
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) Day 47: The Golden Calf (2026)
61 snips
Feb 16, 2026 A dramatic retelling of the Golden Calf story and Moses' desperate intervention. A walkthrough of Israel's appointed feasts and their meaning. A psalmic prayer for mercy and restoration. Reflections on how fear breeds idols and the challenge of trusting when life feels out of control.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Pray, Don't Just Read Psalms
- Pray the Psalms rather than merely reading them to engage their prayerful shape.
- Treat Psalms as prayers to hear God rather than as neutral texts.
Idols Arise From Uncertainty
- Human hearts make idols when faced with uncertainty and try to take control.
- Fr. Mike Schmitz explains that idolatry often replaces trust with a controllable substitute rather than outright rejection of God.
Motivation: Fear, Not Rebellion
- The people's motive was fear and uncertainty, not explicit rebellion against God.
- They sought control by creating a visible god because Moses' absence made them anxious.









