My fiancé is the one who brought me back to Jesus. I was baptized catholic, raised Episcopalian by my grandmother, never received First Holy Communion. I am now whole and can receive communion . Thank you Jesus! Thank you Father Mike 🙏🏽
My wife brought me back to Jesus and the catholic church too. Baptized catholic, raised protestant for me. I wouldn't have my relationship with Jesus today, if not for her.
My wife converted to Catholicism in 2019 and now she’s a lapsed Catholic who doesn’t believe in reconciliation. Please pray for us. I love her and I want to help her make it to heaven and be happy in this life centered on Jesus. I am bringing her to the Eucharistic revival tonight to hear Fr. Mike speak. I hope something moves her heart toward the beauty of our Church.
Why don't you tell her what Jesus actually said in John 6:34-35 -- that to partake of the bread from Heaven that gives Eternal Life, all she has to do is BELIEVE/faith in Jesus (NOT eat Jesus' flesh/blood). Might want to revisit the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:17..... just sayin'
@@robertwhite8194 Be a worker of loving kindness with her. She is in a frightening place. Jesus told us to confess to one another our sins, many could not confess outloud in assembly so the priest takes that listening job. Whenever two or more are gathered in His name He will be there and she will become aware of the peace Jesus offers us through reconciliation. As for the bread, Jesus told us, "This is my body". He did not teach it was a symbol as He would have done were it not to be a command to "Do This In Remembrance of Me until I come again". Prots twist this and make it unrecognizable to inject deception into it. Jesus was firm in this. It was snot a suggestion. It was a command. And if we believe He can raise the dead and heal the lame, etc, we can believe He will keep his commitment to us in His Communion. The short of it, is this, if it's a mere symbol He would not have us do it.
I am a Baptist deacon father, Mike. You nailed it love the church love how you explain who we are the church. Love the trinity you are a wonderful priest. God bless you and God bless the Catholic Church you have it going on in Jesus‘s name.
Thank you so much Father Mike! My husband and I entered the church this past Pentecost! I am a revert and my husband a convert - both in our 50s. Thank you for your wonderful videos! 🙏🙏God bless you!
I’ve never left the Church, but I’m still a convert or revert just because I’m only now really embracing the relationship with the risen Jesus. Let’s go!
Thank you so much for this Fr. Mike. God must've answered my prayers. For the last couple of days, I've been praying for directions when I started to dwell on past questions from my Protestant friends about why Catholics pray to Saints or to our Blessed Mother. I didn't know how to answer. I got insecure about my own faith. Today, when I prayed my daily scriptural rosary on Luminous Mysteries, I asked Mama Mary to intercede for understanding in this question.. Then, this part where "Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity." I said to myself, "That's like a question answered!" Then, I got notification about this video. Truly, our Blessed Mother is listening and interceding for me and God answered. And now, when this question comes around again, I know how to answer. All glory and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ! 🙏🏻 Thank you Mama Mary for being a mother to me. ❤
Great video as always, Father! I’d say that something that really helped me build a relationship with Christ was indeed the community of the Church, like you mentioned, and I think surrounding yourself with virtuous friends can help you pursue the higher relationships too. Like you said, “we’re never alone in the Church.”
Once again, I am inspired by your teachings. You are truly a disciple of God sent to us to show us the way, truth and light. Please pray for my grandson, who after receiving all the Sacraments, now believes that the Catholic Church is a cult and has stopped receiving the Sacraments. I pray he returns.
Thank you Fr Mike. I also saw that same interview and the comment about “the middleman” also felt very uncomfortable to me. I have been attending Mass every Sunday for months now and feel so happy and at peace there.
My brother and you were the mediator that brought me to the Catholic Church by my brother showing me Bible in a Year. I'll be starting RCIA in September and hopefully confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass next year.
Thank you Fr Mike without priest there is no eucharist, so may God continue to bless all priest and their hands and works as our mediators, to receive Jesus.
Thanks for your service father Mike. I love listening to you. Your message helps me get through hard times. I hope you get better soon and live long he life you want. ❤
Father Mike, Thank you for the video. I also want to thank you for bringing me closer to God through your Bible in a Year podcast on Spotify. It's so easy to listen to you read and listen to your instruction after each episode. This video was important to me because the biggest problem I have currently is getting over this very feeling. With all of the issues we are facing today with problems in the Church, I find myself hesitant to put my trust in it, and to multiply the problem I've had many experiences with Clergy is they have been strictly business with little personality. My whole family is baptized Catholic, (My wife and 3 daughters). I am the only one who has not been baptized and i wish to join them. I have sought it on multiple occasions and I feel the Church has become an obstacle, not a helper as you describe. Just one example, my wife and I attempted to attend a meeting with a Father to discuss validating our marriage (marriage classes, I have been told by the Church they won't baptize me because my wife and I were not married in the Church and our marriage is not recognized) and he told us very dismissingly to come another time because we had our daughters with us, which was very frustrating because we were new to the area and had no child care. I will admit that it angered me and I may be part of the problem as I feel I took it personally. Maybe I should try another parish. It was just very disheartening because I didn't feel welcome, reading about priests of old they would jump at the chance to baptize anyone because their number one focus was saving souls and I feel the priesthood has drifted from that. I could walk into any Protestant Church on any given Sunday and get baptized but I feel they don't have the authority and don't want to go that route as I believe the Catholic Church is the one true Church. I apologize for the long comment but I hope it finds you well and you know you are encouraging to me to continue to seek baptism. If you have any thoughts or advice for me please don't hesitate to reach out. God Bless you and your works.
