This episode features Father Mike Schmitz, host of the Bible in a Year podcast produced by Ascension, using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline and the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition.

Day five covers Genesis chapters 10-11 and Psalm 2, focusing on the genealogies of Noah's descendants and the Tower of Babel narrative.

Father Mike explores the contrast between godly excellence and selfish ambition through the figure of Nimrod and the builders of Babel.

The reflection connects ancient biblical narratives to modern Christian discipleship, emphasizing the pursuit of holiness over personal glory.

The Genealogies and Nimrod's Kingdom

Genesis 10 traces the descendants of Noah's three sons - Shem, Ham, and Japheth - showing how nations spread across the earth after the flood

Nimrod, descendant of Ham through Cush, is described as "the first on earth to be a mighty man" and "a mighty hunter before the Lord"

Nimrod's kingdom included Babel, Erech, and Akkad in the land of Shinar, with Babel being ancient Babylon

Ancient Christian commentaries interpret "before the Lord" as potentially meaning "in opposition to the Lord" - suggesting Nimrod used God-given gifts for personal power accumulation rather than honoring God

Tower of Babel: Ambition Versus Excellence

Genesis 11 describes humanity with "one language and few words" gathering in Shinar (Nimrod's territory) to build a tower reaching the heavens

The builders declared: "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth"

Father Mike clarifies the sin wasn't building something impressive - beautiful churches glorify God - but the motivation of self-glorification: "let us make a name for ourselves"

God confused their language and scattered them, naming the place Babel because "there the Lord confused the language of all the earth"

St. Maximilian Kolbe's Model of Holy Ambition

On the eve of his ordination, St. Maximilian Kolbe wrote his number one goal: "I want to be a saint, to be a great saint"

Father Mike distinguishes this holy ambition from Nimrod's ruthless ambition - pursuing excellence means "being who we are made to be and being that person well" to give glory to God

"Be who you are and be that well" - St. Francis de Sales, summarizing the call to authentic excellence rather than self-promotion

The contrast: God tells Abram (Genesis 12, next day's reading) "I will make of you a great name" - receiving identity from God versus creating it ourselves

Application: Pursuing God's Glory Over Personal Fame

Father Mike challenges listeners to examine their motivations: "Am I striving to live up to that call to excellence? Am I striving to live like St. Maximilian Kolby?"

Warning against chasing the wrong things: "What I'm chasing after is my own fame. What I'm chasing after is my own glory. What I'm chasing after is, I want to make a name for myself"

The Christian call: "We allow him to give us gifts and then we use those gifts for his glory and for the betterment of the people around us"

Resolution offered: "Not to be like a Nimrod, in opposition of the Lord, defiant and wanting to make a name for ourselves, but like St. Maximilian Colby saying, Lord, make me a saint and make me a great saint"