you shall take.
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And you shall go to the place which the Lord will choose and offer your burnt offerings. The flesh and the blood on the altar of the Lord your God.
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The blood of your sacrifices shall be.
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Poured out on the altar of the Lord your God. But the flesh you may eat. Be careful to heed all these words.
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Which I command you, that it may.
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Go well with you and with your.
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Children after you forever when you do.
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What is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.
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Warning against idolatry. When the Lord your God cuts off.
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Before you the nations whom you go.
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In to dispossess and you dispossess them.
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And dwell in their land. Take heed that you not be ensnared.
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To follow them after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, how.
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Did these nations serve their gods, that.
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I may also do likewise. You shall not do so to the Lord your God.
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For every abominable thing which the Lord.
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Hates, they have done for their gods.
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For they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
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Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take away from it. Psalm 95. A call to Worship and Obedience oh, come, let us sing to the Lord.
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Let us make a joyful noise to.
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The rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.
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Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise. For the Lord is a great God.
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And a great king above all gods.
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In his hand are the depths of the earth. The heights of the mountains are his also the sea is his, for he made it. For his hands formed the dry land.
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O come, let us worship and bow down.
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Let us kneel before the Lord our.
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Maker, for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture.
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And the sheep of his hand.
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O that today you would listen to his voice. Harden not your hearts as at Meribah.
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As on the day of Massah in.
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The wilderness when your fathers tested me.
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And put me to the proof, though.
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They had seen my work for 40 years, I was wearied of that generation and said, they are a people who err in heart and they do not regard my ways. Therefore I swore in my anger that.
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They should not enter my.
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Father in heaven. We thank you and give you praise. We thank you so much for hearing our prayers. We thank you for when we are unfaithful, you remain faithful and that is what we need. That's you are who we need. Because, Lord, the depth to which our fears can control us, the depth to which our lack of faith can control us, is paralyzing at times. And yet, Lord, when we know who you are, there is no room for fear. When we love you, there is no room for fear, because that perfect love casts out whatever fear we might experience. Lord, if our day today is marked with fear, we ask that you please place your love in our hearts. If our day today is marked with uncertainty and with insecurity, we ask that you place your courage and your strength in our hearts. Lord God above all, we ask that you Place us in the palm of your hand and help us to never run away. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Okay, as another reminder, I know I've said this many, many times, but when we were reading from numbers, especially numbers, chapter 14, we are reading about the time right after the people of Israel.
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Were set free from slavery in Egypt.
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When we were reading Deuteronomy. Now this is the recap.
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This is. They're about.
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This is after 38 more years, they're.
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About to launch into the promised land to take the land. And so just keep that in mind.
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As we continue to move forward. This Deuteronomy is Moses's last speech. It's his last preaching, teaching to the people of God.
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And numbers is telling us the story.
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And the story that we heard today.
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Was after the 12 spies had gone.
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Up into the land of Canaan, and.
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10 of them were so intimidated, they were so shocked, they were so consumed.
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By fear that they came back and said we could not possibly take the land. Now their job was to go up into the, into the promised land and scout it out in that sense of being able to say, okay, are they strong? Are they weak?
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What kind of the cities are there?
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Like, to create a plan not to.
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Say, can we do this or not?
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It was to say, where do we go first? It was, what kind of towns do we attack?
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What are the people like?
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What do we need to prepare ourselves for? But instead of saying that, this scouting report comes back to prepare them to attack. It drew them to a place of fear where they said, we couldn't possibly do this. And in Today's chapter numbers 14, we hear the people's response. The people said that, why didn't we just die in Egypt? In fact, they tried to elect captains.
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To bring them back to Egypt.
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I mean, think about the. The heart of the slave that still.
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Beat in the chests of the people.
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Of Israel, saying, let's just go back to Egypt, that place of slavery, and live our days there and take whatever.
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Punishment we get for running away there. Let's just leave God and leave this.
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Land that he wants to give us. Because why? Because it's going to be hard and it's going to be dangerous, and they might even beat us, because that's what's going to happen, right?
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Fast forward to Deuteronomy.
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What we're going to hear is Moses speech, as I mentioned, and then they're.
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Going to have to go into the.
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Land, the Next book after this is Joshua. And that book of Joshua is going to tell the story of, okay, now.
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You need to fight.
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You need to actually do something. It's not just about being given. Although the Promised land was being given.
