Day 221: Walking with Wise Men (2026)

**Fr. Mike Schmitz** (0:04)
Hi, my name is Fr. Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to The Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 221 We're reading today from Isaiah chapter 63 and 64, also Ezekiel 21 and 22, as well as Proverbs chapter 13 verses 17 through 20 As always, the Bible translation that I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using The Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com/bible in a Year. And you can also, I don't know if you know this, you can also subscribe if you'd like. You don't have to, but it is a great thing that comes with so many benefits, including but not limited to the reality that every day when you check your podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts, it pops up and says, hey, today's the day. Today is 221 and you've been doing this for 221 days. Well done. Unless you've been doing this for half that, but you've just been doing two a day, that's pretty awesome too. So congratulations, day 111 and a half, 110 and a half. Anyways, as I said, we're reading Isaiah 63 and 64, Ezekiel 21 and 22, Proverbs 13 verses 17 through 20
The Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 63, Vengeance on Enemies. God's mercy recounted and sought. Who is this that comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bosra? He that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength. It is I, announcing vindication, mighty to save. Why is your apparel red and your garments like those who tread in the winepress? I have trod in the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me. I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. Their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption has come. I looked, but there was no one to help. I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold. So my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath upheld me. I trod down the peoples in my anger, I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth. I will recount the merciful love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel, which he has granted them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. For he said, Surely they are my people, sons who will not deal falsely, and he became their savior.
In all their affliction, he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity, he redeemed them, he lifted them up, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore, he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses his servant. Where is he who brought up out of the sea the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit, who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them, to make for himself an everlasting name, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. Like cattle that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So you led your people to make for yourself a glorious name.
Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious habitation, where are your zeal and your might? The yearning of your heart and your compassion are withheld from me. For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O Lord, are our father. Our Redeemer from of old is your name.
O Lord, why do you make us err from your ways? Enharden our hearts so that we fear you not. Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Your holy people possessed your sanctuary a little while. Our adversaries have trodden it down. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.