Overview of Day 299: Jeremiah Hides the Ark (2026)
In this episode of Bible in a Year from Ascension, Father Mike Schmitz reads and reflects on 2 Maccabees 2, Sirach 42–44, and Proverbs 24:8–9. The day centers on the mysterious hiding of the Ark of the Covenant, a sweeping praise of God’s greatness in creation, and a meditation on the people of faith who are remembered across generations. Father Mike closes with a strong pastoral call to glorify God in both what we do and what we let go of.
Key Scripture Readings
2 Maccabees 2
- Jeremiah, following divine instruction, hides the tent, Ark, and altar of incense in a cave on the mountain.
- The location is sealed and left unknown until God chooses to reveal it again.
- The chapter also recalls:
- Moses and Solomon’s temple sacrifices,
- the gathering of sacred writings,
- and a preface explaining that 2 Maccabees is a condensed summary of Jason of Cyrene’s larger work.
Sirach 42–44
- Sirach 42 emphasizes:
- integrity in daily life,
- carefulness in money, judgment, and household matters,
- and the greatness of God’s works.
- Sirach 43 is a hymn to creation:
- the sun, moon, stars, rainbow, snow, storms, frost, sea, and all creation reveal God’s glory.
- The chapter concludes that God is beyond full human praise.
- Sirach 44 praises the ancestors:
- famous figures like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are honored for their faithfulness.
- Their legacy is tied to covenant, righteousness, and remembrance.
Proverbs 24:8–9
- A simple warning: those who plan evil or devise folly are rightly seen as troublemakers and are hated for it.
Main Themes and Reflections
The hidden Ark and the empty temple
- Father Mike highlights the significance of Jeremiah hiding the Ark:
- it marks the end of one era of Israel’s worship life,
- and points to a future fulfillment in Christ and the Church.
- He connects the Ark’s contents to Jesus:
- the law → the Word made flesh,
- the bread from heaven → Jesus in John 6,
- the priestly sign → Christ the true high priest.
- He also notes the theological link to Mary as the new Ark.
History, memory, and legacy
- The compiler’s preface in 2 Maccabees leads Father Mike to reflect on what gets remembered.
- He stresses that:
- many people are forgotten by history,
- but what matters most is whether loved ones remember our faith, love, and witness.
- He encourages listeners to ask:
- What will my children remember?
- Will they remember that I loved them and pointed them to Jesus?
God’s greatness is beyond words
- Father Mike lingers on Sirach’s line that “the sum of our words is: He is the all.”
- His emphasis is that:
- God can be praised endlessly,
- but human words can never fully capture Him,
- so praise should be wholehearted and persistent.
Practical Takeaways
- Glorify God in speech and action — and also by what you choose not to do.
- Let go of what separates you from God:
- anger,
- bitterness,
- resentment,
- greed,
- pride,
- vanity.
- Live for a lasting witness, not just public recognition.
- Remember the saints and ancestors of the faith as examples of covenant faithfulness.
- Praise God fully, even though no praise can ever be enough.
Closing Prayer Emphasis
Father Mike’s closing prayer asks God to:
- help listeners glorify Him today,
- release burdens that block love of God and neighbor,
- and live in freedom, gratitude, and praise.
He ends by reminding listeners that God is “the all,” and that knowing and praising Him is a gift.