If God Loves Everyone, Why Doesn't Everyone Go to Heaven?

[@doriscobb9795]

I know that hope that all of my loved ones will enter into heaven. My constant prayer is to that end. It is challenging to step outside the human limit of thinking. I ask the Holy Spirit, Our Blessed Mother and their guardian angels to encourage them in holiness.

[@michaeljohnson-thiman4975]

Amen 🙏

[@sheilalangston7035]

JESUS will get you there

[@jonathangoodwin646]

I hope my whole family is there. My dad passed away 2019 my mom is in a nursing home and she's not a Catholic. As for my own family I am Catholic My wife and my kids are Catholic . So no that I will see them in heaven

[@josephalaguna]

That's a beautiful thought. I feel the same way.

[@YM-gi1qm]

I trust that what we cannort do for others, God can. We can pray, hope, and leave it to Him... We are not the saviour of the world, Jesus is, and He gives us free will to choose Him, or not, knowing that He may very well lose some of us. That's mind blowing!

[@amyschmier8090]

I love this message so much!! And as a mom when I worry about my children or grandchildren I remind myself that God loves them more than I ever can!

[@louisetaylor6952]

Amy, I pray as you do, and that is so comforting

[@jodieelizabeth4905]

Amen 🙏

[@southernlady1109]

Ask Blessed Virgin Mary, St Joseph, St Monica, your loved ones patron Saints and guardian Angel to pray for them and guide them. St Monica saved her son, Augustine from a wicked way of life to become a Dr of Gods Church, and eventually a Saint in Heaven.

[@amyschmier8090]

@@southernlady1109 thank you! My patron saint is st. Monica!

[@southernlady1109]

@@amyschmier8090 oh WOW! That’s so awesome! Something else I do, is bless myself and all my loved ones with Holy Water every chance I get. I don’t know if you know, Holy Water heals, cleanses, remits venial sin, grants 100 days from purgatory each time you bless with it, and drives satan/evil spirits away. It’s used in exorcisms to keep demons away.

[@SantisValiant]

That last sentence "We've got a good God"... that got me. Thank you Fr. Mike

[@katzolitamason6729]

Me too! Thank you Fr Mike!

[@sgc603]

Only God is good

[@jayweston6893]

I can only say wow. I came off Day 4 of Cat in a year to these words. This is one of your best vignettes of wisdom, "you cant out noble God", thank you. You are a gift in our time.

[@stephenholland3801]

As I convert I am learning so much, and unlearning more. In spite of what some think, it seems the Church is the least judgmental amongst all of Christendom. I remember what you said about Judas, and I was glad to hear that.

[@gpanthony]

One thing that always brings me comfort and I think is good to consider is that the heroes of Jesus's parables are usually those that society has labeled as the lost causes, the alien, and the enemy. I think there is a purpose and a point to this. That God finds value in all, and that we have little understanding of what creates that true value in each of us.

[@jameschin1786]

Thank you Fr. Mike, for this sermon. It's very difficult to explain this to non-Catholics. They get very defensive. I live in a bad neighbourhood whereby most of the neighbours are Buddhists. As a matter of fact, my family are the only Catholics here. The coldness and vile gossip that we face on a daily basis is unbelievable, simple because we're Catholics! Please pray for my family, Fr. Mike. I've blessed the front and back doors of my house on Epiphany Sunday. God bless.🙏🙏

[@graemehunter5403]

I will include your family in my prayers James. I too face the coldness in our period of aging and homelessness and the daily menacee of our chinese landlords so I can relate to you. St Michael the Archangel and The Blessed Virgin are powerful friends instead of these others who don't care for you.

[@Willandpetesmom]

Hang in there James. God is with you! Take care and I’ll add you to my prayers,

[@CookiehsAndDreams]

As someone who has atheistic friends and LGBTQ friends, this is a question I cry over. It's great to know God wants exactly what I want for them.

