Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)

Summary

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) – Episode: Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2025)
Release Date: March 31, 2025

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Overview

In Day 90 of Ascension's The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz delves into the narratives of Ruth and Boaz, intertwining them with the concluding chapters of Judges. This episode spans the reading of Judges chapters 4 and 5, alongside Ruth chapter 2, exploring themes of faithfulness, hope, and divine providence. Through comprehensive scripture readings, insightful reflections, and guided prayer, Fr. Mike and his co-host illuminate the intricate tapestry of salvation history, emphasizing how these ancient stories resonate in the lives of believers today.

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Biblical Readings

Judges Chapters 4-5: Deborah, Barak, Sisera, and Jael

The episode begins with the story of Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel, who alongside Barak, leads the Israelites against the Canaanite king Jabin and his commander Sisera. The narrative highlights the oppression of the Israelites for twenty years and their cry for divine intervention. Deborah's prophetic leadership and Barak's military response culminate in the dramatic defeat of Sisera, aided by Jael, a woman who delivers the final blow to the enemy commander.

Notable Passage:

“Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh... [Judges 4:6]”
(00:59)

Ruth Chapter 2: Ruth Meets Boaz

Transitioning to the story of Ruth, the episode recounts her return to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth's dedication leads her to glean in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's late husband. Boaz's kindness and protection towards Ruth illustrate the themes of loyalty and divine favor, setting the stage for their eventual union.

Notable Passage:

“Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.’”
(10:35)

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Reflections and Insights

Fr. Mike Schmitz offers profound reflections on the interconnectedness of the stories of Deborah and Ruth, drawing parallels between their faithfulness and the overarching narrative of salvation.

Faithfulness Amidst Adversity

Fr. Mike emphasizes Ruth's unwavering loyalty despite the tragedies that have befallen her. He states:

“Ruth, we're going to get back to Deborah or Sisera... this is maybe the first day where there's been hope in Ruth's life in a really long time.”
(15:04)

This underscores the significance of maintaining faith even when circumstances seem bleak, highlighting that moments of divine intervention often emerge from periods of steadfastness.

Hope and Divine Promises

Connecting to Genesis 3:15, Fr. Mike discusses the foreshadowing of God's promise of a redeemer:

“...a foreshadowing of the fulfillment of what God had promised... ultimately, that crushing is done by Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate redeemer...”
(18:00)

He illustrates how the violent yet pivotal actions of Jael in Judges prefigure the ultimate defeat of evil through Christ, reinforcing the theme of hope prevailing over darkness.

Encouragement in Dark Times

Fr. Mike addresses listeners facing personal hardships:

“You might be in a place right now where you're wondering, like, where is the hope for me?... But remember that it takes sometimes a long time. We're going to hear that a thousand to God, a thousand years are like a single day...”
(17:33)

He encourages believers to seek glimmers of hope and remain faithful, assuring them that divine support accompanies their journey.

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Prayer

The episode includes a heartfelt prayer reflecting on the stories of Ruth and Boaz, asking for strength to remain faithful and hopeful in challenging times.

Key Excerpts:

“Lord, help us to be faithful to not only our relationships, our families, but also faithful to you, Lord God, when things are difficult...”
(14:51)

“We make this prayer in the name of Jesus our Lord, Amen...”
(15:29)

This prayer encapsulates the episode's themes, invoking divine assistance in maintaining faithfulness and recognizing God's unwavering presence.

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Conclusion

Fr. Mike Schmitz wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of faithfulness and hope, drawing inspiration from Ruth's story to encourage listeners in their spiritual journeys.

Final Reflections:

“I'm praying that not only that you walk in faithfulness and that I walk in faithfulness, but also if you were walking in darkness... you are not alone. We do not walk alone. We continue to pray for each other. And God is with you.”
(19:49)

He emphasizes community and mutual support in faith, reinforcing the message that God's promises remain steadfast even in the darkest of times.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Fr. Mike Schmitz:
  “Fr. Mike says, 'This is maybe the first day where there's been hope in Ruth's life in a really long time.'"
  (15:04)

• Fr. Mike Schmitz:
  “...that day of the glimmer of light shines upon you very, very soon.”
  (19:52)

• Fr. Mike Schmitz:
  “...the head of the enemy will be crushed. And we know that the head of the enemy is crushed by the offspring of the woman. Ultimately, that crushing is done by Jesus Christ...”
  (18:54)

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Key Takeaways

• Interconnected Stories: The narratives of Deborah and Ruth are intertwined, showcasing different facets of leadership, bravery, and faithfulness.

• Faith in Action: Ruth's dedication to Naomi and her proactive steps in gleaning reflect a living faith that seeks out blessings even in humble circumstances.

