Father Mike Schmitz hosts day 46 of The Bible in a Year podcast, a systematic journey through The Bible using The Great Adventure Bible timeline from Ascension Press. He reads from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition of The Great Adventure Bible, covering Exodus chapters 30-31, Leviticus chapter 22, and Psalm 115.

The episode focuses on the concept of holiness as 'being set apart' for God's purposes, examining detailed instructions for sacred objects, priestly duties, and the spiritual significance of ordinary work. Father Mike emphasizes that listeners are approaching a milestone - only six more days until completing both Exodus and Leviticus, books that often challenge readers attempting to read through Scripture.

Sacred Objects and Temple Furnishings

God provides specific dimensions for the altar of incense: 'A cubit shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, it shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height' - made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold.

The bronze laver serves as a washing station where 'Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet' before entering the tent of meeting or approaching the altar 'lest they die.'

Sacred anointing oil requires precise ingredients: 'liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, two hundred and fifty' with strict warnings against copying the formula.

The Half-Shekel Tax and Divine Equality

Every male twenty years and older must pay exactly half a shekel for the sanctuary census, with God declaring 'The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less.'

This atonement money serves dual purposes: funding tent of meeting services and bringing 'the sons of Israel to remembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for yourselves.'

Bezalel's Spirit-Filled Craftsmanship

God calls Bezalel by name and declares 'I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship to devise artistic designs.'

Father Mike emphasizes that ordinary skilled labor becomes extraordinary when performed by those filled with God's Spirit: 'Even secular work becomes sacred' when done by consecrated people.

This principle applies to all baptized Christians as 'kingdom priests' - whether 'answering phones, teaching, filling out papers, or air traffic control,' work transforms when done with God's Spirit.

Holiness as Separation and Consecration

Father Mike explains that 'to be consecrated to the Lord is meant consecrated, right? Made sacred for the Lord. To be made sacred for the Lord is to be holy.'

Catholic blessing practices demonstrate this principle: blessed objects like crosses are 'no longer jewelry' but 'set apart for a purpose and must be worn that way.'

Sacred recipes for oil and incense carried severe penalties for unauthorized copying: 'Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.'

Priestly Purity and Acceptable Offerings

Leviticus 22 establishes strict purity requirements: priests with leprosy, discharge, or contact with dead bodies 'shall not eat of the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water.'

Acceptable animal sacrifices must be perfect with 'no blemish' - excluding those that are 'blind, or disabled, or mutilated, or having a discharge, or an itch or scabs.'

Newborn animals must remain with their mothers seven days before becoming acceptable offerings, and 'you shall not kill both her and her young in one day.'