[@sttefaniesteche108]

You don't know how many times your ministry has helped me to return to God. Thank you father Mike, thanks Ascension Presents, you can always count with my prayers🙏🏼

[@karinagarcia3702]

Just don’t call him father that’s blasphemy. There’s only one true father and that’s our heavenly father and your dad here on earth and there’s no other father it’s blasphemy to call a sinful man father unless it’s your dad from birth or your heavenly father read it in the Bible. God bless you.

[@sttefaniesteche108]

@@karinagarcia3702 mirá Karina, te lo voy a decir simple y cortito, bien a lo argentino, por fa no me rompas las pelotas. Este no será el comentario más cristiano, pero sí que sale desde lo profundo del corazón. Estoy muy cansada de las personas como vos que solo buscan separar y no unir, que hablan en nombre de Dios solo para condenar, como si fueran Dios, algo peor que la supuesta blasfemia de la que nos acusas a prácticamente todos los católicos. Te pregunto, ¿no será mejor que enfoques tu energía en aportar cosas buenas y dejar de tirar comentarios de odio o desaprobación? Yo soy muy consciente de porqué le digo "padre" a los sacerdotes y te aseguro que no es para cometer blasfemia. Por último, con respecto a tu "God bless you" del final, dejame decirte que no va para nada en conformidad con tu comentario, es lo mismo que darle una cachetada a alguien y luego decirle "es porque te amo", dejemos de lado la hipocresía por favor. No me molesto en escribirte en inglés porque no vales la pena, y si yo me preocupo en aprender su idioma, preocupense ustedes por aprender cosas nuevas para salir de su burbuja de egocentrismo, o mínimamente usá el traductor. CHAU.

[@beatlecristian]

God wills for everyone to be saved, but that takes cooperation with His will.

[@kridler112]

Is salvation based on human will then if God’s will is apparently not enough to save people? I can’t reconcile this reasoning…

[@lubieludzi3532]

Its just extremely difficult to cooperate with someone who doesn’t cooperate either.

[@kridler112]

@@lubieludzi3532 sure but we’re humans… God is capable of getting anything he wants done…

[@kurtskrt]

​@@kridler112 I understand why you're having a hard time with this question, but let me see if I can help. Yes it is true, salvation is only possible if a person chooses it, but salvation is NOT a result of human effort. Salvation is a gift of God for all who humble themselves before Him and put their faith in Christ. The work of salvation was done by Jesus Christ dying on the cross to atone for our sins, but faith is rooted in the human heart. Faith is humbling yourself before God and trusting in Him to save you. Faith is necessary for salvation because it demonstrates our submission to God's will, rather than our own will. It is God's will that everyone is to be saved, but all who reject God are rejecting His will and are by definition trusting in their own will, rather than God's will. So to answer to your question: Faith is a demonstration of submission to God. God does not force us to submit to His will, but gives us the freedom to choose to follow His will or not. God doesn't want us to follow His will out of obligation, but out of love. Love is rooted in faith. When Christ died on the cross, He put His faith in God to raise Him from the dead. Faith is a demonstration of our love towards God and our trust in His love for us. If our faith in God was forced, then our love for Him would also be forced. We love God because He first loved us. God has already loved us enough that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us on the cross, but God will not force us to believe. He does not force us to believe because faith cannot be forced. All who love God will put their faith in Him just as Jesus did. God's love for us is demonstrated by His mercy to save us from our sins, but our love for God is demonstrated by our faith in Him to save us. God's will is for all to be saved by putting their faith in Christ, but faith cannot be forced or it would not be faith. All who love God will put their faith in Him. That is why it says in scripture, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28, NKJV). God's will is to work all things out for good to those who love Him. How do we love Him? By putting our faith in Him and living according to His will. All those who love God will be saved and that's the basis of God's will. That's why not everyone is saved. Not everyone loves God or trusts in His love for them. That's why it says in scripture, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." (John 3:19-21, NKJV). Hopefully this helped answer your question. If you still have any more questions, I'm happy to help! God bless.

