Hi, my name is Father 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.

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Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to.

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We fit into that story today.

It is Day.

293, and we're reading today 1 Maccabee's Chapter 12, Sirach, Chapter 30 and 31, as well as Proverbs, Chapter 23, verses 13 through 16. As always, the Bible.

Translation I am reading from is the.

Vice Standard version. Second Catholic edition. I'm using the.

Great.

Adventure Bible from Ascension.

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Know that today is Day 293, reading 1 Maccobie, chapter 12, Sirach, chapter 30 and 31, as well as Proverbs, chapter 23.

Verses 13 through 16. The first.

Book of Maccobie's, chapter 12.

Alliances with Rome and Sparta.

Now, when Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for him, he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew their friendship with them. He also sent letters to the same effect to the Spartans and to other places. They went to Rome and entered the Senate chamber and said, Jonathan, the High Priest, and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew the former.

Friendship and alliance with them.

The Romans gave them letters to the people in every place, asking them to provide for the envoys safe conduct to the land of Judah. This is a copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans.

Jonathan the High Priest.

The Senate of the nation.

The priests.

And the rest of the Jewish people to their brethren, the Spartans, greeting. Already in time passed, a letter was sent to Onias, the High priest.

From Arias.

Who was king among you, stating that you are our brethren. As the appended copy shows, Onias welcomed the convoy with honor and received the letter, which contained a clear declaration of alliance and friendship.

Therefore.

Though we have no need of these things, since we have, as encouragement, the holy books which are in our hands, we have undertaken to send to renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, so that we may not become estrange from you for considerable time has passed since you sent your letter to us. We therefore remember you constantly on every occasion, both in our feasts and on other appropriate days, at the sacrifices which we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to remember, brethren, and we rejoice in your glory. But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encircled us. The Kings round about us have waged war against us. We were unwilling to annoy you and our other allies and friends with these wars, for we have the help which comes from heaven for our aid. We were delivered from our enemies, and our enemies were humbled.

We therefore have.

Chosen.

Numenias, the son of Antiochus.

And Antipoter, the son of Jason, and have sent them to Rome to renew our former friendship and alliance with them. We have commanded them to go also to you and greet you and deliver to you this letter from us concerning the renewal of our brotherhood. Now, please send us a reply to this. This is a copy of the letter which they sent to Onias, Arias, King of the Spartans, to Onias, the high priest, greeting. It has been found in writing concerning the Spartans and the Jews that they are brethren and are of the family of Abraham. Now that we have learned this, please write us concerning your welfare. We, on our part, write to you that your cattle and your property belong to us and ours belong to you. We therefore command that our boys report to you accordingly. Further campaigns of Jonathan and Simon. Now, Jonathan heard that the Commanders of Demetrius had returned with a larger force than before to wage war against him. He marched away from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Haimath, for he gave them no opportunity to invade his.

Own country.

He sent spies to their camp, and they returned and reported to him that the enemy were being drawn up in formation to fall upon the Jews by night. When the sun had set, Jonathan commanded his men to be alert and to keep their arms at hand so as to be ready all night for battle. He stationed outposts around the camp. When the enemy heard that Jonathan and his men were prepared for battle, they were afraid and were terrified at heart, so they kindled fires in their camp and withdrew. But Jonathan and his men did not know it until morning, for they saw the fires burning. Then Jonathan pursued them, but he did not overtake them, for they had crossed the Eleuthorus River. So Jonathan turned aside against the Arabs, who are called Zabadians, and he crushed them and plundered them. Then he broke camp and went to damascus and marched through all that region. Simon also went forth and marched through the country as far as Ascalon and the neighboring strongholds. He turned aside to Joppa and took it by surprise, for he had heard that they were ready to hand over the stronghold to the men whom Demetrius had sent, and he stationed a garrison there to guard it.

When Jonathan returned, he convened the elders of the people and planned with them to build strongholds in Judea, to build the walls of Jerusalem still higher and to erect a high barrier between the citadale and the city to separate it from the city in order to isolate it so that its garrison could neither buy nor sell. They gathered together to build up the city. Part of the wall on the valley to the east had fallen, and he repaired the section called Cheffinatha. Simon built Adidas in the Chefnathah. He fortified it and installed gates with bolts.