They way I see it is Christ is the only bridge between us and the Father, but we are also called to evangelize and help lead others to that bridge so that they may cross it with us
This was such a beautiful approach to connect us all to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I love the connections we make with our Faith and the Sacraments of the Church. Thank you Father Mike for your leadership and caring.
Lord, thank you for the gift of faith. Lord, thank you for the gift of my family and friends who are praying with me, and for me Lord, thank you for all religious brothers and sisters as well as clergy who guides and form my faith
No that's pride.... Who told you that you good enough to go directly to someone so Holy..... That's pride... No man is worthy enough to approach God.... The old testament people knew that.
@@chommie5350 Matthew 6:6 ESV [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
@@henrylansing9734. Oh dear. That is one verse. The instructions that Jesus gave to us, including the 13 books attributed to Paul, clearly show that the only way to God is through his son. Stop sinning, do good for others. Do it with love (forgiveness). This is my body.......do this in memory of me. No salvation outside the Catholic Church. The gate is Narrow 🙏❤️. God bless brother.
@@dazc11 We pray to the Father, through the Son. Or to the Son directly. It's sad you think the Church teaches against this for some reason. Salvation is through Jesus Christ, by no means is the Father therefore inaccessible.
@@henrylansing9734 i is great that the wider w0rId, incIuding atheists, get t0 see this dissent between christians they spend 90% 0f their time arguing whether its the g0urd 0r the sh0e Iike infants they cant even see the ir0ny
The mediator left a church with a set of instructions and weapons to be strong in God (sacraments) He also left appointed soldiers to impart those protections, is there, is clear. Catholic church, created by Jesus when he appointed Peter as the boss!! ❤
@@sheilasmith5114 Why do you say dumb things like that? No one functioning above a goldfish has ever claimed whatever that is which you rebut up there.
In spreading God's word, we are doing what Christ commanded us...your relationship with Jesus is very important, but you are commanded to spread his word...that is why we have the church...Proverbs 27:17..."as iron sharpens iron, so too does man sharpen man"
Wow! Being relevant is a modern concept or is it? I think not, I think the concept is being high-jacked, lifted out of its intended purpose and thus perverted. Fr Mike bring so much freshness and easygoing yet deep wisdom. This is real teaching. This is being truly relevant. People recognize that and it bears much fruit. Why? Because most, -not all - people deep down want sincere answers. My weakness is that I have little respect and give little honor to the ones who give shoddy answers. It's troublesome because it feeds my ego. I have wandered through many Protestant denominations before becoming Eastern Orthodox and am now now discerning Catholicism. I am grateful for all that Protestant suppression/reductionism because it has lead me forward. I felt so constrained when I was nominally a Protestant and I will tell you that there is greater true freedom to love in both Orthodoxy as well as in Catholicism. Many Protestants just don't understand how constrained they really are, particularly the Reformed lot. They almost tried to write an instruction manual for God telling the Creator of the Universe how he deals with us humans. I mean that's REALLY silly. In effect, they're saying we shouldn't really love Mary or the saints, the role models for a Christian life. How twisted! So many are forgetting that Christianity, the Church, is a family affair. The natural thing for a family is to help one another, love one another. True Love is not dependent whether our body cells operate or not. Love is not a material thing. It's mind-boggling that so many Protestant don't fully realize that Christianity is a family affair. It's in the Bible, it's spelled out, yet many seemingly focus on "Me and Jesus". There is a Father, a Son, a Mother and there are brothers and sisters in the family. A family affair, never ever forget that. We are all in this together. He came to save ALL men, that's what God wants. Mary wants what Jesus wants. How hard can it be to figure that out for sting out loud. We have dysfunctional families on Earth for sure but NOT in heaven. You are a fresh breeze Fr. Mike! Pray for my wife Rosalie that she will return to the true Church.
We forget there’s hierarchy in pretty much everything: family, job, government, military, investing, lodging…are we going to let pride tell us we’re better off on our own when it comes to the church? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Barack, Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David, Jonah, John the Baptist, Mary, Peter, Paul….all mediators. Not THE MEDIATOR between God and man, but mediators nonetheless. Praise be to God we’re not alone, and that in humility we can have others “intercede for one another” as Saint Paul puts it.
This is brilliant. Thank you Father Mike. I was 10 years a Protestant, originally Muslim and I’m in the conversion process to become Catholic. I can’t wait ❤
This is crazy, I saw the exact video Father Mike is talking about! It had me wondering how this guy could be so certain the "middleman" is a lie. This was a great response!
