Day 298: The Gift of Life - The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ต.ค. 2024
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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 reflection for those struggling with grief and death, which serves as a reminder to all about the blessing of our lives and the lives of those we love. Today’s readings are 2 Maccabees 1, Sirach 40-41, and Proverbs 24:1-7.
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Momento Mori. How beautiful and appropriate as we approach All Saints and All Souls Days next week. God Bless. Prayers for those on this journey.
The reflection on death would make a beautiful FB reel, or other short, to be able to share. To look on loss as a gift, we might not have been given!
Rest in peace to my father and all the departed
My beautiful nephew died 25 days ago at the age of 24. I am devastated, my heart is shattered.
I’m praying for you and your family, as you work through the raw pain of grief. May God bless and comfort you all, and bring that young man into His kingdom in love. 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you Fr.Mike for your wisdom.
Great lessen. Thanks Fr. Mike. Amen!❤❤❤
Grateful to you Father Mike praying for you and all priests.
What a beautiful prayer!
"May God do good to you and may He remember His covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, His faithfully servants. May He give you all a heart to worship Him and to do His will with a strong heart and a willing spirit.
May He open your heart to His law and His commandments, and may He bring peace.
May He hear your prayers and be reconciled to you, and may he not forsake you in time of evil." -
2 Maccabees 1, 2-5
You need to save this commentary for when you need to speak at a funeral or on All Souls Day. I have watched my parents, in-laws, and grandparents leave me (among others). Tomorrow I will be celebrating the life of a friend who knew me before I was born. She is like a second mother to me, so now I have to grow up.
We need to write down our memories of these friends and family members, so they can be passed on to those who come after us. If you think no one wants your stories, I know they will want them -- after you're gone.
Praying for everyone. We have all lost someone close. Prayers for Fr Mike that his teachings and directions continue to follow God's plan for all of us. Peace and Love to all.
Dear Fr. Mike, perhaps because my parents died when I was 13 (mom) and 16(dad) I have spent my life reflecting on death. It took a lot of years to come to the conclusion that I was grateful for the time which I had with them, those years were filled with a bunch of pain both from actually losing them as well as the remarkably stupid decisions I made on my own with no guidance. Decade after decade have brought me here, listening to a young man such as yourself, grateful to hear you tell me what I wish I’d known when I too was young-be glad of the time you *did* have, and be sure to appreciate the time today I have with my only son and grandson. Know that I pray for you, your crew, and the community you have brought together after every episode. God bless you always.
Please pray for Michael Murphy who died today in Ireland and for his family. Very sad.
Thanks Father Mike, this is one of the best meditation I heard about death and about how we should thank God for every moment we are living and seeing our beloved ones and how every moment is a gift that we should cherish and not just let it go,.
Thank you Father, God bless you. I am praying for you, please pray for me 🙏🙏
I lost my son 3 years ago. Father Mike thank you for your prayers praying for you.
❤
❤
So sorry to hear that, that's awful.
I buried my husband 10 years ago; still feels like yesterday. I wouldn’t be here today if not for HIS strength. I was so angry with HIM at first, for a month I was in shock, I ate nothing and weighed 94 lbs (43kgs). It was my son who at 15 that time that told me; “Papa does not belong to us. He belongs to God, mama. And we too, will one day return to HIM”. This jolted me back to reality.
Today, my son (now 25), daughter (now 17), and I are so much more closer and in love with Christ.
Its true; every day is a gift that we didn’t really deserve.
❤
So sad, but that's also very true. I think what your son said to you is what king David also said when his infant son died, that he was going to him. So true, their together now, and one day you'll be with him again God be willing.
@@RallyTheTally 😘 thank you
sometimes words hurt, but it can also sooth. thank you.
I am grieving over the death of this 18-month-old baby girl who passed away on 16/11/21. She was suffering from a number of congenital diseases and I had been praying for her recovery. I didn’t expect her to leave the world so soon. After listening to your commentary about the gift of life, I feel at ease and one thing for sure that she’s with our Heavenly Father now. Thank you, Father Mike.
Her life mattered to God. Amen.
