Day 261: Ornate Souls (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 261 We're reading from Matthew 11, 12, and 13, also Proverbs 19, verses 5-8. We are, you guys, we are more than halfway. I mean, you knew that already, but I just wanted to remind you. The Bible translation I'm reading from, as always, 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. You can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking on subscribe to receive the daily episodes and daily updates. And you don't have to go hunting for them. They will find you. I imagine some of you have that already memorized, but maybe mix it up a little bit. And there we go. As I said, it is day 261 We're reading Matthew 11, 12, and 13, Proverbs 19, verses 5-8.

The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 11 And when Jesus had finished instructing his 12 disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Messengers from John the Baptist. Now, when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another? And Jesus answered them, Go and tell John what you hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk. Lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear. And the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offence at me.

Jesus praises John the Baptist. As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John. What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man dressed in soft robes? Behold, those who wear soft robes are in king's houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, Who shall prepare your way before you.

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet, he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates, We piped for you, and you did not dance, We wailed, and you did not mourn. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.

Jesus upbraids the unrepentant cities. Then he began to upbraid the cities where most of the mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Betzahedah! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.

Jesus thanks his father. At that time Jesus declared, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.