Am with you 100%. That statement gets my hackles up. Most especially when it comes to speak disparagingly about priests. Love your videos and wonderful explanations. 🙏🏻✝️
Thanks so much for thoughts! Listening for years, first time commenter. In case someone hasn't already mentioned someone famous for "Baptizing themsleves" Thecla baptized herself by throwing herself into a lake. But to your point, it was because she heard the preaching of Paul. I have been blessed with many "middle-men" and middle-women" who have brought me the Good News and I am very greatful for them as well as yourself for how God uses you to help others find Jesus
I have recently started the process of being a Catholic. I had one hard question that was " If God knows all and sees all. If He knows my next thoughts then why do I need a person to relay things to him, Cant he hear me on his own? " I never got an answer to this until today. Thank You so much for this video!!!! I can proceed on with that stumbling block removed
Greetings Father Mike, Key Thoughts :- -> Excellent Explanation on Social Hierarchy in Catholicism in every aspects. -> Good. Thanks Father. With regards, Ranjith Joseph (R.J)
This comes up especially with people waiting on rulings regarding an annulment. The frustration tempts you towards disobedience to Church law. That is how I saw this exchange between the Catholic show host and the non Catholic guest.
Seven Roman Catholic blind spots: Rome says, “We will use the word “Father” as a formal and professional title for our clergy.” But Scripture says, “call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Mat_23:9 ). Rome says, “Our bishops cannot be the husband of a wife.” But Scripture says, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife...” (1Timothy 3:2 ). Rome says, “There is nothing wrong with having statues and icons.” But Scripture says, “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am Yahweh your God.” ( Lev. 26:1). Rome says, "All our saints are dead." But Scripture says that EVERY member of the congregation must be a saint while they are still living. Romans 16:15, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 6:2, Ephesians 2:19, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 5:3, Philippians 1:1, Philippians 4:22, etc. Rome says: You are encouraged to incorporate repetitive elements in prayer with "decades" of ten repetitions. But Scripture says, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions..." Matthew 6:7 Rome says to honor Astarte (Easter) and Saturnalia (December 25th). These were already pagan holidays of Rome before Christianity got there. But Scripture says, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). In other words, when He said, “this do ye as often as ye drink it” He was referring to the cup of Passover wine and the unleavened bread of the Passover meal that He was having with His disciples. Rome says, “You need to submit to our authority if you want to go to heaven.” But scripture says, “... If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23). The Father and Son want to abide in you. Your body is supposed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and not a church building or a church altar (1 Corinthians 6:19). There is absolutely no room for any religious organization to insert itself into this equation. They have no right to make this kind of spiritual power grab.
This is such a common "critique" from people about Catholicism, even online. I get so frustrated because if they just sought out a priest or someone else well-versed in the faith, it would be easily debunked. But they don't want to do that.
I`ve had my heart, the machine that runs as fast as I love, trampled upon and crushed whilst attending to those things which my Church tells me I must attend to. I`m passed asking.
Whatever you’re going through bring it to Gods feet just imagine yourself literally there and leave all at his feet. Get the Bible out and read He will speak to you directly about anything.🙏🏾💞
I saw the interview you are referring to. The issue at hand was that there is a bureaucracy standing between one of the persons in the discussion and her desire to come closer to God through Jesus. The middleman comment was made by the other individual as an act of kindness. I think Jesus likes that. He did it himself, e.g. Matthew 19:14
Last Sunday I attended a young adult presentation about God's will. The pastor told us that we need a spiritual guide in our lives. But the thing is I personally have a hard time meeting any of the pastors for guidance. Some people asked him how we can get a spiritual guide. He had trouble answering and eventually said we can contact the parish to meet someone. I tried that last year and nobody from the parish office responded. So I have doubts the church can help me in my spiritual journey outside the sacraments..
That really describes a recurring dream that I had just before we got divorced (my husband and I) I kept dreaming that Jesus was trying to grab my hand and the devil was trying to grab me from the other side and I was stuck in a cavern. When I finally stopped dreaming that dream, it was 12 years later, during the time I served the Catholic Church. Now I just have dreams about Jesus grabbing both my hands and pulling me out of that cavern.
Nice talk, God always works through his people. From the old to the new testament, so unless you went into the water and Jesus Christ in the FLESH baptized you, God worked through his people and brought you under the New covenant .
I bet the video that he is talking about was when Megyn Kelly interviewed Shawn Ryan recently. It sounds exactly like the conversation that they had about religion.
