The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) · Podcast summary
Day 260: Carrying the Cross (2026)
Father Mike Schmitz guides listeners through Matthew chapters 8, 9, and 10, and Proverbs chapter 19, emphasizing Jesus's healing ministry as a sign of his divine identity and the call to discipleship, including the challenges of carrying one's cross.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- 🌍The Bible in a Year podcast is expanding to YouTube and other languages, relying on listener support to keep content free.00:01
- ✨Jesus's healing ministry, though concentrated geographically, served as "signs and wonders" revealing his divine identity and authority to forgive sins.01:12
- 📖Jesus's healings fulfill Isaiah's prophecy and encompass physical illness, mental illness, and demonic oppression, distinguishing between them.04:02
- 🤝The call of Matthew, a tax collector, illustrates Jesus's offer of a new future regardless of one's past, and the call to active discipleship.06:54
- ⚔️Discipleship involves facing divisions, even within families, as Jesus warned he came to bring a sword, not peace.12:12
- 🕊️Jesus assures his followers to "have no fear," as God values them more than sparrows, providing comfort and strength.13:56
Chapters
- 0:00Introduction to Day 260
- 3:29Matthew 8: Jesus Cleanses a Leper, Heals a Centurion's Servant, and Many Others
- 5:43Matthew 9: Jesus Heals a Paralytic, Calls Matthew, and Performs More Miracles
- 17:14Matthew 10: The Mission of the Twelve Disciples and Coming Persecutions
- 25:20Proverbs 19: Wisdom for Righteous Living
- 25:49Father Mike's Reflection on Jesus's Healing Ministry and Discipleship
The digest
Father Mike Schmitz begins Day 260 of "The Bible in a Year" podcast by announcing that the podcast will continue beyond the end of the current year, expanding its reach by adding to YouTube and translating into different languages. He emphasizes that this expansion relies on generous contributions from listeners to keep the content free and accessible to as many people as possible. Listeners are encouraged to support the mission by visiting ascensionpress.com/support.
Jesus's Healing Ministry and Divine Identity
Father Mike delves into Matthew chapters 8, 9, and 10, highlighting the numerous miracles performed by Jesus. He clarifies that Jesus's healing ministry, though widespread in impact, was geographically concentrated within a five-mile radius around Capernaum, his "home base." These healings, Father Mike explains, are not merely acts of compassion but serve as "signs and wonders" that point to Jesus's true identity. He references John's Gospel, which frames these miracles as evidence of Jesus's divinity. A key example is the healing of the paralytic, where Jesus first forgives his sins and then commands him to rise and walk, demonstrating his authority on Earth to forgive sins and revealing himself as the Incarnation of God.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 3-minute article, 5 more sections, and every new episode from The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) and the creators you follow.
- Fulfillment of Prophecy and Different Kinds of Healing
- The Call of Matthew and Discipleship
- The Cost of Discipleship: Division and Persecution
- Fear Not: God's Care and Eternal Reward
- Proverbs: Wisdom for Life
More from The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Day 271: Israel's Foreign Wives (2026)
Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the challenges of faithfulness and covenant in Ezra and Zechariah, highlighting the tension of intermarriage and prophetic hope.
Day 270: God's Favor with Ezra (2026)
Father Mike Schmitz explores Ezra's faith-driven leadership, Zechariah's call for authentic devotion, and God's enduring favor on His people.
Day 264: Preaching Without Practice (2026)
Father Mike Schmitz reflects on the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, the nature of judgment, and the true meaning of meekness as he unpacks Matthew chapters 22-24 and Proverbs chapter 19.
Day 262: Miracle Worker (2026)
Father Mike Schmitz reflects on the miracles of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel, emphasizing Jesus' divine power over matter and life, and the call for Christians to actively participate in God's offensive mission against evil.
Day 261: Ornate Souls (2026)
Father Mike Schmitz reflects on Matthew chapters 11-13 and Proverbs 19:5-8, emphasizing the importance of actively filling our spiritual lives and the profound grace of baptism.
Day 259: The Sermon on the Mount (2026)
Father Mike Schmitz guides listeners through Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, known as the Sermon on the Mount, and Proverbs chapter 18, verses 21-24, emphasizing the fulfillment of the law, the importance of a transformed heart, and the power of prayer and authentic faith.