Pray 🙏🙏 for you
❤God Bless you and your little one
Amen, thank you Lord for what you have blessed me with. In all things I give thanks. Than you Lord for your son Fr Mike, this family & the gift of faith, your Word, the lamp to our feet amen
You are amazing, Father! I would have never made it though the Old Testament without you. (I’ve tried). And better yet, you make sense out of all of it. May God continue to bless and guide you. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Amen 🙏
I lost my youngest sister 2 years ago.on May 7th. I am still grieving. Thank you for this topic today
Thank you father Mike, I have been reflecting on death. I have buried my husband and dad 4 love ones in this short time. I surrender everything to Jesus, including my pain. I am praying for you, please pray for me. Amen☦♥
Know that Jesus is comforting and giving you strength in this time of pain by surrendering to Him.
You are an inspiration being steadfast with your faith in Him.
Take care.
Sending you a huge hug. God bless
I believe in the teeth of grief, that in Christ, Love is much more powerful than death and that as we pray for our loved ones in Eternity, we may audaciously pray for their intentions in Eternity. Praying for you, my dear sister, in your profound sorrows, and praying for the repose of your loved ones and for their prayers from Eternity. Thank you for your great fortitude and perseverance in the love of the Lord, in Mary, and in Her Beloved Son, Jesus.
Sending you my love and Prayers....God Bless you.....
Sending you love, hugs and prayers.
Father that was a beautiful reflection of life and death. Everyday we are given is a gift, amen! I hope I always remember this.
Amen 🙏.
The day my first was born was the same day Bill Crosby lost his son on the freeway in California. What you are saying just after the 22 minute mark, is a gift that was given to me that first day of my son's life; to thank God for the gift of however much time I have being the steward of the gifts he gave me. That helped my become a much more grateful parent. Thank you for understanding this concept. My heart and prayers go out for anyone who has lost a child, no matter what stage of that child's life.
Rev Fr Mike, your reflection on death so resonates with me. 2 years ago I lost my brother. He was 48. And I got told this so often, friends said, that he went too soon. But my faith taught me that I was blessed to have him in my life for 46 years, rather than not have had him at all. Our God is great. He is kind, merciful and generous. Praise be his name.
There are NO WORDS, Father Mike, for the poise and sensitivity and profundity of your words about life and death and the gift bring given rather than the life that was taken. I will remember these words for the rest of my life. I cannot thank you enough. May God continue to richly bless you. 🥲🥲🥲☁️🙏🏻☁️
Today's last words made me shade some tears thank father Mike for those words of encouragement.Thank You Lord for the gift of life everday.
Thank you for your words of comfort. Yesterday was the funeral of Queen Elizabth II and today I still feel sad and quiet. Your words your prayers will comfort me as we move into a new era in our country. God bless us all and keep blessing us.
Thank you for your words Fr Mike. Sometimes, they go deep into my mind and I remember them when a situation arises. Now today, I've just found out someone I jnow has passed over and your words give meaning.....Praying for you and everyone here. God bless🙏❤️🙏
I stopped listening to BIAY last year right before this time. Today was such a gift. 31 years ago as a young wife and mother of 3 young children, I suffered a brain aneurysm. I wasn’t supposed to live. And if I did I wasn’t supposed to be able to function at the level that I have. But I did survive and I along with my husband were able to raise 3 amazing young women and watch them become the mothers of our 7 grandchildren. I learned 31 years ago what a gift each day was/is. But I never thought of telling my family what a gift they were to me. At least not in those words, in that context. This was tough for Fr Mike to say, I’m sure, because grief is so hard. But it was good to hear and reflect on.
My gratitude for having had "the best parents in the world" far out weighs any grief or mourning I may otherwise experience. That said, they still live! In Eternity! Just in a different form. Every time I sing "Holy, Holy, Holy" during Mass I smile...I'm singing with my parents! And, thank God, we were given The Gift of leaving NOTHING unsaid. Amen!
Strange coincidence that I have been to another family funeral today, no tears, a celebration of 92 well lived years, a Christian marriage that resulted in happy children and grandchildren. My Auntie had planned her funeral down to the hymns and readings, also written a piece about her life, so helpful ! Liked by everyone she lived her faith, and had a well developed sense of humour.
Fr Mike you are bang on when you said that any amount of life is a gift, we are born into this world, and God in HIs mercy provided a away for us to live eternally, how blessed are we !! Thank you for your sensitive summing up.
Well the tears are rolling, but it's a good thing to be touched by the truth. I think about death most days, but not in a morbid way, I wrote the following last month on how I see death.
THE FATHERS EMBRACE
When this life is over, and all is said and done.