• Divine Providence: The episode highlights how God's promises, though sometimes fulfilled through unexpected means, remain central to the biblical narrative.

• Hope in Darkness: Fr. Mike encourages listeners to find hope amidst adversity, drawing parallels between biblical stories and personal struggles.

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This episode serves as a testament to the enduring power of faithfulness and the ever-present hope found in divine promises. Through the stories of Deborah, Ruth, and Boaz, listeners are reminded of the intricate ways God's plan unfolds, offering guidance and inspiration for their own spiritual journeys.

Transcript

[Unknown Host]

Before we get started, I just wanted to offer a quick thank you to all those who have supported the Catechism in a Year or the Bible in a Year podcast. We hear stories every day about how those shows have transformed people's lives and because of your prayers and financial gifts, you are a significant part of that. You might ask a question though. Question is, what does Ascension do with these financial gifts? Great question. The answer is we make authentically Catholic podcasts and videos and other digital content to help people know the Catholic faith and grow closer to God. And we do it all for free. If you found this podcast to be helpful in your life and would like to help us continue making free Catholic content we can post online, please consider making a financial contribution, an ongoing financial contribution, by going to ascensionpress.comsupport that's ascensionpress.comsupport.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Thank you and God bless. Hi, my name is Fr. Mike Schmitz and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast where we encounter God's voice and live life through.

[Unknown Co-Host]

The lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. Today is day 90. Oh my gosh you guys. What a phenomenal milestone that is. Three months if every month had 30 days. Day 90 we're reading judges chapters four.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And five, Ruth chapter two, following her.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Story for just a short story, but a powerful, important story.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And we're praying today from Psalm 134. As always, I'm reading from the Revised.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm always using the Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to get your own.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com Bibleina year. You also can subscribe in your podcast.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

App to receive daily episodes. Once again, this is day 90, judges four and five. I already gave the disclaimer yesterday, but.

[Unknown Co-Host]

It is a violent book and it.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Is all the things the Judges do are not always great. They do fight for the people and they do make decisions that are their best judgment. But sometimes their best judgment, we would say could be better. Ruth's story is going to continue as she and Naomi have gone back to Bethlehem, her mother in law, Naomi back.

[Unknown Co-Host]

To her mother in law's homeland. And here is Ruth and Naomi, destitute.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And hoping that the Lord will care for them. But today, once again, starting with Judges Chapter four and Chapter five, the Book of Judges, Chapter Four Deborah and Barak.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And the sons of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. After Ehud died, and the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth, Hagoim. Then the sons of Israel cried to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron. And they oppressed the sons of Israel cruelly. For 20 years now. Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at the time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. And the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam, from Kadesh and Naphtali, and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Said to him, the Lord, the God of Israel commands you go gather your.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun, and I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

His chariots and his troops, and I.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Will give him into your hand.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Barak said to her, if you will.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And she said, I will surely go with you.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kadesh. And Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to kadesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him. Now Heber the Kenite had separated from.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Kenites the descendants of Hohab, the father in law of Moses, and had.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Pitched his tent as far away as.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The oak in Zananim, which is near Kadesh.

[Unknown Co-Host]

When Sisera was told that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him from Harosheth, Chagoim, to the river Kishon. And Deborah said to Barak, up for this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you? So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him, and the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak at the edge of the sword. And Sisera Alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth, Hagoim. And all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword. Not a man was left. Jael kills Sisera. But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

For there was peace between Jebin, the king of Hazor, and the house of Heber the Kenite.

[Unknown Co-Host]

When Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, turn aside, my lord. Turn aside to me. Have no fear. So he turned aside to her into the tent. And she covered him with a rug. And he said to her, please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty. So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. And he said to her, stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, is anyone here?

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Say, no.

[Unknown Co-Host]

But Jael, the wife of Heber, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple till it went down into the ground. As he was lying fast asleep from.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Weariness, so he died.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

To him, come, and I will show.

[Unknown Co-Host]

You the man whom you are seeking. So he went into her tent and there lay Sisera dead with the tent.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Peg in his temple.

[Unknown Co-Host]

So on that day, God subdued Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the sons of Israel. And the hand of the sons of Israel bore harder and harder on Jabin, the king of Canaan, until they destroyed.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Jabin, king of Canaan.

[Unknown Co-Host]

The song of Deborah then sang Deborah.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And Barak, the son of Abinoam. On that day that the leaders took.

[Unknown Co-Host]

The lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly blessed the Lord. Hear, O kings. Give ear, O princes, to the Lord. I will sing. I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel. Lord, when you went forth from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water, the mountains quaked before the Lord, the one of Sinai. Before the Lord, the God of Israel. In the days of Shamgar, son of Anathema, in the days of Jael, caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byways. The peasantry ceased in Israel. They ceased until you arose. Deborah arose as a mother in Israel. When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Among 40,000 in Israel.

