Father Mike Schmitz hosts this Bible in a Year podcast episode, reading from The Great Adventure Bible using the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition. He serves as the primary teacher and guide for this daily Scripture reading program sponsored by Ascension Press.

This episode covers day 57 of the reading plan, focusing on Numbers 6 (the Nazarite vow and Aaronic blessing), Deuteronomy 6 (the Great Commandment and Shema), and Psalm 91. Father Mike provides detailed commentary on ancient Jewish practices, their fulfillment in Christian tradition, and practical applications for modern believers.

The discussion spans from temporary religious vows in ancient Israel to the foundational commandment of loving God with all one's heart, soul, and might, connecting Old Testament practices to contemporary Catholic Mass traditions.

The Nazarite Vow: Dedicating Time to God

The Nazarite vow involved three main restrictions: no wine or grape products, no cutting hair, and no contact with dead bodies - representing dedicated time to the Lord

Most Nazarite vows were temporary (weeks or months), unlike the lifelong commitments of Samson and John the Baptist

At the vow's completion, the grown hair was cut and burned on the altar as a physical marker of time dedicated to God - 'Lord, that whole time I offer to you' - Father Mike

The vow represented dedicating time to God, complementing the biblical pattern of dedicating places (temples, altars) and things (offerings) to the Lord

The Aaronic Blessing as Paternal Benediction

The priestly benediction from Numbers 6:24-26 - 'The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace'

Jeff Cavins identified this as an ideal blessing for fathers to pray over their children, connecting the priestly role to fatherhood

Aaron's role as priest paralleled fatherhood since 'the priesthood was always related to the fatherhood' - Father Mike

The Shema: Israel's Central Commandment

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 contains the Shema: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength'

The Hebrew word 'Shema' means both 'hear' and 'obey' - requiring active response, not passive listening

This commandment unified Israel against polytheistic cultures in Egypt and Canaan, emphasizing monotheism and total devotion

The command includes teaching children about God's deliverance: 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out with a mighty hand'

Physical Reminders of God's Word

Deuteronomy commands binding God's words on foreheads, arms, and doorposts - literally fulfilled through phylacteries (tefillin) and mezuzah

Orthodox Jewish men still use leather phylacteries containing scripture during prayer, attached to forearms and foreheads with leather straps

The mezuzah - a metal container with scripture on tiny paper - is touched by Jewish families when entering or leaving homes as a reminder of God's faithfulness

Catholic Mass incorporates this tradition when congregants make the sign of the cross on foreheads, lips, and hearts before Gospel readings, praying 'may the word of the Lord be on my mind, be on my lips, and be in my heart'

Rules Rooted in Relationship

'All the rules come out of a relationship. Every single one of the rules we have in the church, every single one of the rules that we have in the scripture, they all come out of relationship' - Father Mike

Without relationship, biblical and church rules become 'hollow,' 'dead,' and 'empty' despite being wise and good to live by

Moses reminds Israel to remember God's deliverance from Egypt as the foundation for obedience, not mere dogmatic adherence

The daily Bible reading fulfills Deuteronomy 6's command to 'remember and never, ever forget what the Lord our God has done for us'