I've been praying for your health in my Rosary, Father Mike! And will pray for this man and woman. If anyone wants prayers, please let me know! I believe we got the Bible, which has the historically reliable documents The Gospels, from the Church, and the Church precedes the New Testament, and through the history of the popes, the Catholic Church can be traced back to Jesus establishing it as His Church, and even before that, when God raised up the people of Israel, that was the community. The Bible was not read in isolation. They would read the Bible with and through the community. And just like as Christians for 2,000 years, we read the Bible with and through the Church, the lens of the interpretation of the Magisterium which is the teaching office of the Church and the motherly role of the Church. And something like praying the Rosary is not something the Magisterium created, it was something people voluntarily started to do, and it eventually put its blessing on it. I believe Jesus is the one mediator, and everything flows through Him. He is the center of all things, and in Him, all things came to be. There is instrumental causality that God loves to use amongst His created universe. The power of intercessory prayer, and the power of the intercession of the saints is about that. Jesus Christ is the mediator, and I believe our Blessed Mother Mary can lead us to Him. She prays for us on our way to Him. When I refer to Mary as my mother, please know I am not taking away respect due to my one and only God, Lord Jesus Christ. I believe loving people Jesus loves helps us love Him more, so the more I love Mary, the more I love God, and Jesus gave Mary to us as our mother on the Cross. John 19: 26-27 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. Mother Mary, the first Christian with her choice to say "yes" to my one and only God's will, I believe she is the number 1 model for sainthood for both men and women. She did God's will perfectly in every respect from the moment of her conception, listening to every single one of His commands. Her choice to say "yes" Luke 1:38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. to God's will ushered in salvation for the world, and she did so knowing the sacrifices and sufferings that would result from her decision, but, humbly, accepted the privilege of containing the God of the Universe her womb, and then becoming Jesus' most intimate friend, companion, and greatest consolation while on Earth. She was the devil's ultimate humiliation! I believe God is the King of the universe, having all power of the universe, but God chose Our Lady, a humble lowly woman the privilege of crushing the head of the devil. Mary is not God, but she is a saint, and being that she is with Jesus in Heaven, I ask for her intercession to our Lord (and for sake of brevity, I'll say I "pray to Mary"), similar to how I'd ask people to pray for me (please do! I'm a broken sinner in need of many prayers), but I trust she is a saint in Heaven so I believe it is helpful to ask for her help, especially being so close to her Son. There is only one God. He is the source of all good. He is Goodness. He is Love! Thank you again, Father Mike! Hope you have a light-filled peaceful good day! Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.
Fr. Mike I’m not sure what to do I started a new job nights and I work every other weekend and I’m not sure what to do I feel so lost. I feel if I go to mass one week it’s not even worth it because I’ll be back in mortal sin the next week. I’m a new convert this past Easter and I made sure to call my priest and he said that he said that he says to look for another job it really took the wind out of me I don’t know what to do. I know you won’t probably see this I just need some help
If you're looking for a theological explanation; it's that we believers are united to Christ as His bride [Revelation 21] (and thus His Body due to marriage being the union of the flesh of different persons into one flesh [Genesis 2]). Hence we all participate as mediators in Christ's mediation (due to the fact that we participate in the life of Christ as His bride & Body, both in his sufferings and resurrection [Philippians 3, Colossians 1]. This is the same reason we become sons of God through adoption, as we are united to the only begotten Son of God. [Galatians 3:26, Romans 8]
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My fiancé is the one who brought me back to Jesus. I was baptized catholic, raised Episcopalian by my grandmother, never received First Holy Communion. I am now whole and can receive communion . Thank you Jesus! Thank you Father Mike 🙏🏽
My wife brought me back to Jesus and the catholic church too. Baptized catholic, raised protestant for me. I wouldn't have my relationship with Jesus today, if not for her.
What did Jesus actually say in John 6:34-35 and Matthew 15:17 ??
My wife converted to Catholicism in 2019 and now she’s a lapsed Catholic who doesn’t believe in reconciliation. Please pray for us. I love her and I want to help her make it to heaven and be happy in this life centered on Jesus. I am bringing her to the Eucharistic revival tonight to hear Fr. Mike speak. I hope something moves her heart toward the beauty of our Church.
Updates? I’ll say a Hail Mary for her
just tell her to believe its true then, wives must obey their husbands lol
@@class.Cnerd
Why don't you tell her what Jesus actually said in John 6:34-35 -- that to partake of the bread from Heaven that gives Eternal Life, all she has to do is BELIEVE/faith in Jesus (NOT eat Jesus' flesh/blood). Might want to revisit the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:17..... just sayin'
@@robertwhite8194 Be a worker of loving kindness with her. She is in a frightening place. Jesus told us to confess to one another our sins, many could not confess outloud in assembly so the priest takes that listening job. Whenever two or more are gathered in His name He will be there and she will become aware of the peace Jesus offers us through reconciliation. As for the bread, Jesus told us, "This is my body". He did not teach it was a symbol as He would have done were it not to be a command to "Do This In Remembrance of Me until I come again". Prots twist this and make it unrecognizable to inject deception into it. Jesus was firm in this. It was snot a suggestion. It was a command. And if we believe He can raise the dead and heal the lame, etc, we can believe He will keep his commitment to us in His Communion. The short of it, is this, if it's a mere symbol He would not have us do it.
I am a Baptist deacon father, Mike. You nailed it love the church love how you explain who we are the church. Love the trinity you are a wonderful priest. God bless you and God bless the Catholic Church you have it going on in Jesus‘s name.
Thank you so much Father Mike! My husband and I entered the church this past Pentecost! I am a revert and my husband a convert - both in our 50s. Thank you for your wonderful videos! 🙏🙏God bless you!