[Unknown Co-Host]

My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Bless the Lord.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Tell of it, you who ride on tawny donkeys, who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way to the sound of musicians at the watering places. There they repeat the triumphs of the Lord, the triumphs of his peasantry in Israel. Then down to the gates marched the people of the Lord. Awake, Awake, Deborah. Awake, awake.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Utter a song.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Arise, Barak. Lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. Then down marched the remnant of the noble. The people of the Lord marched down.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

For him against the mighty.

[Unknown Co-Host]

From Ephraim they set out there into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen. From Makir marched down the commanders and from Zebulun, those who bear the marshal's staff. The princes of Issachar came with Deborah and Issachar, faithful to Barak. Into the valley they rushed forth at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Why did you tarry among the sheepfolds.

[Unknown Co-Host]

To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he abide with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, settling down by his landings. Zebulun is a people that jeoparded their lives to the death. Naphtali too.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

On the heights of the field the kings came. They fought, then fought the kings of.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Canaan at Tanakh by the waters of Megiddo. They got no spoils of silver. From heaven fought the stars.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

From their courses they fought against Sisera.

[Unknown Co-Host]

The torrent Kishon swept them away. The onrushing torrent. The torrent of Kishon. March on my soul with might. Then loud beat the horses hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds. Curse, Mraz, says the angel of the Lord. Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they came not to the help of the Lord. To the help of the Lord against the mighty. Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber, the canite of tent dwelling women. Most blessed. He asked for water and she gave him milk. She brought him curds in lordly bowl. She put her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workman's mallet. She struck Sisera a blow. She crushed his head. She shattered and pierced his temple. He sank. He fell. He lay still at her feet. At her feet he sank. He fell. And where he sank there he fell dead out of the window. She peered.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The mother of Sisera gazed through the lattice.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry? Her wisest ladies make answer no. She gives answer to herself. Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? A maiden or two for every man. Spoil of dyed stuffs for Sisera, spoil of dyed stuffs embroidered. Two pieces of dyed work embroidered for my neck.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

As spoil, so perish all your enemies.

[Unknown Co-Host]

O Lord, but your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And the land had rest for 40 years. The book of Ruth chapter two.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Ruth meets Boaz. Now Naomi had a kinsman of her.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Husband'S, a man of wealth, of the.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth, the Moabitess said to Naomi, let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said to her, go, my daughter.

[Unknown Co-Host]

So she set forth and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And he said to the reapers, the.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Lord be with you.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And they answered, the Lord bless you.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, whose maiden is this?

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, it is the.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Moabite maiden who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now without resting even for a moment.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Then Boaz said to Ruth, now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field, or leave this one.

[Unknown Co-Host]

But keep close to my maidens. Let your eyes be upon the field which they are reaping, and go after them.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Have I not charged the young men.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Not to molest you?

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And when you are thirsty, go to.

[Unknown Co-Host]

The vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Then she fell on her face, bowing.

[Unknown Co-Host]

To the ground, and said to him, why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me when I am a foreigner? But Boaz answered her, all that you have done for your mother in law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me. And how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before the Lord recompense you for.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

What you have done.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And a Full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. And she said, you are most gracious.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

To me, my lord, for you have.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Comforted me and spoken kindly to your.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Maidservant, though I am not one of your maidservants.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And at mealtime Boaz said to her, come here and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the wine. So she sat beside the reapers, and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

He passed to her parched grain, and.

[Unknown Co-Host]

She ate until she was satisfied and.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

She had some left over.

[Unknown Co-Host]

When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her, and also pull out from among the bundles for her, and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her. So she gleaned in the field until.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Evening, and she beat out what she.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Had gleaned, and it was an ephah of barley, and she took it up and went into the city. She showed her mother in law what she had gleaned, and she also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. And her mother in law said to her, where did you glean today, and where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you. So she told her mother in law with whom she had worked, and said, the name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz. And Naomi said to her daughter in law, blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead. Naomi also said to her, the man.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And Ruth, the Moabitess said besides, he said to me, you shall keep close by my servants till they have finished all my harvest. And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

In law, it is well, my daughter.

[Unknown Co-Host]

That you go out with his maidens, lest in another field you be molested. So she kept close to the maidens of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother in law.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Psalm 134 Praise in the night a song of ascents Come, bless the Lord.

[Unknown Co-Host]

All you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

The Lord, lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord.