All my strivings cease, and my race is run,
Then I will cross over ,from earth to heavens shore,
Drawn towards the light, I stop and take a pause,
The sound of angels singing, is glorious to behold,
I make towards the praises, and walk the streets of gold.
Jesus heads on over, in robes of purest white,
My soul cries out to him, and I run with all my might,
With arms outstretched He greets me, locked in a love embrace,
Welcome home my daughter, to the house of holy grace,
Such love that went to Calvary, and died for such as me,
My Lord, my Saviour, Risen Lamb, the one who set me free,
Abba Father thank you, who left the ninety nine,
Sought me, bought me, claimed me, I am forever Thine.
EJH Sept 21
This is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing it!🙏
@@lynnjavier6245 Thank you Lynn that means so much to me
Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing.
@@irenehammond9254 Thank you so much
There is only one change to your poem that I would make so I can place it on my funeral card. Welcome home, my SON. Or I might make it Welcome home my child. I think I like the latter.
Being a “mourning Mom” of four years and a widow since March, Fr. Mike, you are so right! Every single day is a gift! Thank you!
Father Mike, as always you are on point about death. Last weekend my brother-in-law drowned and this week we are having his service. I will be using some of the words which you have inspired us with today.. These words are not only welcome in death but in life also. God Bless You.
I know it is not the same as losing a person to death, but I am grieving my dog who died on Oct 25th. Please pray for me. I miss him.
Prayers for all who have lost loved ones.
Fr. Mike, your closing statement about death really hit home for me. I am mourning the loss of MANY family members and friends. These deaths have all happened within the last two years. I cannot even properly mourn one before another one has passed away. My heart is breaking but your closing statement has helped me to maybe cope better with all that happened. I am praying for you, and for everyone else in this community.
I’m praying for all in need of prayers 💯🙏💯🙏💯🙏❤️☘️🌹
Fr Mike I would appreciate if you could say a blessing for my son Tony Schaar and his future wife Megan. They are getting married tomorrow 9-16-23. They are not getting married in a Catholic Church even though my son was raised catholic and Megan is catholic. It didn’t make me happy that they weren’t getting married in my Catholic Church which I go to faithfully every week and at least two times a week. And I can’t tell them what to do but I pray every day for my family to come back to God. I would appreciate if you could just say a blessing for their marriage to be happy fruitful and faithful. Thank you and may God bless you and you are always in my daily prayers
This reflection really hits home today. As I'm 75 i do think of death almost every day...Fr. Mike ,your reminder to be thankful for the life I have had and realize all that I have in husband, children, grands and gr grands IS A GIFT. I DON'T DESERVE IT AND MUST THANK GOD AT ALL TIMES FOR THINKING OF US...NOT JUST ME!!! As Fr Mike says...Man oh Man....turns my mind around.....
Every day listening to you is a gift. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
😭 you’ve inspired me to be more present with my kids. Every day with them is indeed a gift. I need to be less distracted while they are home
Beautiful follow-up commentary, Fr. Mike. Your words remind me of the saying, "The level of grief over the loss of someone is often an equal reflection of the level of love we continue to have for that person." Your choice word of 'gift' is perfect as it helps us to frame or perspectives on the blessing of having someone in our life for a time, rather than focusing on their absence in the time yet to come. Thank you! Continued prayers for you, Fr. Mike, and for my fellow BIAY community members.
We pray for you Father Mike and all the children of God. How blessed we are to have the Bible read by you. I really appreciate and reach the 298th day. Alone, I have not been able to read completely the old Testament till now. The wars and relationships were difficult for me to understand before listening Father's Mike comments. May God bless you forever and we pray for each other.
I lost my precious 26 years old daughter 9 years next week on the 11. Thank you for your prayer.
We are so thankful to you Father Mike and so thankful to You oh Lord for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful journey through the Bible with Your amazing servant.
Please Father God ,Bless Father Mike and give him the strengh and wisdom that he needs as he goes about his day, everyday. Amen🙌
Beautiful reflection on the undeserved gift of the lives of our loved ones and our own life. Thank you, Fr Mike. God bless you always.
Thank you for the perspective of life as a gift. Today is my brother's birthday. He would have been 64 but he took his life a few years ago. Your words made this day more special and less bitter. Blessings!!
Today’s commentary really touched me. God has given me the greatest gift of all, a wonderful wife to share my life with. Thank you LORD.
