The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) Day 17: Jacob Meets Esau (2026)
30 snips
Jan 17, 2026 Fr. Mike reflects on Jacob’s emotional reunion with Esau, emphasizing the theme of reconciliation between brothers. He explores the troubling story of Dinah in Shechem, revealing deep family wounds. The discussion then shifts to Job’s quest for understanding amidst suffering and his poignant observations on societal injustices. Lastly, wisdom is highlighted from Proverbs as a pathway to true fulfillment, presenting it as a tree of life that enriches one's journey.
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Episode notes
First Reconciliation In The Patriarchs
- Jacob's meeting with Esau shows the first clear reconciliation in the Genesis narrative.
- Fr. Mike highlights that Jacob's bows and gifts mark a new movement from deceit toward mercy.
Immediate Ugliness After Mercy
- Genesis 34 vividly displays severe brokenness after the reconciliation moment.
- Fr. Mike stresses that Scripture calls Dinah's defilement 'ought not to be done,' signaling clear evil.
Wrestling With God In Suffering
- Job models a raw, persistent wrestling with God amid suffering and unanswered complaints.
- Fr. Mike connects Job's wrestling to Jacob's literal wrestling as a faithful engagement with God in pain.
