2026

From The Bible in a Year — Fr. Mike Schmitz

Daily episodes for 2026.

Episodes

Day 309: Praying for the Dead (2026) 2026-11-05
Fr. Mike breaks down the doctrine of purgatory as we read about Judas Maccabeus and his army praying for the dead in 2 Maccabees 12. We learn that…
Day 308: Little by Little (2026) 2026-11-04
Fr. Mike highlights how God fights as a heavenly ally with the people of Israel in 2 Maccabees 11, and encourages us to actively fight alongside God…
Day 307: Courage in Battle (2026) 2026-11-03
Today, Fr. Mike discusses the confidence that faith in God can provide as we fight the battles of our lives. He also engages with the riddles found…
Day 306: Wisdom Is Beautiful (2026) 2026-11-02
Fr. Mike draws our attention to the descriptions of wisdom found in our readings for today and reflects on the beauty of wisdom’s feminine nature.…
Day 305: The Defender (2026) 2026-11-01
As we hear the re-telling of the story of Judas Maccabbeus and his brothers fighting for the honor of the Lord's Temple in 2 Maccabees, Fr. Mike…
Day 304: Life Beyond Death (2026) 2026-10-31
Fr. Mike focuses on the powerful theme that connects all of our readings today- the reality of life beyond death. In the story of the martyrdom of…
Day 303: Eleazar's Martyrdom (2026) 2026-10-30
Fr. Mike offers a recap of Eleazar's martyrdom and marvels at Eleazar's courage to avoid both sin, and the temptation to lead others into sin. As we…
Day 302: The Pursuit of Wisdom (2026) 2026-10-29
Fr. Mike concludes the book of Sirach today and encourages us to continue the pursuit of wisdom. In our reading of 2 Maccabees, we see again the…
Day 301: Rising Again (2026) 2026-10-28
As we begin to wrap up the Old Testament, Fr. Mike reflects on our reading from Sirach and what we have already learned on this journey through the…
Day 300: Conversion of Heart (2026) 2026-10-27
Fr. Mike provides context to the God-centered perspective of 2 Maccabees and compares it to the more secular perspective provided by 1 Maccabees. He…
Day 299: Jeremiah Hides the Ark (2026) 2026-10-26
Fr. Mike discusses the story of Jeremiah and the Ark of the Covenant, offering insight on where it was hidden and how that affected the people of…
Day 298: The Gift of Life (2026) 2026-10-25
Fr. Mike gives us context for the beginning of 2 Maccabees and recounts the story of Nehemiah’s discovery of the sacred fire. He also offers a…
Day 297: Using Good Things for Evil (2026) 2026-10-24
As we read from Proverbs and Sirach, Fr. Mike points out how everything God has made is good, but we can use those things for evil ends. We also…
Day 296: Know Your Heart (2026) 2026-10-23
As we begin to wrap up 1 Maccabees, Fr. Mike directs our attention to how 2 Maccabees will tell the same story in a different way. In Sirach, we are…
Day 295: Israel's Expectations (2026) 2026-10-22
Fr. Mike mirrors the story of 1 Maccabees and Israel’s expectations of continued success onto our own lives, emphasizing that God’s marvelous plan…
Day 294: Judea Gains Independence (2026) 2026-10-21
In our reading of 1 Maccabees today, Fr. Mike highlights the the establishment of the new independent sovereign nation of Israel in the land of…
Day 293: Discipline Grounded in Love (2026) 2026-10-20
Fr. Mike focuses on the theme of disciplining children, reflected in our readings from Sirach and Proverbs today. He clarifies that there is a…
Day 292: The Power of Words (2026) 2026-10-19
As we continue our journey in 1 Maccabees, Fr. Mike explains that this book of the Bible is unlike others because it narrates stories and events…
Day 291: The Rise of King Alexander (2026) 2026-10-18
Fr. Mike breaks down the dramatic events from our reading of 1 Maccabees today, including; Jonathan's new role as high priest, Demetrius' defeat in…
Day 290: Judas Maccabeus Dies (2026) 2026-10-17
Fr. Mike guides us through Judas Maccabeus' last battle, his death, and his succession. We learn that part of Judas and Jonathan's victory involved…
