Father Mike Schmitz hosts day 118 of the Bible in a Year podcast, reading 1 Samuel chapters 27-28 and Psalm 34 using The Great Adventure Bible from Ascension Press. He mentions the Spanish version is also available from Ascension.

The reading covers David's strategic deception while living among the Philistines under King Akshish, and Saul's desperate consultation with the medium at Endor. Father Mike provides extensive commentary on Catholic teaching regarding occult practices, drawing from Catechism of the Catholic Church sections 2115-2116.

The episode addresses the serious spiritual dangers of divination, necromancy, and consulting mediums, while emphasizing the reality of the spiritual world and the need to trust in God's providence rather than seeking forbidden sources of guidance about the future.

David's Strategic Deception Among the Philistines

David flees to King Akshish of Gath with 600 men, reasoning 'I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul' and choosing exile among Israel's enemies.

Akshish grants David the town of Ziklag, where he lives for 'a year and four months' while conducting raids against Gesherites, Gerzites, and Amalekites.

David deceives Akshish by claiming to raid 'the Negev of Judah' while actually attacking Israel's enemies, leaving 'neither man nor woman alive' to prevent reports reaching Gath.

Akshish completely trusts David, believing 'He has made himself utterly abhorred by his people Israel, therefore he shall be my servant always.'

Saul's Forbidden Consultation with the Medium at Endor

Facing the Philistine army at Shunam, Saul becomes afraid when 'the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.'

Despite having 'put the mediums and the wizards out of the land,' Saul disguises himself to consult the medium at Endor, seeking to 'bring up Samuel.'

The medium successfully conjures Samuel's spirit, who appears as 'an old man coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe,' demonstrating the reality of the spiritual world.

Samuel prophesies Saul's doom: 'tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.'

Catholic Teaching on Divination and Occult Practices

Catechism of the Catholic Church 2115 teaches that Christians should put themselves 'confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it.'

Section 2116 condemns 'all forms of divination,' including 'consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums.'

Father Mike explains these practices 'conceal a desire for power over time, history, and in the last analysis, other human beings' while dishonoring God.

The Church condemns occult practices not because they're 'silly' but because 'they're actually dangerous' - involving real spiritual power from evil sources rather than God.

Spiritual Warfare and the Reality of Good and Evil Spirits

Father Mike emphasizes that 'the spiritual world is incredibly real. It is just as real, if not more real, than the material world.'

He distinguishes between 'spirits who live in God's presence, angels' and 'spirits who have rejected God's presence' that 'are not to be messed with.'

For those involved in occult practices, Father Mike urges: 'get rid of those things, burn them, throw them away, and get to confession' because it places 'your own eternal soul in great, great jeopardy.'

He reassures that 'we don't have to be afraid because Jesus Christ conquers everything' while emphasizing the need to 'turn away from all sources of evil.'