Trifo captures Jonathan.

Then Trifo attempted to become King of Asia and put on the crown and to raise his hand against Antiochus, the King. He feared that Jonathan might not permit him to do so, but might make war on him. So he kept seeking to seize and kill him, and he marched forth and came to Bethan. Jonathan went out to meet him with 40,000 picked fighting men, and he came to Bethan. When Trifor, he saw that he had come with a large army, he was afraid to raise his hand against him, so he received him with honor and commended him to all his friends. He gave him gifts and commanded his friends and his troops to obey him as they would himself. Then he said to Jonathan, Why have you wearyed all these people when we are not at war. Dismiss them now to their homes and choose for yourself a few men to stay with you and come with me to Tolomias. I will hand it over to you, as well as the other strongholds and the remaining troops and all the officials, and will turn round and go home.

For that is why.

I am here.

Jonathan trusted him.

And did as he said. He sent away the troops and they returned to the land of Judah. He kept with himself 3,000 men, 2,000 of whom he left in Galilee, while a thousand accompanied him. But when Jonathan entered to Tolomias, the men of Tolomias closed the gates and seized him, and all who had entered with him, they killed with the sword. Then Trifo sent troops and cavalry into Galilee, and the Great Plains to destroy all.

Jonathan's soldiers.

But they realized that Jonathan had been seized and had perished along with his men, and they encouraged one another and kept marching and close formation, ready for battle. When their pursuers saw that they would fight for their lives, they turned back. They all reached the land of Judah safely, and they mourned for Jonathan and his companions, and were in great fear, and all Israel mourned deeply. In all the nations round about them tried to destroy them, for they said, They have no leader or helper. Now, therefore, let us make war on them and blot out the memory of them from among men.

The Book of Sirach.

Chapter 30, Discipline of Children, Right Attitudes.

He who loves his son will whip him often in order that he may rejoicece at the way he turns out. He who disciplines his son will prophet by him and will boast of him among acquaintances. He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious and will glory in him in the presence of friends. The father may die, but yet he is not dead, for he has left behind him one like himself. While alive, he saw and rejoiced, and when he died, he was not grieved. He has left behind him an avenger against his enemies, for one to repay the kindness of his friends. He who spoils his son will bind up his wounds, and his feelings will be troubled.

At every cry.

A horse that is untamed turns out to be stubborn, and a son, unrestrained, turns out to be willful. Pamper a child and.

He will frighten you.

Play with him and he will give you grief. Do not laugh with him lest you have sorrow with him, and in the end you will nash your teeth. Give him no.

Authority in his youth.

And do not ignore his errors.

Bow down his neck in his youth and beat his sides while he is young lest he become stubborn and disobey you and you have sorrow of soul from him. Discipline your son and take pains with him that you may not be offended by.

His shamelessness.

Better off is a poor man who is well and strong in constitution than a rich man who is severely afflicted in body. Health and soundness are better than all gold and a robust body than countless riches. There is no wealth better than health of body, and there is no gladness above joy of heart. Death is better than a miserable life and eternal rest than chronic sickness.

Good things.

Poured out upon a mouth that is closed are like offerings.

Of food placed upon a grave.

Of what use to an idol is an offering of fruit? For it can neither eat nor smell. So is he who is afflicted by the Lord. He sees with his eyes and groans like a eunic who embraces a maiden and groans. Do not give yourself over to sorrow and do not afflict yourself deliberately.

Gladness of heart is the life of man, and the rejoicing of a man is length of days. Delight your soul and comfort your heart and remove sorrow far from you, for sorrow has destroyed many and there is no profit in it. Jealousy and anger shorten life, and anxiety brings an old age too soon. A man of cheerful and good heart will give heed to the food he eats.

Chapter 31.

Right Conduct. Wakefulness over wealth wastes away.

One's flesh.

And anxiety about it removes sleep. Wakeful anxiety prevents slumber and a severe illness carries off sleep. The rich man toils as his wealth accumulates, and when he rests, he finds himself with his dainties. The poor man toils as his livelihood diminishes, and when he.

Rests, he becomes needy.