Day 289: Wise Influences (2026) 2026-10-16
Fr. Mike contextualizes our readings from 1 Maccabees today which covers the beginning of Roman rule over the Jewish people. Additionally, he…
Day 288: Battling Against Gossip (2026) 2026-10-15
Fr. Mike explains the importance of wisdom in our everyday lives when we face temptations to gossip, encouraging us in the battle for virtue,…
Day 287: Eleazar's Sacrifice (2026) 2026-10-14
Fr. Mike illustrates the story of Eleazar and the abandonment of peace terms between the Jews and the Greeks. He also recognizes the pain that…
Day 286: The Battle to Choose God (2026) 2026-10-13
Fr. Mike walks us through the current battles of Judas Maccabeus and the Israelite people, emphasizing that while war is violent, freedom to belong…
Day 285: Story of Hanukkah (2026) 2026-10-12
In today's reading from 1 Maccabees, we hear about the victory of Judas Maccabeus, which is also the story of Hanukkah. In Sirach, Fr. Mike points…
Day 284: Near Occasion of Sin (2026) 2026-10-11
Fr. Mike points out how advice from books like Proverbs and Sirach may not apply perfectly to every situation, but are meant to help guide us…
Day 283: Mattathias Attacks (2026) 2026-10-10
Fr. Mike clarifies the meaning behind Mattathias' zealous attack against the Greeks and his fellow Jews who were not obeying God's laws. From our…
Day 282: Antiochus Desecrates the Temple (2026) 2026-10-09
As we begin reading the first book of Maccabees today, Fr. Mike highlights the severe persecution against the Jews and the desecration of the Temple…
Day 281: Good and Evil (2026) 2026-10-08
Fr. Mike summarizes the final moments of the book of Nehemiah, when Nehemiah returns to find the people of Israel being unfaithful to God’s…
Day 280: The People of the Covenant (2026) 2026-10-07
Fr. Mike concludes the book of Esther and the book of Nehemiah by reflecting on the journey and resilience of the Jewish people thus far in the…
Day 279: Blessings and Burdens (2026) 2026-10-06
Fr. Mike offers a brief recap of today’s chapter from Nehemiah, identifying the difference between those who were able to live in Jerusalem and…
Day 278: Power in Weakness (2026) 2026-10-05
Fr. Mike walks us through the signing of the covenant in Nehemiah 10 and relates Israel’s collective decision to belong to God to our personal…
Day 277: Such a Time as This (2026) 2026-10-04
Today's readings remind us that all good things come from God, and he calls us to specific places and times for a reason. In the book of Esther, Fr.…
Day 276: Haman's Plan (2026) 2026-10-03
As Fr. Mike reads from Nehemiah today, we hear about how the hearts of the people of Israel were moved as Ezra reads the book of the law of Moses to…
Day 275: Esther Becomes Queen (2026) 2026-10-02
Fr. Mike continues reading from the book of Nehemiah as we read of the many attempts to prevent Nehemiah from doing the great work of God. We also…
Day 274: Perseverance in Opposition (2026) 2026-10-01
Fr. Mike continues to describe Nehemiah’s process of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and encountering a variety of challenges in his calling. He…
Day 273: The Lord's Work (2026) 2026-09-30
Fr. Mike continues discussing the call of Nehemiah and how we should approach the work the Lord calls us to do. He explains why all work is divine…
Day 272: The Call of Nehemiah (2026) 2026-09-29
Fr. Mike introduces the book of Nehemiah and takes us through Nehemiah’s exemplary response to the call of God as he does what God asks simply…
Day 271: Israel's Foreign Wives (2026) 2026-09-28
Fr. Mike discusses God’s instruction to the people of Israel not to marry women from foreign lands. He explains why God would provide this…
Day 270: God's Favor with Ezra (2026) 2026-09-27
Fr. Mike explains how God’s favor was with Ezra because he set his heart to study God's laws, to obey his laws, and to teach his laws to others. We…
