The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: Day 9 – Sodom and Gomorrah (2026)
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through the dramatic Bible narratives of Genesis 18 and 19 (the foretelling of Isaac’s birth and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah), Job 7–8 (Job’s continued lament and Bildad’s response), and Proverbs 2:1–5 (the call to receive wisdom). The central themes are the complex nature of God’s justice, the reality of human suffering and unanswered questions, and the distinction between actions recorded in scripture and their moral value.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Visit of the Three Men to Abraham (Genesis 18)

• Abraham receives three mysterious visitors, showing generosity and hospitality.
• The visitors foretell that Sarah will have a son, despite her old age. Sarah laughs in disbelief, prompting a gentle rebuke from the Lord.
  • Quote: “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Abraham’s visitors, 04:41)

2. Abraham’s Intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18)

• Abraham pleads with God not to destroy Sodom if righteous people can be found, bargaining God down from 50 to 10 righteous individuals.
  • Quote: “[Abraham said] ‘Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?’” (Abraham, 08:47)
• God’s justice is depicted as measured and rooted in mercy, not vengeance.

3. The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19)

• Two angels arrive in Sodom. Lot insists on hosting them, foreshadowing the city’s moral depravity.
• The men of Sodom demand that Lot hand over his guests; Lot offers his daughters instead, highlighting the town's corruption and Lot’s desperation.
• The angels intervene and announce the city’s impending destruction; Lot, his wife, and daughters are urged to flee. Lot’s wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
  • Quote: “The Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.” (Narration, 15:28)
• Lot’s daughters, believing they are the last survivors, commit incest with their father to preserve their line, giving rise to the Moabite and Ammonite peoples.

4. The Moral Complexity of Genesis

• Fr. Mike addresses the disturbing actions depicted—Lot’s offer of his daughters, the incest, the destruction of entire cities.
• He stresses a vital principle:
  • Quote: “Just because something’s in the Bible doesn’t mean that it’s good.” (Fr. Mike, 22:12)
• The negative outcomes (the founding of Israel’s enemies, the Moabites and the Ammonites, from Lot’s daughters) show the scripture’s implicit condemnation.

5. Reflections on Justice vs. Vengeance (Fr. Mike’s Commentary)

• Focus on the distinction between justice and vengeance:
  • “Justice is giving someone what is their due; vengeance is, again, taking out my anger upon somebody.” (Fr. Mike, 20:43)
• God’s willingness to spare the city for the sake of a few righteous underlines divine justice, not arbitrary wrath.

6. The Suffering of Job (Job 7–8)

• Job continues to express anguish, comparing human life to that of a hireling—full of toil and pain.
  • Quote: “Has not a man a hard service upon earth?...My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, they come to their end without hope.” (Job, 29:17)
• Bildad, the second of Job’s friends, argues that God is just and suffering comes as a result of wrongdoing.
• Fr. Mike notes the inadequacy and hurtfulness of “pat answers” during suffering; Job’s friends’ theology, though well-intentioned, adds to his pain.

7. The Problem of Evil (Fr. Mike’s Reflection)

• Fr. Mike discusses the enduring question: If God is just, why do good people suffer?
  • Quote: “If God is just, why is there so much evil in the world? Why do good people suffer?” (Fr. Mike, 25:12)
• He encourages listeners not to look for a neat answer in Job, but instead to accompany Job in his questions.
  • “The story is not going to end with an answer. The answer is not ‘why’; the answer is ‘who.’” (Fr. Mike, 26:52)

8. The (Implied) Theological Takeaways

• Scripture sometimes presents evil actions factually, yet expects readers to discern their moral standing by observing the consequences.
• God’s justice is ultimately rooted in mercy and patience.
• Human suffering and divine justice are complex and not always understandable; faith calls listeners to trust and accompany those who suffer even without all the answers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• 04:41 – “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, and Sarah shall have a son.”
• 08:47 – “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” – Abraham’s plea for justice.
• 15:28 – “The Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.”
• 20:43 – Fr. Mike: “Justice is giving someone what is their due; vengeance is, again, taking out my anger upon somebody.”
• 22:12 – Fr. Mike: “Just because something’s in the Bible doesn’t mean that it’s good.”
• 25:12 – Fr. Mike: “If God is just, why is there so much evil in the world? Why do good people suffer?”
• 26:52 – Fr. Mike: “The story is not going to end with an answer. The answer is not ‘why’; the answer is ‘who.’”

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:04 – Introduction and overview of readings and Bible translation
• 01:00 – 18:40 – Reading of Genesis 18–19 (Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s family)
• 18:41 – 23:14 – Reading of Job 7–8 (Job’s lament, Bildad’s speech)
• 23:15 – 23:50 – Reading of Proverbs 2:1–5 (call to wisdom)
• 23:51 – 28:14 – Fr. Mike’s commentary and theological reflection

Tone and Language

Fr. Mike balances a serious, reflective tone with moments of pastoral warmth (“You guys, oh man. Confusing, right?”), acknowledges the disturbing content frankly, and consistently invites listeners to engage deeply, ask questions, and journey with the characters of scripture rather than expecting easy answers.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode offers a gripping retelling and thoughtful analysis of some of the Bible’s most difficult passages, wrestling honestly with questions of justice, evil, and suffering. Both the stories of Abraham and Job invite the listener to grapple with faith amid ambiguity—trusting God’s goodness and justice even when the ‘answers’ are not all clear. Fr. Mike’s transparent guidance encourages an attitude of humility, perseverance, and trust in the One who ultimately holds the answers.