He who loves gold will not be justified, and he who pursues money will be let astray by it. Many have come to ruin because of gold, and their destruction has met them face to face. It is a stumbling block to those who are devoted to it, and every fool will be taken captive by it. Blessed is the rich man who is found blameless and who does not go after gold. Who is he? And we will call him blessed, for he has done wonderful things among his people. Who has been tested by it and been found perfect, let it be for him a ground for boasting, who has had the power to transgress and did not transgress and to do evil and did not do it.

His prosperity.

Will be established and the assembly will relate his acts of charity. Are you seated at the table of a great man? Do not be greedy at it and do not say there is certainly much upon it. Remember that a greedy eye.

Is a bad thing.

What has been created more greedy than the eye? Therefore, it sheds.

Tears from every face.

Do not reach out your hand for everything you see and do not crowd your neighbor at the dish. Judge your neighbour's feelings by your own and in every matter, be thoughtful. Eat like a human being what is set before you and do not chew greedyly lest you be hated. Be the first to stop eating for the sake of good manners and do not be insatiable lest you give offense. If you are seated among many persons, do not reach out your hand before they do. How ample a little is for a well-disciplined man. He does not breathe.

Heavily upon his bed.

Healthy sleep depends on moderate eating. He rises early and feels fit. The distress of sleeplessness and of nausea and colic are with the gluton. If you are overstuffed with food, get up in the middle of the meal and.

You will have relief.

Listen to me, my son, and do not disregard me, and in the end, you will appreciate my words. In all your work, be industrious and no sickness will overtake you. Men will praise the one who is liberal with food, and their testimony to his excellence is trustworthy. The city will complain of the one who is misery with food, and their testimony to his miseryiness.

Is accurate.

Do not aim to be valiant over wine, for wine has destroyed many. Fire and water prove the temper of steel, so wine tests hearts in the strife of the proud. Wine is like life to men if you drink it in moderation. What is life to a man who is without wine? It has been created to make men glad. Wine drunk in season and temperately is rejoicing of heart and gladness of soul. Wine drunk to excess is bitterness of.

Soul.

With provocation and stumbling, drunkenness increases the anger of a fool to his injury. He is no friend of his enemy, reducing his strength and adding wounds. Do not reprove your.

Neighbor at a banquet of wine.

And do not despise him in his merry-making. Speak no word of reproach to him, and do not afflict him by making demands of him.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 23:13-16.

Do not withhold discipline from a child. If you beat him with a rod, he.

Will not die.

If you beat him with the rod, he will save from shale. My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. My soul will rejoiceice when your lips speak.

What.

Is right.

Father and heaven give you praise and glory. Thank you so much for this gift. Thank you for your word. Thank you for revealing your heart to us. Gosh, God, you are a good dad and you discipline us. Help us to receive correct and right discipline.

Help us to offer.

Correct and right discipline when it is our responsibility to do so. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. We're coming back to that discipline thing in just a second because it was a theme in both Sirach and Proverbs today. It's like the Lord is trying to tell us something. But first, Mackabies, first Mackabies, Chapter 12, twins today. Gosh.

Okay, again, once again.

We mentioned yesterday, is.

All the.

Other narrative books of the Bible, all the other historical books of the Bible, they tell us the point. Here is what you need to pay.

Attention to.

Here is how God is acting in this. Yet here in first Mackabies, it is just telling us the details. It's just giving us the data. The data is people in power want to stay in power. Not everyone in power who says they're trustworthy is actually trustworthy. We have not only the lions with.

The Spartans and renewal of the alliance with the Romans, but.

You also have Jonathan's death at the hand of Trifo. You have.

Simon next tomorrow in.

Chapter 13, Simon is going to take command of the Maccabes, and he's going to... Remember where there's Judas, and his brother Jonathan, and other brother.

Simon are.

Going to be the ones who are continuing to lead this battle and fighting the people around them. Oh, gosh. Okay, so let's take the step. Let's go back to Chapter 30 of Sirach.

Verse 1, He who loves his son will whip him often in order that he may.

Rejoice at the way he turns out.

He who disciplines his son will prophet by him and will boast of him among his acquaintances. He who teaches his son will make his.

Enemies envious and.

Will glory in him and the presence.