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To the people of Israel, but they.
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Had to cooperate with the Lord's work today, since they were unwilling to cooperate.
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Because they were driven by fear and.
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Paralyzed by distrust, this distrust that marked.
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Their lives and marked their hearts.
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Because of that, the Lord God says.
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That they will not enter the Promised Land.
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In fact, the children that you said were going to be destroyed, they are not. Your children are the ones who are going to go into the Promised Land. They are the ones who are going to go up, and they are the ones who are going to have to.
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Fight because you were unwilling to fight.
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You not only do not get to see the Promised Land, but also your children that you're very concerned about.
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They're the ones that are going to.
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Have to fight because you were unwilling to fight. And isn't there this lesson for us to hear in that those of us who are adults, those of us who.
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Are in a place of responsibility, those.
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Of us who have been given people and been given a task, that if.
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We'Re not willing to do the battle.
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If we're not willing to do that fighting of getting free from whatever burden has ensnared us, whatever slavery has been.
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In our lives, if we're not willing.
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To use the grace that God has.
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Given us to move forward in freedom and to fight against that slavery, to.
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Fight against the addictions, to fight against the bad behaviors of previous generations, if.
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We'Re not willing to do that battle, then who's going to have to battle?
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Well, we might still live in slavery.
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But our children are the ones who are going to have to do the.
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Battle that we were unwilling to fight. And so today, this reminder for every one of us to take up arms against whatever enslaves us so that our children and our children's children don't have to take up arms against what enslaves us. This is so important for every single one of us, because if we've been given a position of authority or responsibility, then it's our responsibility in virtue of our authority, to fight so that our children don't have to fight the battles that we were supposed to fight.
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They will have to fight battles on.
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Their own, but let them fight the battles that they are meant to fight, not our battles that we were unwilling to fight. One last note. When it comes to Deuteronomy, chapter 12 the Lord God, through Moses, commands that the pagan shrines be destroyed, which makes complete sense. But he also says that prepare yourselves for the fact that there's going to.
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Be one place where I'm asking you to worship.
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There's going to be one location that you have to go to when we offer these high and low holy sacrifices.
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And that's going to be a very.
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Important thing because it's not kind of this willy nilly.
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Worship wherever you want, do whatever kind.
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Of worship you want. There is going to be a place that is pointed out by the Lord, and that's where the Tabernacle is going to be. That's where ultimately the temple is going to be. And this is going to be very important, not only for the people of Israel, but for us as well, that.
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There are restrictions when it comes to.
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Worship, not just in how we do it, but also in where we do it. We can pray anywhere and the people of Israel can pray anywhere. The Levites are going to live in their towns, in their villages, but there is a place where the Levites, particularly the sons of Aaron, will exercise their priestly worship faculties. And that's going to be in the place where the Lord God points out.
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Now, if you want to eat any.
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Other meat, God says you can eat it wherever. Just keep in mind it's got to be a certain kind of meat. Because why? Because in the ancient world, almost all kinds of animals were sacrificed to all kinds of gods.
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And so God is making it clear.
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Okay, when it comes to certain kinds of animals, you can eat however much.
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You want of them.
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But when it comes to other kinds of animals, particularly the animals that are.
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Offered in the temple, offered in the.
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Tabernacle, be careful, because if you are.
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Close to the tabernacle, if you're close.
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To the temple, you may not just.
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Eat whatever kind of meat you would like to.
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It all is connected to worship. And this is the thing to keep in mind for all of us. This whole teaching In Deuteronomy chapter 12 is not strictly speaking about eating. It is more connected to worship than to anything. And hopefully that makes some sense today as we continue to pray. We continue to pray for each other.
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And ask the Lord to shape our.
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Minds, shape our hearts, and to shape.
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Our worldview so that we can see the world, him and ourselves and each.
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Other, the way that God wants us to. Especially as we're drawn closer and closer into battle for freedom and closer and closer into worship in spirit and in truth with the true and living God. We pray for each other we pray with each other. And we keep on this journey through our own wilderness and into our the promised land that the Lord has prepared for us. Praying for you. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.
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God bless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) - Episode Summary: Day 63: Israel's Rebellion
Podcast Information:
In Day 63 of "The Bible in a Year" podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz delves into the turbulent period of Israel's rebellion as narrated in Numbers 14 and Deuteronomy 12, accompanied by reflections on Psalm 95. This episode explores the profound consequences of the Israelites' lack of faith, the significance of centralized worship, and the timeless lessons applicable to contemporary life.
