What's in our heart that refuses to celebrate when good things happen to someone else?

Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the story of the man healed on the Sabbath. Many focus on the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath, though technically allowed, but Fr. Mike invites us to look deeper.

The real issue isn’t the law. It’s the heart. More than Jesus performing the miracle, what this story exposes is that sometimes we fail to value the suffering of others, or even the joy of others, because they simply don’t matter enough to us.

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Did Judas think he was actually helping Jesus fulfill His mission by betraying Him? Was Judas pre-destined to become the traitor of the Lord?

Fr. Mike Schmitz asks these bold questions and unpacks what Scripture says about the person of Judas Iscariot. By evaluating his motivations and his lack of cooperation with the grace given to him, Fr. Mike details what a tragedy it is that he never became St. Judas.

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Why do Catholics baptize their babies? Is it even biblical?

At first glance, infant baptism can seem unbiblical. But Fr. Mike points to several instances in Scripture that support the practice and reveal God’s desire to bring children into His covenant family from the very beginning.

Baptizing a child doesn’t replace their freedom — it begins their life of faith. As they grow, they will one day choose Jesus for themselves and personally embrace the grace they first received as a gift.

For those baptized as adults, baptism becomes a conscious, public declaration of faith. That journey often includes waiting, and that’s okay. There’s no need to rush. God uses the waiting to prepare your heart, deepen your desire, and make you ready to fully receive what He wants to give you.

Something sacred happens in the waiting. It stretches the heart, strengthens faith, and forms trust. Let God do His work there.

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"'Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?' He (Jesus) said to him, 'You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22: 36-39

Fr. Mike Schmitz warns us of the dangers of making our lives too full, even with good things. He reminds us of the beautiful quote from St. John of the Cross, "In the twilight of our lives, we will be judged on love alone."

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Fr. Mike jumps into the mystery of Knives Out, not to solve the murder but to understand the truest mission of the priesthood.

In the midst of Hollywood's fascination with Catholicism, they've often had trouble capturing an honest representation of Catholics. However, Fr. Mike explores the success of Rian Johnson's appropriate casting and display of a priest in the midst of impossible odds.

Find out what Fr. Mike loved about the film and why he thinks, this time, Hollywood got it right!

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2026 marks the 5th anniversary of Bible in a Year! Over the past five years, the Lord has taken this podcast to extraordinary places -- reaching listeners in more than 150 countries, becoming the #1 podcast in the U.S., and remaining the #1 religious podcast in the world, even five years later.

Through Bible in a Year, God has transformed hearts and minds, and we are deeply grateful to every listener who has made this journey possible. As we continue creating new videos, podcasts, books, and articles each day, we invite you to press play once again on Bible in a Year.

Join Fr. Mike, and all of us, in the Ascension App, as we encounter God’s voice and learn to live our lives through the lens of Scripture.

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Merry Christmas from Fr. Mike Schmitz and all of us here at Ascension! While we celebrate the birth of Christ, the true reason for this season, we also reflect on the many blessings and joys with the ones we love!

Come celebrate with us as Fr. Mike reacts to Christmas movies and shares how each movie reveals a deeply Christian message to all of us!

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Fr. Mike shares his favorite — and least favorite — Christmas songs 🎄

Find out which ones he loves enough to sing all year, which he calls manipulative, and which he flat-out labels a pile of trash!

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You may have heard the phrase, "Memento Mori" when it comes to reflecting on death, but how should Christians really view death?

Fr. Mike Schmitz explains three common views we may hold about death:

However, Fr. Mike explains that all three fall short; death is actually a lover. Our goal should not be a longing for death, but a longing for the One on the other side. How can you long for Heaven and Jesus today?

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Do you trust God's timing?

Fr. Mike Schmitz reminds us that God is never late (and never early). We can trust whole heartedly that His timing is always perfect!

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