I’ve never left the Church, but I’m still a convert or revert just because I’m only now really embracing the relationship with the risen Jesus. Let’s go!
Thank you so much for this Fr. Mike. God must've answered my prayers. For the last couple of days, I've been praying for directions when I started to dwell on past questions from my Protestant friends about why Catholics pray to Saints or to our Blessed Mother. I didn't know how to answer. I got insecure about my own faith.
Today, when I prayed my daily scriptural rosary on Luminous Mysteries, I asked Mama Mary to intercede for understanding in this question.. Then, this part where "Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity."
I said to myself, "That's like a question answered!"
Then, I got notification about this video. Truly, our Blessed Mother is listening and interceding for me and God answered.
And now, when this question comes around again, I know how to answer.
All glory and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ! 🙏🏻
Thank you Mama Mary for being a mother to me. ❤
Through God's help I brought my godson Tony to the church because he was lost, and he didn't know fully of God's love.
And now he's strong Catholic.
Thank you Father Mike, you are a great leader and when we see you, we see Christ that lives in you!
Incredible explanation Father.. thank you so much. May Our Lord Bless you always.. in all ways ✝️🙏🏻🌹
Great video as always, Father! I’d say that something that really helped me build a relationship with Christ was indeed the community of the Church, like you mentioned, and I think surrounding yourself with virtuous friends can help you pursue the higher relationships too.
Like you said, “we’re never alone in the Church.”
Great inspirational talk, Fr Mike, thank you. May God Bless. Claire.
Once again, I am inspired by your teachings. You are truly a disciple of God sent to us to show us the way, truth and light. Please pray for my grandson, who after receiving all the Sacraments, now believes that the Catholic Church is a cult and has stopped receiving the Sacraments. I pray he returns.
Thank you Fr Mike. I also saw that same interview and the comment about “the middleman” also felt very uncomfortable to me. I have been attending Mass every Sunday for months now and feel so happy and at peace there.
And, you, Fr. Mike, are a first class mediator. Thank you so much for bringing us to the Lord! God bless you! Praying for you ❤
Thank you for your explanation today. It’s difficult to answer the questions from non-Catholics at times.
My brother and you were the mediator that brought me to the Catholic Church by my brother showing me Bible in a Year. I'll be starting RCIA in September and hopefully confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass next year.
Lord thank you for all my formators/my mediator who help me to grow in my faith
Thank you Fr Mike without priest there is no eucharist, so may God continue to bless all priest and their hands and works as our mediators, to receive Jesus.
Thanks for your service father Mike. I love listening to you. Your message helps me get through hard times. I hope you get better soon and live long he life you want. ❤
Father Mike, I think you are amazing! And I pray for you everyday! ❤
Amen. Praise be to God forever ❣️
Thank you so much Fr. Mike. I am continually praying for all. God Bless 🙏🏻
Father Mike,
Thank you for the video. I also want to thank you for bringing me closer to God through your Bible in a Year podcast on Spotify. It's so easy to listen to you read and listen to your instruction after each episode.
This video was important to me because the biggest problem I have currently is getting over this very feeling. With all of the issues we are facing today with problems in the Church, I find myself hesitant to put my trust in it, and to multiply the problem I've had many experiences with Clergy is they have been strictly business with little personality. My whole family is baptized Catholic, (My wife and 3 daughters). I am the only one who has not been baptized and i wish to join them. I have sought it on multiple occasions and I feel the Church has become an obstacle, not a helper as you describe. Just one example, my wife and I attempted to attend a meeting with a Father to discuss validating our marriage (marriage classes, I have been told by the Church they won't baptize me because my wife and I were not married in the Church and our marriage is not recognized) and he told us very dismissingly to come another time because we had our daughters with us, which was very frustrating because we were new to the area and had no child care. I will admit that it angered me and I may be part of the problem as I feel I took it personally. Maybe I should try another parish. It was just very disheartening because I didn't feel welcome, reading about priests of old they would jump at the chance to baptize anyone because their number one focus was saving souls and I feel the priesthood has drifted from that. I could walk into any Protestant Church on any given Sunday and get baptized but I feel they don't have the authority and don't want to go that route as I believe the Catholic Church is the one true Church.
I apologize for the long comment but I hope it finds you well and you know you are encouraging to me to continue to seek baptism. If you have any thoughts or advice for me please don't hesitate to reach out. God Bless you and your works.
They way I see it is Christ is the only bridge between us and the Father, but we are also called to evangelize and help lead others to that bridge so that they may cross it with us
This was such a beautiful approach to connect us all to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I love the connections we make with our Faith and the Sacraments of the Church. Thank you Father Mike for your leadership and caring.
Fr. Mike thank you for educating me✝️
Your reflection on Jesus sacrifice on the cross and on the Eucharist at the Eucharist Congress in Indianapolis was absolutely beautiful and memorable.
I lost my faith and wandered astray for many years. Through the intercession of others, I have now found strength in the Catholic faith.
Lord, thank you for the gift of faith.
Lord, thank you for the gift of my family and friends who are praying with me, and for me
Lord, thank you for all religious brothers and sisters as well as clergy who guides and form my faith
"You can go directly to the Lord, and there are others who can go with you."