[@kridler112]

@@kurtskrt right so since salvation is not a result of human effort why does it require our choice and will and submission? And how does it make sense that God is almighty yet unable to execute his will which is to reconcile his creation back to himself??

[@ChaseMac22]

You hit the nail on the head when you talked about people’s preference of darkness rather than light. That’s why saying you would be leaving comrades behind is totally false. It’s not like people are kicking and screaming saying, “God I want to be with you, why are you rejecting me?”. They are intentionally asking to be left alone and not to be bothered by God in their life. God is giving them exactly what they desire. C.S. Lewis said:”There are only two people in the end, those who say to God, thy will be done, and those to whom God says, thy will be done”. I would actually see it problematic if God were to force people into His presence that didn’t want anything to do with Him. So NO ONE who wants to be rescued is just getting left on the battlefield.

[@wms72]

I felt such inordinate love for a creature, that my heart didn't want to go to Heaven without him, though my mind rejected that feeling. But I do want Heaven, I do want God, Who deserves all our love.

[@-.Ren_Ren.-]

I'll pray for you.🤙🏾🕊💜 and continue to share, we'll pray for eachother ~your Catholic lil sis

[@wms72]

@@-.Ren_Ren.- Thank you. 🙏💕

[@amask99]

Well, you can't know for sure if that person won't be with heaven. You can evangelize to him and pray for him, offer sacrifices daily, as well as for others who need to be prayed for

[@oldmothergooseV2.0]

“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” - St. Julian of Norwich

[@rhwinner]

Love St julian. ❤️🙏♥️

[@zzc8505]

nope, that's not how it will be. As Fr. Schmitz reminded in another video, straight is the gate and narrow is the way, and wheat and tares will be separated. So, even the Scriptures confirm there will be "tares," and that means that now "all" shall be well. The "all shall be well"- type of adage is what modern newagey-Jesus-is-hippie-other-such-liberal garbage promotes. And it's this kind of false idea that lulls so many people into destruction.

[@JewelBlueIbanez]

Julian of Norwich isn’t a saint.

[@Emcron]

sounds like a good call for the works of mercy: minister to our neighbours in the present moment so that we’ll all go to heaven together!

[@maryannevicencio2667]

Thanks. God bless you more Fr. Mike ❤️

[@John.Christopher]

God the thought of most of my loved ones in damnation and yet that I will feel no pain in God's consolation about it is unnerving to me. Even as devout, I don't consider myself saved. I don't dare. But I trust God and obey him with all my heart.. May it be..

[@amask99]

You can evangelize to them, pray for them, fast so they are saved. It's not like anyone is set to be lost. God wants their salvation more than you do and it is possible if you fight for their souls

[@lorenzolozzigallo2589]

Fr. Schmitz has a real gift to enlighten our limited minds. God, I trust in You!

[@davidcardone6722]

We come into this world alone and we leave alone our path is ours and ours alone in the end we belong to the Lord and to Him alone

[@DarkAngel-cj6sx]

Enjoying the catechism in a year so interesting and love the facts the church fathers are quoted too. Praying so I can cling to our Lord and Our Lady until my last breath

[@theRealblah-gamerplays]

Thank you for explaining it so well. I hope we can all go to heaven!

[@peppernbo]

you got tobe baptized--submersed under water like christ did not sprinkled.

[@theRealblah-gamerplays]

@@peppernbo What about poured?

[@peppernbo]

@@theRealblah-gamerplays no , jesus was submerged. Sins are buried and then risen to new life

[@peppernbo]

Always follow Jesus example

[@theRealblah-gamerplays]

@@peppernbo Considering people baptized in the catholic church who are well over a billion i don't think pouring is not good enough.