Day 269: The Day of Small Things (2026) 2026-09-26
Fr. Mike encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God…
Day 268: Rebuilding the Temple (2026) 2026-09-25
Fr. Mike continues to take us through the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and the importance of moving on from the past to see what God is…
Day 267: Indifference and Apathy (2026) 2026-09-24
Fr. Mike introduces us to the books of Ezra and Haggai, explaining the Israelites' return to the promised land. He also warns us against apathy and…
Day 266: Son of the Father (2026) 2026-09-23
As we finish the Gospel of Matthew, Fr. Mike takes us through Christ's passion, explaining the meaning of "Barabbas", the importance of saints, and…
Day 265: Sins of Omission (2026) 2026-09-22
Fr. Mike explains sins of omission, and how these are some of the biggest deciding factors of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell: whether or…
Day 264: Preaching Without Practice (2026) 2026-09-21
Fr. Mike continues to explain the parables Christ recites in Jerusalem, specifically focusing on the dangers of preaching God's Word without…
Day 263: The Father's Generosity (2026) 2026-09-20
Fr. Mike takes us through various parables in Matthew such as the parable of the lost sheep, the merciful servant, and the laborers in the vineyard.…
Day 262: Miracle Worker (2026) 2026-09-19
As we read about the many miracles Jesus performs in today's readings from Matthew, Fr. Mike asserts the objective reality of those miracles and…
Day 261: Ornate Souls (2026) 2026-09-18
Fr. Mike explains the many parables we hear today in Matthew, including the return of the unclean spirit, and the danger of ornate souls. He…
Day 260: Carrying the Cross (2026) 2026-09-17
Fr. Mike reinforces Jesus' divinity as we read about how Jesus heals people physically, mentally, and spiritually and frees them from the enemy's…
Day 259: The Sermon on the Mount (2026) 2026-09-16
Fr. Mike reads the Sermon on the Mount and explains how Jesus' teachings powerfully fulfill the old testament law, and identify the broken human…
Day 258: The Kingdom Is Here (2026) 2026-09-15
Fr. Mike introduces us to the Gospel of Matthew, including his genealogy, nativity, and the first days of his ministry. He pulls it all together to…
Day 257: Choose to Love (2026) 2026-09-14
Fr. Mike finishes the book of Jeremiah and highlights the final moment of hope at the conclusion. We also read the book of Obadiah and Fr. Mike…
Day 256: Hard Seasons (2026) 2026-09-13
Fr. Mike encourages us to never stop talking to God, even in the hardest seasons of our lives. Much like yesterday's readings, we're seeing a lot of…
Day 255: God Is Good (2026) 2026-09-12
Fr. Mike guides us through another chapter of Jeremiah and connects it to the sorrow and pain we hear in Lamentations. He reminds us that, even with…
Day 254: Judgment of Nations (2026) 2026-09-11
Fr. Mike continues reading from the book of Jeremiah and emphasizes God’s judgment against the nations surrounding Israel. Fr. Mike also invites us…
Day 253: Lamentations of Jeremiah (2026) 2026-09-10
As Fr. Mike begins the book of Lamentations, we read about Jeremiah’s sorrow as he witnesses the siege and suffering of Jerusalem. In the book of…
Day 252: Queen of Heaven (2026) 2026-09-09
Fr. Mike points out Israel's continual disbelief in the prophet Jeremiah, and also explains who the queen of heaven refers to. We also conclude the…
Day 251: Judith and Holofernes (2026) 2026-09-08
In our reading of Jeremiah today, Fr. Mike highlights Ishmael’s insurrection against Gedaliah and Jeremiah’s response. We also read about the defeat…
Day 250: Final Wave of Exile (2026) 2026-09-07
Fr. Mike expands on our reading today from Proverbs about the need to guard our speech toward one another. In Jeremiah, we see the final wave of…
Day 249: Prayer of Judith (2026) 2026-09-06