No that's pride.... Who told you that you good enough to go directly to someone so Holy..... That's pride... No man is worthy enough to approach God.... The old testament people knew that.
@@chommie5350 Matthew 6:6 ESV
[6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
@@henrylansing9734. Oh dear. That is one verse. The instructions that Jesus gave to us, including the 13 books attributed to Paul, clearly show that the only way to God is through his son. Stop sinning, do good for others. Do it with love (forgiveness). This is my body.......do this in memory of me. No salvation outside the Catholic Church. The gate is Narrow 🙏❤️. God bless brother.
@@dazc11 We pray to the Father, through the Son. Or to the Son directly. It's sad you think the Church teaches against this for some reason. Salvation is through Jesus Christ, by no means is the Father therefore inaccessible.
@@henrylansing9734 i
is great that the wider w0rId, incIuding atheists, get t0 see this dissent between christians
they spend 90% 0f their time arguing whether its the g0urd 0r the sh0e Iike infants
they cant even see the ir0ny
Thank you for this insight. I too saw the clip you are talking about (Megyn Kelly) and was upset about her guest's "no middle men" comment..
The mediator left a church with a set of instructions and weapons to be strong in God (sacraments) He also left appointed soldiers to impart those protections, is there, is clear. Catholic church, created by Jesus when he appointed Peter as the boss!! ❤
Praise to you God and Lord Jesus Christ😇🙏❤
I love this!! I have a wonderful response to people, who say we have to go to a priest to pray to God. ❤🙏
@@sheilasmith5114 Why do you say dumb things like that? No one functioning above a goldfish has ever claimed whatever that is which you rebut up there.
In spreading God's word, we are doing what Christ commanded us...your relationship with Jesus is very important, but you are commanded to spread his word...that is why we have the church...Proverbs 27:17..."as iron sharpens iron, so too does man sharpen man"
Thank you, Father. 🙏🏻
Praise be to God ✨💪🏼✝️🛡️✨ … Amen ✨🙏🏼✨
Wow! Being relevant is a modern concept or is it? I think not, I think the concept is being high-jacked, lifted out of its intended purpose and thus perverted. Fr Mike bring so much freshness and easygoing yet deep wisdom. This is real teaching. This is being truly relevant. People recognize that and it bears much fruit. Why? Because most, -not all - people deep down want sincere answers. My weakness is that I have little respect and give little honor to the ones who give shoddy answers. It's troublesome because it feeds my ego. I have wandered through many Protestant denominations before becoming Eastern Orthodox and am now now discerning Catholicism. I am grateful for all that Protestant suppression/reductionism because it has lead me forward. I felt so constrained when I was nominally a Protestant and I will tell you that there is greater true freedom to love in both Orthodoxy as well as in Catholicism. Many Protestants just don't understand how constrained they really are, particularly the Reformed lot. They almost tried to write an instruction manual for God telling the Creator of the Universe how he deals with us humans. I mean that's REALLY silly. In effect, they're saying we shouldn't really love Mary or the saints, the role models for a Christian life. How twisted! So many are forgetting that Christianity, the Church, is a family affair. The natural thing for a family is to help one another, love one another. True Love is not dependent whether our body cells operate or not. Love is not a material thing. It's mind-boggling that so many Protestant don't fully realize that Christianity is a family affair. It's in the Bible, it's spelled out, yet many seemingly focus on "Me and Jesus". There is a Father, a Son, a Mother and there are brothers and sisters in the family. A family affair, never ever forget that. We are all in this together. He came to save ALL men, that's what God wants. Mary wants what Jesus wants. How hard can it be to figure that out for sting out loud. We have dysfunctional families on Earth for sure but NOT in heaven. You are a fresh breeze Fr. Mike! Pray for my wife Rosalie that she will return to the true Church.
We forget there’s hierarchy in pretty much everything: family, job, government, military, investing, lodging…are we going to let pride tell us we’re better off on our own when it comes to the church?
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Barack, Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David, Jonah, John the Baptist, Mary, Peter, Paul….all mediators. Not THE MEDIATOR between God and man, but mediators nonetheless.
Praise be to God we’re not alone, and that in humility we can have others “intercede for one another” as Saint Paul puts it.
I agree they are mediators, but it doesn't make sense to pray to dead people. None in the bible there is a case where someone pray to dead people
Going to the Church IS going straight to Jesus
This is brilliant. Thank you Father Mike. I was 10 years a Protestant, originally Muslim and I’m in the conversion process to become Catholic. I can’t wait ❤
I watched that interview as well - praying for both people there and all who watch this!
My daughter went back to Catholicism after exploring Protestantism because of your homilies and Bible in a year Father Mike .
God bless you.
Praise the Lord
I needed this, so so much
Thank you to Fr Mike
Awesome! Thank you Fr Mike. God bless you. 🙏 ❤
Beautiful.
“I am with you always, until the end of the age.” [Mt 28,20].
This is crazy, I saw the exact video Father Mike is talking about! It had me wondering how this guy could be so certain the "middleman" is a lie. This was a great response!