[@thankfulones4919]

Fantastic answer! Way to go knocking it out of the park! I struggled with this thought too. But, now I get it. My heart will never be as loving as God's....no way! I often think/pray if I get my life right...God said he will bless/save my family done to the 3rd and 4th generations. I have asked him if he could scope up those past generations of my family tree as well and forgive those who failed/messed up...I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for them, too, despite all of their perfections and wounds. Lord, have mercy on my family tree. Help me to teach the next generation, give me your discipline and sacrifice within me to make lots of Holy moves in my words, thoughts, and actions. Help me to have more self- control and mercy. Peace and tku...your doing an excellent job for these young people. God bless you on your continued journey.

[@17CW68fNv]

We are the ones who make the choice. God wants us all to go to heaven. He loves all, and wants us all to be with Him. It's our choice. Pray for all to make the right choice and get there. God Bless. Claire.

[@kathleenwharton2139]

God is the One Who draws you to Him! Just ask Paul! He wasn’t going in the Right direction at all! God is God and we are Not. He told us Not to Judge. God will take whoever whenever He Wants to Heaven!

[@feliciadonald]

True.. God give us a freewill..so we have to make an effort to draw close to Him..once we are saved by Him let us unceasingly follow Him.. If we fall, immediately get up and continue the journey as Julia Kim of Naju Korea said, “Roly-Poly” 💪

[@kathleenwharton2139]

@@feliciadonald Paul was making No effort to draw close to God. He was stoning to death Christians. God Knocked him off his hi-horse and Blinded him. Then Taught him. You missed the point. It is Gods decision who is Saved and When! Not ours. God is God and we are Not!

[@17CW68fNv]

God chooses us, yes, but, we need to accept His choice. We have to give our all to Him, and say yes. We can say no, and not accept Him, and obviously many do. He will not force us to love Him.

[@kathleenwharton2139]

@@17CW68fNv I don’t think you have knowlege the power or the right to judge whether someone has turned down God. You people just don’t seem to get..that God has the Power and Control. We Do Not! No One is going to Turn down God! HE Has the Power!

[@audioacc]

Thank you! I’m saving this to watch again when I need to hear it. Deo gratias and thank YOU, Father. 💕🙏🏽

[@its4it]

This video and all the comments are just what I needed right now because there are a lot of people who are near and dear to my heart that don’t seem to be Christians.

[@amask99]

Please, witness to them, pray and fast with their conversions in mind. Pray the Rosary and the Mercy Chaplet. They can be saved

[@its4it]

I do pray for and witness to them, but to no avail, it would seem to me.

[@amask99]

@@its4it I think it's a question of time. They are probably going to live for years from now, so you don't have to give up. i've heard praying four parts of the Rosary daily can save people that are close to us, the Mercy Chaplet is also recommended. Ofc, they have free will and can reject salvation even when choosing it becomes easier, but they can change

[@monikasolymos2396]

Beautiful question. Thank you Father for the perfect answer. I would only admit one thing: Giving free will to humanity is the most perfect love. Makes us like God, that we can choose whatever we want. If we choose the love of God in return, we also choose His righteusness, commandments, and will. We pray for each other, but we give others free will, and leave the door open. It is not we, or God, who leave those behind, who don't want to join, it is their free will. Nobody would love noone truly by force, only by free will. There is no other perfect love.

[@j.maruri8572]

There are many wrong trains of thought here. 1. That person loves other people more than God, for he is willing to lose God over them. 2. God invites everyone to heaven and leaves the choice to us because he loves us, respects us and wants us to take the steps necessary to be with him. 3. If you truly love others, you will advise them on doing good (for their body, mind, soul, for their communities, their families, their work area, etc). If you only say you love people, blinding yourself from their sin and the evil in their lives, you are okay with them damaging themselves and do not truly love them, you love the familiarity of them and their actions which is not always good, holy or righteous. If you love them you will advise them and help them on their path towards God. You don’t have to be a saint to reach heaven, do what you can in your own life.

[@adanvillaboxing7841]

We are called to be saints

[@adanvillaboxing7841]

That guy doesint know what he’s saying dude 😂

[@toeknee5565]

​@@adanvillaboxing7841 but why would God create someone knowing they would reject him?