Of friends. Now, one of the things we have to recognize, and also Proverbs, Proverbs says what? Do not withhold discipline.

From a child. If you beat him.

With a rod, he won't die. Basically, Hey, so it's going to be fine. He's not going to kill him. Now, let's keep this in mind that.

There is a.

Difference.

Between discipline. There's a difference.

Between spanking someone, as we know.

This, with the.

Rod, here's all the things, and beating up. There's a difference between.

Discipline and destruction. There's a.

Massive difference. It's the ways in which when the Bible talks about... Again, there's times of slavery in the Bible. When the Bible is talking about slavery, it's not talking about this chattel slavery where you own the property, the person as property. Never talking about that. Well, unless it's one of the oppressive nations around Israel. But even slavery in.

Israel is not.

Slavery slavery. It is more like.

Indentured servitude.

Where after seven years you get set free and you're working actually for a point, you're not owned by a person.

You are simply working for.

Them and they're caring for you. It's a whole different thing. Same thing when it comes to discipline, when it comes to sparing the rod, spoil the child, this whole situation. It is not.

Beating a child.

This is discipline. If that's tough for us to wrap our minds around, then we need to fight for it because this is the whole point. The whole point is offering one's child or one's children discipline, not beating them up. Keep that in mind. That is never the case. Never, ever the case.

Because why? The discipline is.

Oriented towards the child's growing up to be a good human being. This is.

One of the roles.

Of parents is to.

Help the children.

Become a good human being. Now, it could be the situation where you say, Okay, but in this day and age, we don't necessarily.

Beat.

Anyone or spank anyone. It might be a time-out a situation. Great. Phenomenal. That's awesome. That is great. If that.

Works, that is completely wonderful. Again, keep this in mind.

The Bible is not.

Encouraging.

Beating up.

Or or injuring another human being, one's child for.

The sake of discipline. But it is saying we have to teach our kids. We have to teach our children why. Again, the point is not so that you are.

Able to vent your anger out on your child.

That's awful. The point is, there are pieces in us that need to be shaped. There are things in us that we're inclined to do that we need to stop being inclined to do. In fact, there's aThis is for all of us. So anyone.

Who's in authority.

Over me, they'll have to tell me things. For example, my bishop.

At one.

Point, a number of weeks ago, we had a meeting.

At one point he said, Okay.

Father Mike, I need you to do this. This is your.

Priority this week. I was like, Okay, yeah.

He's like, No, listen, this is.

Your number one.

Thing you.

Need to do.

Basically making it very, very clear.

That it wasn't a semi-request. It was, You.

Need to do this.

This is very serious. I am.

Asking you to do this. I'm telling you to do this.

This is.

Not an invitation. This is a command.

Oh, got it. Now, if I have grown up in such a way where I take when people tell me.

What to do the.

Wrong way and I rebel against that, then I'm of no use to my bishop, and I'm also of no use to myself. I'm of no use to the.

People around me if.

All I can do is my own will.

There's a sense of being needing to be trained.

In this way.

Again, keep in mind.

Gosh, if your mind keeps going back to.

Beating someone up.

Beating a child, that is not ever what the scriptures or the church is talking about.

At all.

But it's like what I've heard a clinical psychologist, he had a rule. One of his rules was he says, Never let your kids do anything that makes you dislike them. He has a book and he has a bunch of rules in it. Never let your kids do anything that makes you dislike them. At first glance, that rule sounds really strange. Wait, is that even possible? He points out, he says, Yes, in my clinical practice, I.

Have seen very many parents who end up resenting their.

Children because they haven't corrected them. They've let them get.

Away with.

So many things that here's what happens. Not only do you dislike your children.

But here is the next thing.

Is if you let your child get away with things that make you dislike them, what happens when they.

Are out in the world where people don't have to love them.

Where people don't have any natural affection for them? Here's what happens. He says, On the playground with their peers, they're isolated because no one.

Wants to play with a.

Kid who's.

A brat. No one wants to play with a kid who is.

Incapable of thinking of someone else or sharing or whatever the thing is. The goal is not just, I don't like this behavior in my child.

I want them to behave the way I want.

Them to behave.

It's.

I.

Will not.

Let my child get away with anything that makes me dislike them because.