Father Mike you a great beard! Let it grow!
Let us sow love, and we will reap it. No distrust, no ill will on our part, and we will have accomplished a great deal.
Great video. Interesting to get the Catholic church perspective on this as Lutheran.
Am with you 100%. That statement gets my hackles up. Most especially when it comes to speak disparagingly about priests. Love your videos and wonderful explanations. 🙏🏻✝️
Thanks so much for thoughts! Listening for years, first time commenter. In case someone hasn't already mentioned someone famous for "Baptizing themsleves" Thecla baptized herself by throwing herself into a lake. But to your point, it was because she heard the preaching of Paul. I have been blessed with many "middle-men" and middle-women" who have brought me the Good News and I am very greatful for them as well as yourself for how God uses you to help others find Jesus
Yes prey to God like you are speaking too your best friend.
God bless you, father for the teaching peace be with you. I pray for you pray for me and my family father. May God be with you amen.
Wow this was super helpful. Thank you!
Thank you 🙏 for being so articulate
I have recently started the process of being a Catholic. I had one hard question that was " If God knows all and sees all. If He knows my next thoughts then why do I need a person to relay things to him, Cant he hear me on his own? " I never got an answer to this until today. Thank You so much for this video!!!! I can proceed on with that stumbling block removed
I have no regrets to taking homeschool religion, I would love to only watch this guy during class
Gracias For this Good Explanation Father Mike. My Prayers for you As Well. ☝️💯💯✌️
Greetings Father Mike,
Key Thoughts :-
-> Excellent Explanation on Social Hierarchy in Catholicism in every aspects.
-> Good. Thanks Father.
With regards,
Ranjith Joseph (R.J)
The catholic curch is so sweet.
Love this father Mike! Thank you so much!
Exactly Fr. Mike.
Thank you. Very well explained.
This comes up especially with people waiting on rulings regarding an annulment. The frustration tempts you towards disobedience to Church law. That is how I saw this exchange between the Catholic show host and the non Catholic guest.
Seven Roman Catholic blind spots:
Rome says, “We will use the word “Father” as a formal and professional title for our clergy.”
But Scripture says, “call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Mat_23:9 ).
Rome says, “Our bishops cannot be the husband of a wife.”
But Scripture says, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife...” (1Timothy 3:2 ).
Rome says, “There is nothing wrong with having statues and icons.”
But Scripture says, “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am Yahweh your God.” ( Lev. 26:1).
Rome says, "All our saints are dead."
But Scripture says that EVERY member of the congregation must be a saint while they are still living. Romans 16:15, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 6:2, Ephesians 2:19, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 5:3, Philippians 1:1, Philippians 4:22, etc.
Rome says: You are encouraged to incorporate repetitive elements in prayer with "decades" of ten repetitions.
But Scripture says, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions..." Matthew 6:7
Rome says to honor Astarte (Easter) and Saturnalia (December 25th). These were already pagan holidays of Rome before Christianity got there.
But Scripture says, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). In other words, when He said, “this do ye as often as ye drink it” He was referring to the cup of Passover wine and the unleavened bread of the Passover meal that He was having with His disciples.
Rome says, “You need to submit to our authority if you want to go to heaven.”
But scripture says, “... If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23). The Father and Son want to abide in you. Your body is supposed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and not a church building or a church altar (1 Corinthians 6:19). There is absolutely no room for any religious organization to insert itself into this equation. They have no right to make this kind of spiritual power grab.
Jesus gave authority to the church, you cant ignore that
May the Lord have mercy on your lost soul
For i became your Father in Christ Jesus......St. Paul. Looks like its not a blindspot as you say.
I know i can go straight to God To see God we got to go thru Jesus God dwell in Jesus
Excellent
Brilliant!!!!❤
💙 absolutely, cheers fr.Mike 💙
participation in JC's mediation💯
I think I saw the same video. I had a similar response. Thanks for clarifying.
God bless
This is such a common "critique" from people about Catholicism, even online. I get so frustrated because if they just sought out a priest or someone else well-versed in the faith, it would be easily debunked. But they don't want to do that.
I`ve had my heart, the machine that runs as fast as I love, trampled upon and crushed whilst attending to those things which my Church tells me I must attend to.
I`m passed asking.
We only have one mediator and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
I'm not Catholic but listening to these videos are helping me through such a terrible dark time in my life. 😢
Whatever you’re going through bring it to Gods feet just imagine yourself literally there and leave all at his feet. Get the Bible out and read He will speak to you directly about anything.🙏🏾💞
@@y.m.266 thank you
Amen!
Ur right Fr. mike
I saw the interview you are referring to. The issue at hand was that there is a bureaucracy standing between one of the persons in the discussion and her desire to come closer to God through Jesus. The middleman comment was made by the other individual as an act of kindness. I think Jesus likes that. He did it himself, e.g. Matthew 19:14
Last Sunday I attended a young adult presentation about God's will. The pastor told us that we need a spiritual guide in our lives. But the thing is I personally have a hard time meeting any of the pastors for guidance.