[@adanvillaboxing7841]

@@toeknee5565 he didint, that’s your choice

[@toeknee5565]

@@adanvillaboxing7841 but is he all-knowing or not?

[@billierajzer]

💯 Fr. Mike - one HUGE part of heaven is the restoration of relationship with God. Sin separates us from relationship with him. It’s not about the PLACE or a restriction preventing us from a place - it’s about God and desiring to walk with him more than any other desire. (Matt. 22:23-33)

[@joshroberts7619]

This question always tugs at my heart. When father reminds us we are not more noble than God and we cannot love our own and friends more than he does, reminds me faith is a reasoned trust and to keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

[@kellybroussard4880]

Great commentary! Pray and trust God!

[@memebush9939]

Thanks!

[@mraemartinez]

This is a very powerful & apropos discussion. Thank you Padre Mike. Many will cavalierly dismiss this issue (I used to!) but it is extremely serious. ANIMO! ✌🏽💖😇🙏🏽✝️🕊📿🔥

[@sandyshore8787]

Thank you Father so much! You are such a great help. Do not be afraid, says the Lord. I am the way and the truth and the life.

[@peppernbo]

the bible says to call no man father

[@sandyshore8787]

@@peppernbo I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school for 12 years in the 60’s and 70’s and we were taught to and always called priests Father, and I always will. They are ordained in the sacrament of Holy Orders and take the name Father along with their own name.

[@sandyshore8787]

PS. We all call our dads our father.

[@peppernbo]

@@sandyshore8787 the bible says not to call anyone father except for God. God is our father not man made tradition

[@peppernbo]

@@sandyshore8787 the bible is talking about religious ecclesiastical superiority

[@ricktritolowow7706]

This YT Channel is a blessing indeed , thank you Fr.Mike

[@SweetyJulie-7]

What a wonderful explanation Father...so enlightening❤ God bless you🙏✝️

[@kentd4762]

Thank you, Fr. Mike. Great explanation!

[@michaelsalter3459]

Great video and great message Fr. Mike!

[@verdaniacreator]

I love your guidance, Fr. Mike! Currently going though CIY

[@cheraybisaya]

Beautiful message, God is love indeed!

[@HCD111]

Thank you so much Father Amen✝️❤️

[@peppernbo]

call no one father the bible says

[@franmosconi4680]

Great video, Fr. Mike! Thank you. I am wrestling with a loved one's stated plans to step further away from God. This video encourages me to keep on with my prayer and my discernment on how God wants me to be a part of my loved one's choosing for God!

[@ItzDucke]

Thank you For teaching me about this. I am very grateful

[@R_Thomp]

God loves every person more than any of us because he is the Apha & the Omega, everything about Him is WAY more powerful including His love!

[@sherin5201]

I am happy anywhere as long as Jesus Christ is there

[@kojoarmah3915]

Thank you Fr. Mike and thank you Ascension presents. God bless you all

[@rruiz4145]

Thank you for this beautiful message! This is perfect for me to share with my kids! As they get older, they start putting attention to what the world has to say and question certain things. So this will be a great explanation to a question they may come across in the future. Blessings everyone!

[@bookishtheory]

“Got a good God” amen to that. We might not fully understand everything but we have a good God…❤

[@GluteusMaximus21]

Amen!! Well said Fr. Mike.

[@maryanne8395]

I believe that we can never fully comprehend the extent of God's love and mercy so that even in that nanosecond between life and death, God can still step in and change a lost heart. Divine Mercy gives us this hope and Fr Chris Alar has a wonderful teaching on this as well in sharing a story about his grandmother who took her life. The danger is that if you've never known God throughout your life, will you even recognize Him or His mercy at the time of your death, when darkness and light are fighting for your soul?