[Unknown Co-Host]

May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Father in heaven we give you praise. We give you thanks. Wow. Just even Lord God, hearing the story of the faithfulness of this woman who.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Did not know you.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

This, this Woman, Ruth, who did not know you, and yet she was faithful.

[Unknown Co-Host]

To what she did know.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

She was faithful to her mother in law. And Lord, you're blessing her in this story. You're blessing not only Ruth, but also.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Naomi, also Boaz, this man who will be blessed, and also the people of.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Israel who will receive a king through this incredible woman, this woman of faithfulness. Lord God, help us to be the faithful like Ruth. Help us to be faithful to not only our relationships, our families, but also faithful to you, Lord God, when things are difficult and things are dark, and it seems like our faithfulness is only met with trouble, and where it would seem like it'd be so much easier.

[Unknown Co-Host]

To be unfaithful, help us to hold.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

On and cling to you in the darkness. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus our Lord, Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. And that is something I want to just highlight. Just, gosh, oh man, Ruth, we're going to get back to Deborah or Sisera.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Jael, all those folks. But just a second, let's highlight Ruth.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

For one second because it's kind of easy to read Ruth chapter two today and think what a massively blessed person. I mean, how you know, kind of.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Look at them and say, oh, man, lucky.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

When it comes to Ruth, we have to remember that this is one day in Ruth's life. It is maybe the first day of blessing in Ruth's life. Recall her life back in Moab. She married this man, this son of Naomi and Elimelech, and imagine she had plans for a full life with this man of family, with this man.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And what happens? Not only does her father in law die, which puts the family in trouble, but then her brother in law dies.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Which puts the family in trouble.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And then her husband dies, which puts the family in trouble.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And for the entire time of this last past recent history of her life.

[Unknown Co-Host]

She'S been in trouble.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

With no guarantees, with no promises, with no certainty that things will ever get better. And yet she kept walking in faithfulness with Naomi, just knowing, okay, this is all I know.

[Unknown Co-Host]

All I know is Naomi is a.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Good mother in law and I will be faithful to her. Where she goes, I will go.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Where she dies, I will die. But. And her God will be my God, her people will be my people.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

And in the midst of that, you have this one day, this one day that she goes out and she works really hard. And for whatever reason, Boaz notices her and he protects her and guards her. This is the first time she's been.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Protected and guarded, man, maybe since.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Maybe since her husband was alive. And so let's not jump to the idea that here is this easy life for Ruth. This is maybe the first day where there's been hope in Ruth's life in a really long time.

[Unknown Co-Host]

And the first day where there's been.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Hope in Naomi's life in a really long time. And you might be in a place right now where you're wondering, like, where is the hope for me? Because I've been walking, trying to do my best to be faithful. And it's been a really long time since I've had hope. But remember that it takes sometimes a long time. We're going to hear that a thousand to God, a thousand years are like a single day, and a single day are like a thousand years.

[Unknown Co-Host]

But there are glimmers of hope in every one of our lives, if we're.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Willing to look for it.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Think about one of the darkest days.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

In the history of humanity. The darkest day that we've read so far has been Genesis, chapter three.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Right?

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

Genesis, chapter three. Where Adam and Eve are first parents, where they rebel against the Lord, they disobey against God. And what happens is they experience the consequences of their disobedience. But what happens also is God promises a redeemer. In Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, God.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Says to the serpent, I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. That's just so good. Why? What am I talking about? Well, hope and God's promises. Because here, in this story of Deborah and Barak and Sisera and Jael, what we have is a foreshadowing of the fulfillment of what God had promised. I know that might sound strange, but.

[Unknown Co-Host]

It'S a foreshadowing of a fulfillment of.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

What God has promised. Where in Judges, chapter four, there is this woman, Jael. And what does she do? She crushes the head of the enemy, Sisera. And I know for us it is very violent. For her it was very violent. And yet it is a foreshadowing of the fulfillment of Genesis, chapter 3, verse 15, that the head of the enemy will be crushed. And we know that the head of the enemy is crushed by the offspring of the woman. Ultimately, that crushing is done by Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate redeemer, the ultimate judge, the ultimate warrior who's fighting for his people. And he's the one to whom we belong, and he's the one in whom we place all of our trust. So even when we walk in darkness, we can also walk in hope, knowing that in the course of a single instant, in the course of one day, everything can change. I'm praying for that.

[Unknown Co-Host]

For you.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

That not only that you walk in.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Faithfulness and that I walk in faithfulness, but also if you were walking in darkness.

[Fr. Mike Schmitz]

I'm praying that that day of the glimmer of light shines upon you very, very soon. Because you're not alone. We do not walk alone. We continue to pray for each other. And God is with you. So I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow.

[Unknown Co-Host]

God bless.