Some people asked him how we can get a spiritual guide. He had trouble answering and eventually said we can contact the parish to meet someone.
I tried that last year and nobody from the parish office responded.
So I have doubts the church can help me in my spiritual journey outside the sacraments..
The Catholic church can help you
@@johnyang1420 Well I am talking about the Catholic church
Thank you for explaining this to us. And thank you for praying for us.
That really describes a recurring dream that I had just before we got divorced (my husband and I) I kept dreaming that Jesus was trying to grab my hand and the devil was trying to grab me from the other side and I was stuck in a cavern. When I finally stopped dreaming that dream, it was 12 years later, during the time I served the Catholic Church. Now I just have dreams about Jesus grabbing both my hands and pulling me out of that cavern.
Amen
So so true thanks
Thank you 🙏
I have to ask. Are you any relation to Mike Rowe? Love your content and love your logic.
I'm thinking that this man's statement is referring to all of the sourness caused by Preasts in the Churches. That's my take Fr. Mike.❤❤❤
Nice talk, God always works through his people. From the old to the new testament, so unless you went into the water and Jesus Christ in the FLESH baptized you, God worked through his people and brought you under the New covenant .
I bet the video that he is talking about was when Megyn Kelly interviewed Shawn Ryan recently. It sounds exactly like the conversation that they had about religion.
I've been praying for your health in my Rosary, Father Mike! And will pray for this man and woman. If anyone wants prayers, please let me know! I believe we got the Bible, which has the historically reliable documents The Gospels, from the Church, and the Church precedes the New Testament, and through the history of the popes, the Catholic Church can be traced back to Jesus establishing it as His Church, and even before that, when God raised up the people of Israel, that was the community.
The Bible was not read in isolation. They would read the Bible with and through the community. And just like as Christians for 2,000 years, we read the Bible with and through the Church, the lens of the interpretation of the Magisterium which is the teaching office of the Church and the motherly role of the Church. And something like praying the Rosary is not something the Magisterium created, it was something people voluntarily started to do, and it eventually put its blessing on it.
I believe Jesus is the one mediator, and everything flows through Him. He is the center of all things, and in Him, all things came to be. There is instrumental causality that God loves to use amongst His created universe. The power of intercessory prayer, and the power of the intercession of the saints is about that.
Jesus Christ is the mediator, and I believe our Blessed Mother Mary can lead us to Him. She prays for us on our way to Him. When I refer to Mary as my mother, please know I am not taking away respect due to my one and only God, Lord Jesus Christ. I believe loving people Jesus loves helps us love Him more, so the more I love Mary, the more I love God, and Jesus gave Mary to us as our mother on the Cross.
John 19: 26-27 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Mother Mary, the first Christian with her choice to say "yes" to my one and only God's will, I believe she is the number 1 model for sainthood for both men and women. She did God's will perfectly in every respect from the moment of her conception, listening to every single one of His commands. Her choice to say "yes"
Luke 1:38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
to God's will ushered in salvation for the world, and she did so knowing the sacrifices and sufferings that would result from her decision, but, humbly, accepted the privilege of containing the God of the Universe her womb, and then becoming Jesus' most intimate friend, companion, and greatest consolation while on Earth. She was the devil's ultimate humiliation! I believe God is the King of the universe, having all power of the universe, but God chose Our Lady, a humble lowly woman the privilege of crushing the head of the devil.
Mary is not God, but she is a saint, and being that she is with Jesus in Heaven, I ask for her intercession to our Lord (and for sake of brevity, I'll say I "pray to Mary"), similar to how I'd ask people to pray for me (please do! I'm a broken sinner in need of many prayers), but I trust she is a saint in Heaven so I believe it is helpful to ask for her help, especially being so close to her Son. There is only one God. He is the source of all good. He is Goodness. He is Love!
Thank you again, Father Mike! Hope you have a light-filled peaceful good day!
Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.
Our God is all about relationship. He intends interdependence among His people.
We get in that relationship as He wants it through the catholic church
@@bere1507 Yes! That is true.
Great video
Amen 🙏🏻
He's clearly talking about Shawn Ryan and Megan Kelly's interview (the one on her show).
I saw the video. It was Shawn Ryan and Megan Kelley.
Love Shawn, but it made me cringe…
Fr. Mike I’m not sure what to do I started a new job nights and I work every other weekend and I’m not sure what to do I feel so lost. I feel if I go to mass one week it’s not even worth it because I’ll be back in mortal sin the next week. I’m a new convert this past Easter and I made sure to call my priest and he said that he said that he says to look for another job it really took the wind out of me I don’t know what to do. I know you won’t probably see this I just need some help
Yes.
If you're looking for a theological explanation; it's that we believers are united to Christ as His bride [Revelation 21] (and thus His Body due to marriage being the union of the flesh of different persons into one flesh [Genesis 2]). Hence we all participate as mediators in Christ's mediation (due to the fact that we participate in the life of Christ as His bride & Body, both in his sufferings and resurrection [Philippians 3, Colossians 1]. This is the same reason we become sons of God through adoption, as we are united to the only begotten Son of God. [Galatians 3:26, Romans 8]