Fr. Mike begins by reading Numbers 14, which recounts the Israelites' rebellion following the negative report by ten spies who scouted the Promised Land. Instead of preparing strategically, the people's fear led them to despair and suggest returning to Egypt.
Rebellion and Murmuring: The Israelites lamented, saying, “Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” (01:21). This reflects a deep-seated fear and distrust in God's promises.
Moses’ Intercession: Faced with God's threat to disinherit the people due to their lack of faith, Moses pleads, “O Lord, are in the midst of this people...” (03:12). His plea highlights the power of intercession and the human capacity to seek mercy.
God's Judgment: The Lord decrees that the current generation will perish in the wilderness, “And they shall bear your iniquity forty years” (05:59), emphasizing the severe consequences of collective disobedience.
Survivors: Only Joshua and Caleb are exempted, symbolizing unwavering faith and the rewards of obedience (06:18).
Transitioning to Deuteronomy 12, Fr. Mike reads Moses' final instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Destruction of Pagan Shrines: Moses commands, “You shall surely destroy all the places... where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods” (07:43). This underscores the importance of purity in worship and the rejection of idolatry.
Centralized Worship: Emphasis is placed on worshiping at a singular, divinely chosen location: “You shall seek the place which the Lord your God will choose” (08:17). This centralization fosters community and prevents syncretism.
Proper Sacrifices and Offerings: Detailed instructions are given regarding the handling of sacrifices, tithes, and offerings, highlighting the sanctity and orderliness required in worship practices (09:11).
Fr. Mike concludes the readings with Psalm 95, a profound invitation to worship and heed God's voice.
Invitation to Worship: “Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord... Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving” (13:03) invites believers to approach God with joy and gratitude.
Warning Against Hardheartedness: The Psalmist warns, “Do not harden your hearts... They do not regard my ways” (13:39), echoing the Israelites' earlier rebellion and the dangers of stubbornness.
Fr. Mike Schmitz offers deep insights into the scriptures, drawing parallels between the Israelites' experiences and modern-day challenges.
Impact of Fear: Fr. Mike observes that the Israelites' rebellion was fueled by fear rather than strategic planning. “The heart of the slave that still beat in the chest of the people... saying, let's just go back to Egypt” (16:45). This illustrates how fear can undermine faith and lead to paralysis in decision-making.
Lesson for Today: He emphasizes the responsibility of adults and those in leadership to confront personal and communal fears. Failure to address these can result in future generations bearing the burdens of unaddressed struggles. “If we're not willing to do that fighting... then who's going to have to battle?” (18:03).
Order in Worship: By mandating a single place of worship, Moses aimed to cultivate unity and prevent the dilution of worship practices. Fr. Mike relates this to contemporary worship, advocating for integrity and sincerity over fragmented or superficial practices.
Modern Application: He encourages listeners to engage in worship "in spirit and in truth," aligning their practices with genuine faith rather than scattered or conflicting beliefs.
Guardians of Faith: Fr. Mike underscores the importance of those in positions of authority to lead by example, fighting against modern forms of "slavery" such as addiction or generational curses. “If we've been given a position of authority... it's our responsibility... to fight so that our children don't have to fight” (19:34).
Empowerment Over Control: This perspective fosters a proactive approach to faith, where believers are encouraged to take initiative in their spiritual battles, ensuring a legacy of faith and resilience for future generations.
The episode wraps up with a heartfelt prayer inspired by Psalm 90, where Fr. Mike petitions for God's love to dispel fear, courage to face uncertainties, and strength to resist the paralyzing effects of fear and insecurity. He reinforces the theme of collective and individual responsibility in nurturing faith and combating spiritual and personal challenges.
Fr. Mike concludes by reminding listeners of the ongoing journey through their personal wilderness towards the Promised Land, encouraging continual prayer and community support.
Timestamps:
Final Thoughts
Day 63 of "The Bible in a Year" offers a poignant exploration of faith, obedience, and leadership. Fr. Mike Schmitz masterfully intertwines scriptural narratives with contemporary applications, urging listeners to embrace trust in God, uphold the sanctity of worship, and shoulder their responsibilities to foster a legacy of faith and freedom for future generations. This episode serves as both a reflective study of ancient texts and a practical guide for modern believers navigating their spiritual journeys.