That will make it even more difficult for them to make friends.

Secondly is with other adults. What happens is if one's child is unlikable because they just get away with whatever.

Then other adults will smile at them, pat them on the.

Head, and can't wait to get away from them.

The child will.

See, Oh, that's what adults are like. They're fake. They just smile, but they don't really care.

On the other hand.

If you help your child to be the person who.

Gets along with.

Other.

Kids, who actually knows how to interact.

With adults.

Then the kids will be happy to see them come, will be happy to play with them, even if there's.

Disagreements.

And will want them.

As.

Playmates, and will actually invite them into a relationship, which is so important. And same thing when it comes to other adults. Other adults will see.

Them and.

Say, Oh.

I want to engage with this.

Child, this young person, because.

Well, they're not a.

Rook of salt, right? I want a Noop a loop a now.

Daddy, that situation, because we've seen those kinds of kids, and it's the job of a parent.

Is to help them be.

The person that can make friends and the person that can interact with adults, they can engage with the world.

Around them. Does that make sense?

That's the whole point. Also to.

Be a.

Virtuous human being. That's also the other point. Gosh. I hope that makes sense because it makes sense to me. Whether that's through the rod or we had a paddle when we were growing up, the paddleball games, that's what my mom used to spank us with, it just stung a little bit. No damage was done. It's just a little sharp little thing. But also it was the thread of that that was more than anything. She had the little paddleball game between we had cupboards that had little knobs to open the cover doors, and she put it in between those two knobs, like a little holster. When we were acting up during supper or something, she'd walk over to that area. She didn't have to pick it up. She just walked over to the general area that the paddle was at. We're like, Oh, here she comes. There she goes. She's going to get the paddle. We just calm down. It worked for us. But I know my siblings, they have timeouts. They rarely, I don't know if I've ever seen them spank their kids. I have really, really great kids because whatever it is, the point is.

Discipline.

Is good for us.

It doesn't have to.

Be physical violence. It can simply be that timeout. It can simply be here's the consequences of your actions, because why? Because I discipline you now, and it costs you, as a parent, right? As a parent, I discipline you.

Now so that later on.

You can be the person who, here, scripture says, doesn't go to hell, but you can be the person who has.

The virtue needed.

To help the people around you and help yourself because you recognize that discipline is oriented towards success in the future. That's what it's supposed to be, at least. Even though many of us have experienced not that discipline. Anyways, I rambling on for not enough time here because I think I just want to keep making sure that you don't think I'm advocating in any way, shape, or form beating.

Up people, including your children. Don't beat your children. That is horrible.

Here's the thing. I'm laughing at this only because I'm separated from it, and I'm trying to say this is not what I'm saying.

But this is a.

Large community.

When we talk.

About things like.

Discipline or sparing the rod or using the rod.

Or discipline, I know.

Many people.

Who are listening, this is...

Your history, your.

Experience of life has been.

To be treated horribly.

That unlike my mom, who had the little paddle, yours was something far, far worse. Far, far worse.

For.

Me, spanking was unpleasant, but it did the trick.

For you.

What your parents might have called spanking was actually beating. And so this can be a really hard thing to hear. I want to let you know two things that is not what scripture is talking about. It's not talking about beating. What you experienced was not.

Godly, was not of the Lord.

Secondly, you're loved. What you experienced.

Was not from the Lord.

Was from a broken human being.

Maybe doing their best, maybe doing their very best.

To raise you right. But that's not the Lord's way. Secondly, no matter what happened in your past.

It matters and you matter.

And you're loved.

Does that make sense?

Again, joking about the whole discipline stuff, but really also come into the reality that my experience of spanking was like a good. It's probably the best experience of spanking you possibly could have. But that's not everyone's experience. And know that you're not alone. A lot of people walking with us who have different experience. We're praying for you because to get past that and to be able to heal and to say, Yep, that was wrong. But here I am, I'm moving forward.

That.

Was wrong. But here I am moving forward. You matter, it matters, and you're loved.

I hope that.

Makes sense.

Because we are praying for you. Please pray for me because we're.

All in this together.

Even though we have very different experiences with each other, God is calling us all.

On the same road to get.

Close to Him as best we can. Praying for you, please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.