Overview of Day 316: Absolute Surrender (Bible in a Year — Father Mike Schmitz / Ascension)
Father Mike reads Luke 9–10 and Proverbs 26:4–6 (RSV-2CE) and reflects on the demands of discipleship. He emphasizes that “deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me” points to an absolute surrender of one’s life to Jesus — not simply occasional self-denial — and connects this call to the mission of the Twelve and the Seventy, the Transfiguration (Jesus’ “exodus” to Jerusalem), the Good Samaritan, and the Mary-and-Martha episode. Practical spiritual disciplines (fasting, penance, prayer, choosing the “one thing”) are offered as ways to live this surrender and remove the “work beneath the work” — the anxieties and cares that choke spiritual fruit.
Key passages read
- Luke 9: mission of the Twelve; feeding of the 5,000; Peter’s confession; Jesus predicts his suffering; call to deny oneself; Transfiguration; healing of a demon-possessed boy; teachings about true greatness; encounters with would-be followers.
- Luke 10: mission of the Seventy; instructions for mission (poverty, hospitality, proclamation); woes to unrepentant towns; return of the Seventy; Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving; the Good Samaritan; Mary and Martha.
- Proverbs 26:4–6: two paradoxical sayings about answering a fool and the danger of sending messages by a fool.
Main reflections & theological takeaways
- Deny yourself = absolute surrender
- Father Mike argues that “deny yourself” means renouncing any claim over your own life — time, comfort, relationships, possessions — and acknowledging Jesus’ ultimate claim. It’s deeper than intermittent ascetic practices; it’s an orientation of life.
- Practice leads to inner surrender
- Fasting, penance, prayer and small acts of self-denial are the means by which we form the habit of surrender.
- Jesus’ demands point to his identity
- The radical demands (e.g., “let the dead bury their dead,” “no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back…”) are consistent with Jesus as divine Lord, not merely a rabbi.
- The Transfiguration as “exodus”
- Moses and Elijah speak with Jesus about the exodus he will accomplish in Jerusalem — a clear reference to his passion, death, and resurrection as the definitive act of deliverance.
- Distraction vs. devotion (Mary and Martha)
- Martha’s problem is not moral failure but being “anxious and troubled about many things.” Cares, riches, and pleasures (the “thorns”) can choke spiritual life. Mary chooses the “good portion” — listening to Jesus.
- Mission and authority
- The Twelve and the Seventy are sent with authority to heal and proclaim the kingdom, told to travel light, stay in one house, and accept hospitality. Success is measured by faithfulness and the coming of the kingdom, not by power displays alone (rejoice that your names are written in heaven).
- Paradox of pastoral response (Proverbs)
- The Proverbs reading highlights pastoral prudence: know when answering a fool only makes you like him, and when answering is needed so the fool won’t be wise in his own eyes.
Notable quotes and phrases
- “The one who denies himself is actually rejecting oneself… renounce my claim to my own life.”
- “Let the dead bury their own dead.”
- “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
- “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. One thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”
- Prayerful close: thanksgiving for mercy and a petition to receive God’s love so we become “conduits of your grace.”
Practical applications / action items
- Practice small, regular disciplines (fasting, brief penances) to train a posture of surrender.
- Examine claims you silently make on time, comfort, relationships, work, identity — ask whether you’re ready to renounce those claims for the Lord.
- Identify “the work beneath the work” (anxieties about outcomes, approval, reputation) and intentionally set it down so you can serve with freedom and joy.
- Prioritize “listening at Jesus’ feet” (prayer, Scripture, silence) over being constantly busy even in good work.
- Be merciful and active toward neighbors (Good Samaritan): mercy is the concrete test of who our neighbor is.
- Remember mission instructions: travel light, accept hospitality, remain in one house, and proclaim that the kingdom is near.
Topics discussed (quick list)
- Mission of the Twelve and the Seventy
- Feeding of the 5,000
- Peter’s confession and Jesus’ passion prediction
- Transfiguration and Jesus’ “exodus”
- Exorcism, healing, and authority over demons
- Good Samaritan parable
- Mary and Martha, distraction vs. devotion
- Proverbs on dealing with fools
- Spiritual disciplines: surrender, fasting, penance, prayer
How to use this episode
- Re-listen to sections on Luke 9:23–27 (deny, cross, follow) and Luke 10:38–42 (Mary & Martha) for personal application.
- Use Proverbs 26:4–6 as a reflection prompt for pastoral or interpersonal wisdom.
- Try a one-week practice: choose one small fast or deliberate act of surrender and one daily 10–15 minute period of quiet listening to Jesus; journal changes in your interior freedom.
Father Mike closes with prayer and encouragement to practice these insights, asking listeners to pray for one another as they pursue a deeper surrender to Christ.