[@amask99]

That's why it's so important to evangelize, pray and fast daily, so that all we do in our lives is a prayer for those who need it. There are also specific prayers for that, like the Mercy Chaplet. There are also promises connected with wearing a brown scapular given officially by a priest. You can ask for that are read more about it

[@BlessedisShe]

Thank you Fr. Mike!

[@yb5515]

In the middle of a war, if one of your comrades decides to switch sides, what do you do? If you love him, you try to convince him he is making the wrong decision but in the end, if you love him, you let him go.

[@texasfamilylife8397]

That’s a really good point.

[@SuperSaiyanKrillin]

Not a great analogy at all. Are you honestly saying that if a US soldier wanted to join Afghan terrorists it would be loving to let him go to them ?

[@yb5515]

@@SuperSaiyanKrillin What are your options? If you tried to restrain or harm a fellow soldier, you would be arrested. Use every means of persuasion that you have including giving your life for him (as Jesus did for you) but in the end if he decides to go you cannot stop him. In any case, joining him is not an option as then you would both be lost.

[@SuperSaiyanKrillin]

@@yb5515 if we as individuals can't stop him - the US military would absolutely stop him and they would be just to do so

[@DavidLTJ]

Take the analogy of the loss of cabin pressure on an jetplane. The instruction is: "place the oxygen mask over your nose and mouth before attempting to assist others." Others will see the beauty of your life as the Holy Spirit continues to refine you. They (your close friends and family) would be curious, which opens the door for us to lead them to the right path.

[@psalm5180]

This is a good discussion. The person who asked this question and who comes from a no man left behind stance, should now go out to all the world and tell the good news so that no one is left behind. He/she will have done what God has called them to do. The people that he/she has preached to will go out as well. Not all will, but it starts with a small fire that will spread. A Holy Spirit Fire if you will.

[@NewlyAwakened]

And he will likely learn quickly where Jesus taught to shake the dust from your feet and to not cast pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet and tear you to pieces.

[@bearinasuithaha8417]

@@NewlyAwakened or he will learn that other people have religious beliefs different from his own that are just a grounded

[@peggybruening4415]

Fr. Mike, you always discuss, preach, tough topics with great truth and love. Thank you! Praying for you!

[@Ayyeliki]

Excellent discussion, per usual! Bottom line ( and this may be quite the challenge for many of us): “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:37

[@AndrewKendall71]

When dealing with potentially losing others in eternity, it's beneficial to think of God's character and ability. He is utterly trustworthy with what and who we care about, loving them beyond our capacities. And he is utterly capable of perfect comfort in a way we cannot at all understand.

[@theRealblah-gamerplays]

I just went to my first confession today and i felt so happy after everyone get to baptism and confession the effects of grace are REAL.

[@saskiaheuninckx3121]

So beautiful, thank you so much Father Mike!!

[@Cher170]

Awesome. Well said Fr. Mike.

[@lilacmist04]

I love your message about at the heart of it, that we should trust in God and His love. I don’t know if this is true, but I’ve always believed that God reaches out to everyone at death to accept Him. Jesus gave criminals on the cross a chance, and I think God does the same for everyone on the planet because He loves us all. Of course no one can know fully God’s plan and everything He does. Thanks Father Mike for the confirmation that when we are afraid or worried, that bottom line is that God loves us all and to trust in Him.

[@aukeycastle390]

"You are not more noble than God." That will whip anyone off their high horse pretty quick.

[@R_Thomp]

Thank you Father!

[@frs05]

This was beautiful, Fr. Mike. God bless you. Greetings from South America

[@annb9029]

I hear people say what you’re talking about all the time , this needed to be addressed, about people who do not want to stop sinning and worrying about not going to heaven, mine question is more will you miss people that are not there

[@JamesMathison98]

No because we will have the beatific vision of the almighty just one, and know that His decision is perfect. We will not be able to feel sorrow because of this vision.

