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

Episode: Introduction to the Maccabean Revolt (with Jeff Cavins), Ascension
Air Date: October 9, 2025

Overview

This special episode welcomes back biblical scholar Jeff Cavins for an in-depth introduction to the Maccabean Revolt period. Fr. Mike Schmitz and Cavins explore not only the historical and biblical context of 1 and 2 Maccabees, but also reflect on the role of the so-called "Deuterocanonical books" in the Catholic canon. The discussion bridges the critical gap between the Old and New Testaments, showing how this turbulent era set the stage for the coming of the Messiah.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context: Where Are We in Salvation History?

• Having just finished the "Return from Exile" period, the podcast moves into the era of the Maccabean Revolt—a central but sometimes overlooked part of biblical history. (00:04–01:29)
  • Fr. Mike: "We've just left the return after the exile, and now the people of Israel are back in the land of Judah."
• Jeff Cavins highlights this as "one of the most underrated periods and one of the most important periods in setting the table for the Messiah for Jesus to come onto the scene." (00:51)

2. The Deuterocanonical Books: Why Are They Here?

• Both hosts explain the difference between the Catholic and Protestant canons and the historical reasons for these differences.
  • Jeff Cavins: "Did we as Catholics add seven books or did Protestants take away seven books? ... The answer is neither... The early church used what was called the Septuagint... which had Maccabees and some of these others." (02:13–04:51)
• Fr. Mike addresses the sense of unfamiliarity or suspicion some may have about these books, encouraging listeners to remain open.
  • "One of the temptations... we have to be aware of and face is the temptation towards suspicion in our own hearts." (04:51–06:49)

3. Historical Background: The World of the Maccabees

• Cavins uses the mnemonic "Eat a Big Purple Grape" to recall Israel's historical enemies: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. (06:49–08:45)
  • This sets the stage for the "rise of the Greek culture, Hellenization, and the star is Alexander the Great."
• Discussion of Alexander the Great’s transformation of the world and his sudden death, leading to the rule of the Ptolemies and Seleucids. (08:47–10:39)
• The Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes' persecution of the Jews, desecration of the Temple, and the forced violation of Jewish law—leading directly to the revolt.
  • Cavins: "He is like the devil on wheels." (10:08)
  • Fr. Mike: "...those older kings have just, like, did horrible things." (10:46)

4. The Maccabean Revolt and Hanukkah

• The rebellion led by the family from Modin (Judas Maccabeus and his brothers) is recounted, along with the miracle celebrated at Hanukkah.
  • Cavins: "They rededicated the Temple... a miracle took place ... and the temple was rededicated and they had the Hanukkah." (12:55–13:28)
• Jesus' participation in Hanukkah, drawing the connection between the Old Testament tradition and Christ as the light of the world. (12:55–13:28)

5. Stories of Faith, Martyrdom, and Refusal to Compromise

• Second Maccabees chapter 7 is highlighted: the martyrdom of a mother and her seven sons for refusing to break Jewish law.
  • Cavins: "It is so, so heroic. ... I see the Blessed Virgin Mary... who stood and she watched her son who was crucified, who died for the sins of the world." (13:59–16:09)
• Fr. Mike: "That sense of a refusal to compromise, which is just ... in our hearts, often like, well, the Lord wouldn't want me to suffer... but he does want us to be faithful." (16:54)
• The broader theme: faithfulness in adversity and “refusal to compromise” echoing both in ancient and modern circumstances. (16:54–17:39)

6. Prayer for the Dead and the Communion of Saints

• Cavins points to 2 Maccabees 12:38-46 as an early biblical example of praying for the dead—significant for Catholic doctrine.
  • Cavins: "When people say, well, why do you guys pray to dead people? Our answer is, we do not talk to dead people. We talk to alive people. We talk to people who are alive in Christ." (17:39–19:00)

7. The Fate of the Ark of the Covenant

• 2 Maccabees chapter 2 recounts Jeremiah hiding the Ark, which is later interpreted as a foreshadowing of Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant. (19:00–21:33)
  • Cavins: "Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant, because out of her womb comes the word of God, the manna from heaven, the Eucharist, and he is the great high priest." (20:49)