Thank you Fr Mike.
"Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen"
My beautiful sweet Jesus, my eternal love, please bless Fr Mike with purity of heart, and console him when he is sad.
Thank you, Fr. Mike for that beautiful reflection. So timely, especially that 2 days ago we lost my cousin's daughter,
suddenly, from a heart attack. She was only 35 years old with 3 young children. My cousin's family is devastated. I pray that somehow, they will come to be comforted by your perspective on death in some way. In another way, I, too, have been comforted by your reflection, as I have continued to grieve over losing my Mother, 7 years ago even as I thank the Lord for gifting us with her life of 99 years. So many wonderful years that we have been blessed! I know she and my father are with God. And we will be together again someday. God bless you, Fr. Mike!
Absolutely beautiful, Fr. Mike. So much wisdom, thank you. Praying for you!
👍
Listening to you RAMBLING about Christ,...is a gift in itself.
Thank you Father Mike for reminding us that every day is a gift from God. Looking forward to the New Testament. Praying for you and your mom and hope she is doing better with her cancer battle.
October 27, 2023
Have you ever considered listening to Saint Faustina’s Diary in a year and/or EWTN Mother Angelica’s Classics to add to your Catholic learning?
Oh my goodness so much life guidance in conjunction with Father Mike’s Bible and Catechism in a Year!
“Everyday with you has been a gift that I didn’t deserve, Baby Freya.”
Thank you father Mike, you are a true Priest.
'By wisdom, a house is built, by understanding it is established' -The book of Proverbs chapter 24 verses 1-7
October 27, 2023
Will you please take a moment and pray with me?
According to tradition, St. Gertrude the Great was told by Our Lord that each time she piously recited the following prayer, it would release 1,000 souls (or a vast number) from their suffering in purgatory:
Eternal Father,
I offer You the most precious blood
of thy Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said
throughout the world today,
for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the universal Church,
for those in my own home,
and in my family. Amen.
Thank you dear Lord for the gift of life.
You gave up your life for everyone of us help us to be worthy of your sacrificed by having complete faith, trust and hope in your mercy and goodness.
Forgive us dear Lord when at times we fail to live according to your will. Amen.
Thank you Fr Mike and Ascension Press. You have made it possible for so many people to read the Bible each day. It is such a wonderful precious spiritual gift. Grateful and thankful to your staff.
To God be the glory for every breath we take.
Praying for you Father Mike and everyone on this journey Amen 🙏🙏
Blessings 5.26.23. 😊
God bless you Fr Mike for your sharing and advice. I greatly appreciate how sensitive and comforting you are.
Day 298 Thank you Jesus 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
It’s so true that is important to remember that? Also Syrach is absolutely right for talking so much about the importance of a good wife and a pleasant wife.
It’s so easy to complain that everything is blamed on a woman but that’s not exactly what the other is intended here.
A good woman or wife set the mood of the house but also build a city and build a family and reflects The mood and attitude of everyone around her.
I thought I’d let Olivia know that I went through that rite on Saturday evening and I can’t be more thankful for this community.
Oh Father Mike!
How amazing is God with the message that you are giving.
My husband is now rip and it hurt however I look at the amazing blessings that we received being husband and wife.
My sister is 14 yrs older than me and recently lost her husband. She is so depressed and says she's alone.
Now she takes me seriously and I am praying so much for her to increase her faith and understand that God is always with her.
God bless you and thanks 🙏👍
Continuing my journey, Team Replay 🙏🏼💚😊
I think to look at the gift of life with gratitude helps so much especially when it doesn’t feel long enough that you got to share. That gratitude has helped me with the short lives of three of our children. God didn’t have to bless us with them at all but he did and I am grateful even in my feelings of loss and longing. Thank you Fr Mike. You are a gift to me and so many others!
Fr. Mike, you have NO IDEA what a glorious service you provide by doing this..! Today has been extraordinary..! I’m even writing twice, to make SURE you know..! Not that you have time to read these comments. It just make US feel better, when we do. I’m praying for YOU and my priests, who are on convocation until Thursday. Your vocations are not easy, nor would you want them to be. You are here to do The Lord’s work… and TODAY you have come through with flying colors..! The Lord is SO VERY PROUD of you today..! As are we..! I do hope you read these. I know you guys need ‘shoring up’..! ❤️👍🏻
Every time, being here with you Father, listening to God’s way of bringing His Word alive in our daily life, through you, is a Gift.