Fr. Mike highlights the wisdom and faith of Judith, heroine of the Old Testament, and shows us how her prayer in not just a prayer of intercession,…
Day 248: Cut to the Heart (2026) 2026-09-05
Fr. Mike points out how, like King Jehoiakim, we too can dismiss God's teachings instead of letting them cut into our hearts. The readings are…
Day 247: True Repentance (2026) 2026-09-04
Fr. Mike points out the difference between the insincere repentance of King Zedekiah and the people in Jerusalem, and the true repentance of the…
Day 246: Rejoice in Doing Good (2026) 2026-09-03
In today's reading from Jeremiah, Fr. Mike points out how God rejoices in doing us good, and wants to pour out his grace and mercy upon us. As we…
Day 245: The Faithfulness of Daniel (2026) 2026-09-02
Fr. Mike takes us through the last chapter of Daniel and explains how Daniel models for us on how to live in exile and still be faithful to the…
Day 244: Susanna's Righteousness (2026) 2026-09-01
Fr. Mike reflects on the story of Susanna's righteousness in the book of Daniel. While celebrating Susanna's virtue, Daniel's wisdom, and God's…
Day 243: The Lord's Plans (2026) 2026-08-31
Fr. Mike highlights verse 11 from Jeremiah 29: "I know the plans I have for you...plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a…
Day 242: The Role of King Nebuchadnezzar (2026) 2026-08-30
Fr. Mike explains why God asks his people to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar even though it seems contradicting. We learn that God can use evil…
Day 241: Daniel and the Den of Lions (2026) 2026-08-29
As we read the epic story of Daniel in the den of lions, Fr. Mike points out Daniel's valor and faithfulness in the midst of his powerless. We also…
Day 240: Remaining Humble (2026) 2026-08-28
Fr. Mike touches on Proverbs 16:3, which is about giving everything in our lives to the service of the Lord. He also emphasizes how important it is…
Day 239: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (2026) 2026-08-27
Fr. Mike shares one of his favorite Bible verses, and guides us through the story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as they are thrown into the…
Day 238: Fall of Jerusalem (2026) 2026-08-26
Fr. Mike walks us through the fall of Jerusalem, and the intense lament of Jeremiah as he watches the people of Israel fall into captivity. He also…
Day 237: Water from the Temple (2026) 2026-08-25
Fr. Mike guides us through the last two chapters of Ezekiel, explaining the biblical significance of the water flowing from the right side of the…
Day 236: Rich in Love (2026) 2026-08-24
Fr. Mike focuses on the concept of being rich in love instead of rich in wealth today, as we read about the heart of a mother and father in our…
Day 235: Lying Prophets (2026) 2026-08-23
Fr. Mike focuses on the prophet Jeremiah’s continued sorrow and explains how lying prophets bring forth destruction. He invites us to examine what…
Day 234: Jeremiah Complains (2026) 2026-08-22
Fr. Mike teaches us about recognizing our limitations especially when trying to compete with God. We also see how the Lord listens to Jeremiah’s…
Day 233: Correct me, O Lord (2026) 2026-08-21
Fr. Mike shows us from our reading of Jeremiah that when we give our hearts and minds over to idols we become foolish. The way of man is not in…
Day 232: Glory in Knowing God (2026) 2026-08-20
Fr. Mike reflects on Jeremiah’s sorrow for the people of Israel while reminding us that the one thing we ought to find glory in, is in understanding…
Day 231: The Valley of Dry Bones (2026) 2026-08-19
Fr. Mike explains the significance behind the mention of bones in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. In Jeremiah, we learn that the bones of God's people are…
Day 230: A New Heart (2026) 2026-08-18
Reflecting on the stubbornness of the Israelites' hearts from today's readings, Fr. Mike teaches us that we cannot always trust our imperfect…