8. Establishing the Stage for the Messiah

• Transition from the Greek to Roman eras:
  • Explains the rise of Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus, and the Roman Empire as the immediate background for Jesus’ birth.
  • The “Son of God,” “Prince of Peace,” and bearer of “Good News” titles for Caesar Augustus directly frame the claims made about Christ. (22:22–25:52)
    • Cavins: “Caesar Augustus is known as the son of God, the Prince of Peace, and the one who ushered in the good news for the world. Have we heard this before?” (25:50)
    • Fr. Mike: "Well those sound familiar, those terms?" (25:50)
• The connection: the Maccabean period is essential for grasping the immediate historical and cultural context into which Jesus is born.

9. Hope and Relevance Today

• Cavins closes with a powerful application:
  • "People are looking for a brighter future and someone to trust... But I want to encourage all of our listeners, Father, that, yeah, we might see difficult things going on in politics ... but the truth is, we were just on the edge of it going everywhere." (27:31)
  • Catechism 1: “God has a plan of sheer goodness. ... If we stay with that plan and his faithfulness, we're going to see that God will prevail. Don't give up.” (27:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Deuterocanonical Books:
  • Jeff Cavins [02:13]: "Did we as Catholics add seven books or did Protestants take away seven books? ... The answer is neither."
• On Suspicion Toward Unfamiliar Scriptures:
  • Fr. Mike [05:43]: "One of the battles or one of the temptations, one of the things we have to be aware of and face, is the temptation towards suspicion in our own hearts."
• Heroism in 2 Maccabees 7:
  • Jeff Cavins [14:10]: "They were arrested along with her by Antiochus Epiphanes ... killed the sons one by one in front of this unflinching, this powerful woman. And that is so, so heroic."
  • Fr. Mike [16:53]: "I can't even pretend to violate this because what kind of scandal I would give... the refusal to compromise."
• On Prayer for the Dead and Communion of Saints:
  • Jeff Cavins [18:30]: "We do not talk to dead people. We talk to alive people. We talk to people who are alive in Christ..."
• On the Political and Spiritual Transition:
  • Jeff Cavins [26:00]: "This is the stage, Father, that is set now for a baby to be born in Bethlehem who is the son of God, who is the Prince of Peace, and who is going to usher in the good news for the world."
• Hope for Today:
  • Jeff Cavins [27:52]: "God has a plan of sheer goodness. ... If we stay with that plan and his faithfulness, we're going to see that God will prevail. Don't give up."
• The Final Spoiler:
  • Jeff Cavins [30:48]: "Father Mike and I have both read the end of the Bible, and I'm going to give you a little spoiler. We win. We win. Okay?"

Important Timestamps

• 00:04 – 01:29: Introduction & framing of the Maccabean period
• 02:13 – 04:51: Discussion of the canon and Deuterocanonical books
• 06:49 – 10:39: Greek rule, Alexander the Great, Hellenization
• 10:39 – 12:55: Seleucid rule, Antiochus Epiphanes’ persecution
• 12:55 – 13:28: Hanukkah and the Temple’s rededication
• 13:59 – 16:09: 2 Maccabees 7 – Martyrdom and Marian parallels
• 17:39 – 19:00: 2 Maccabees 12 – Intercessory prayer and the Communion of Saints
• 19:00 – 21:33: 2 Maccabees 2 – Fate of the Ark and Marian typology
• 22:22 – 26:17: Greeks to Romans transition, Caesar Augustus, messianic expectations
• 27:31 – 28:48: Relevance for today; faith, hope, and God’s plan
• 30:48: Final encouragement and “spoiler” ending

Takeaways & Listening Guide

• As you enter the readings on the Maccabean period, keep an open heart. Both Fr. Mike and Jeff Cavins encourage listeners, regardless of background, to allow this unfamiliar but critical part of Scripture to expand their understanding of salvation history.
• Look for the larger themes of faithfulness, hope, refusal to compromise, and God’s sovereignty at work behind politics and persecution.
• Connect the historical stage—especially the “Greek to Roman” transition—to the familiar language and claims of Jesus in the Gospels.
• Remember that the struggles and uncertainties faced by God’s people then have profound parallels for listeners today.
• Spoiler alert: God’s faithful win in the end.