God bless Gos for making this bible available for me .🕊️✨🙏
Hello, Father. I listen to “The Bible in a Year” every morning on Halo. I’m grateful to God for this tremendous gift. Thank you, too.
Your insights are so inspiring. I’d like to share something that I woke up repeating one early morning. I don’t know that I’d ever heard it before, but I found it beautiful. “Give glory to God and delight in His company”. I repeat it often since then. It reminds me of many of the things I hear while listening to “The Bible in a Year”. That’s why I’d like to share it with you. Again, thank you, Father. God bless
Thank you Fr Mike for your comments on today's episode regarding the gift of life. I am several days behind in my journey of the bible in a year and was listening to this episode today as I sat at the bedside of my brother in his hospice care facility. It has been the most challenging time of my life and your words brought me comfort. Please pray for me and my family and I will continue to pray for you and all those who make the bible in a year podcast possible. 🙏
God bless you Father Mike - amazing Grace my gratitude is so much for all you have given me and learning more each day ❤
Praying for my Friend's son in law who was killed in the accident in Creelough, on Friday leaving a wife and son.🙏🙏
Thank you Father Mike, this is so important for all of us. Praying for you and all our BIAY family.
Thank you for that heartfelt explanation Father Mike ❤️
Praising God for the gift of life every morning I wake up. Lost my husband 5yrs ago and my daughter 2 yrs after that. It was really tough and still is😥. Thank you for your prayers Father Mike and from the BIAY community.🙏 Thank you for being faithful too with your presence and blessing us with your commentaries in this BIAY journey. Praying for you Father Mike and everyone🙏🙏💞
Every day is a gift, thats why they call it the present
Thank you Fr Mike and Jeff
That was a beautiful and moving commentary/reflection on the gift of life. Very moving. Thank you.
Listening everyday to you had been a gift.
Thanks Fr Mike reminding us that we are never alone. We have this great community who are praying for each one of us, just as I pray for all. Please don't forget the holy souls in Purgatory and the most forgotten soul in Purgatory. 10/13/2022
I so appreciate your perspective in your commentary because it makes me a better person every day. I wish I would have heard these words and said it to my husband before he passed away. But, I told my kids right after finishing this BIY episode that every day with them is a gift that I didn't deserve and that I loved them very much. Thank you for your reflections, Father Mike. You always seem to be talking to me directly.
Ah, and may we hear, on our deathbed, these heartening words from Our Lord "I promise you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise!"
To Fr. Mike.
I cannot WAIT to hear you tomorrow..!! ❤️👍🏻 Last year at this time I was 4 days into the planning stages of a funeral for my beloved husband of 53 years, who died, totally unexpectedly, on 10.21.2021… today is 10.25.2022. God is so good to me, not to have let me be listening at this time last year..! This would have been a watershed moment..! Nothing has been the same, this year, but to have heard this back then, would have been wasted on me. I would have been too full of my own grief, yet The Lord has brought me this far. His mercy knows no bounds..! I am a totally different person..! With a totally different purpose..! God is good..! He keeps on giving to me. Oh, that I was worthy..! 😔 I am, only because he makes me worthy..!
Praying for Jen, Julie, Sue, Fr. Mike & for all who prepare & participate in BIAY.
🤲🏼🕊Ave Maria! Viva Christo Rey!
Our Lady's Rosary is our weapon against the ills & ilk of Satan. Earnestly pray; pray often. God bless you.
Praying for all who die today tomorrow
Who are the people giving a thumbs down? If you don’t like what you see here, move on.
Thank you God bless Rev Father
God bless you our lady keep you
God bless you, Father. You have helped me greatly, and a few years ago you were a major reason for my conversion/reversion to Christ’s Church
Thank you Fr. Mike
RESPECT
Everyday with you has been a gift, that I did not deserve. I just want to say thank you and I love you.
🙏
Thank you
“Do not be jealous of the evil…”
““The Lord will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way, but flee before you seven ways.”
Deuteronomy 28:7
24-3 “by wisdom a house 🏡 is built and by understanding it is established “
as always father mike rocks so awesome. i never knew half of what we have been through. so rewarding and brings me close to God
Day 298, 5/26/2022, Ascension of our Lord
Day 297 and 297 6/16/22