[@marvalice3455]

I pray for my family every day, and desperately want their salvation. But, I'm not in it for them. I pray for Christian unity, and that we can all stand together, but my loyalty is to God. I'm in it for him, and he is all I want. I will beg for everyone else, because I love humanity. But I know he loves mankind even more than I do, and I will submit to his will. Whatever it may be

[@Plumthyme3849]

What I learned about this is that you said we have the ability in Christ to choose God or not. I say that I choose his will more than my will.

[@jakubratajczak9269]

God loves your loved ones more than you could ever do, and your job is to love God more than your loved ones. To love Him fully and trust Him fully, that He loves them so much more than you, and will do anything to save them, because it is His will and you, His beloved child, are asking Him to do so. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:13-14

[@skarbowy15]

I love your message, Father! It really blessed my day!

[@joebriggs5781]

This is one of the reasons I’ve never been able to go back to Catholicism/Christianity. It’s sick to turn your back on people you love, many of whom may have gone down other paths because horrible things happened to them in life, because of a reward you are seeking. I was in the military and I will have the same mentality of not leaving my brothers and sisters behind, even if it means sacrificing the reward for myself. To me, that’s what actual love is all about.

[@Unclenate1000]

agreed, and if it were actually true, we would all know for sure. No reason whatsoever to allow for such confusion and ignorance around the world on god's part.

[@amask99]

The problem is- if someone decides to hurt themselves, it isn't necessarily a loving thing if we also hurt ourselves to be loyal. It just means more people suffering. We have an obligation to care about others' salvation, pray for them and witness to them. It's not like we leave them, we should do everything so that they turn to God. But if they really don't want to choose God, it doesn't make sense that we also reject God. It doesn't help anyone, just leaves more hurt

[@amask99]

Also, God loves us and wants our salvation more than we do, so please, give Him a chance. He also sees difficult situations, His judgement is merciful and just, we choose what we actually want more. So if our vhoice was dictated by a difficult situation, it might not have been a mortal sin. It is also taken into consideration

[@amask99]

@@michaelf40 It depends on a denomination. We as Catholics believe that although it's the easiest to be saved as a formal member of the Church, there is also an invincible ignorance and those who've never heard about Jesus are not automatically lost. They have natural law written in their hearts and can choose to seek the Truth as they understand it. It is possible for them to be saved, they aren't judged based on what they couldn't have known. But it would be the best if everyone was introduced to the Catholic faith

[@crazygamer3054]

@@amask99if what your saying is true means he only created us for his own entertainment

[@junramos2002]

It really is possible to love people more than god loves people. If I were the creator, I could create heaven were those who choose me enjoy eternal bliss, and those who don't could simply be annihilated instead of suffer in pain forever and ever. So yes, people definitely could love more than god does. The concept of eternal suffering and pain simply because he is not with god could only be done by a monster.

[@Theresabrown1805]

I wish you were my Parish priest. The only other priest I've ever heard speak his homily in such away we all understand and felt like he speaking to each of us personally was temporary redemtorist priest I felt what he was saying was so powerful and passionate I felt as if God was with him.

[@atrifle8364]

Priests are mostly about the sacraments. It would be wonderful if they all paired that service apologetics. But modernly we have access to "best of" throughout KZbin and the like. It's enough. The gift is the grace of the sacraments.

[@Catholicity-uw2yb]

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: The Church prays that no one shall be lost: “Lord, let me never be parted from you.” If it is true that no one can save himself, it is also true that God “desires all men to be saved” (1Tim 2:4), and that for him “all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).

[@stein1919]

i guess at the end of the day i have to have faith that God is good and just and is going to make it right in the end, whatever that is. it's a hard leap sometimes.

[@bettyquinn5197]

Thank you Father Mike. Best teaching on Heaven I've heard.

[@peppernbo]

call no one father

[@shelley2086]

A message everyone should hear. Thank you very much!

[@giarose6493]

God make me Holy remove all evil and sins ☘️❤️🙏🙏🙏🌹💪🩸🇺🇸☘️🌹

[@janetandrews1306]

Live this explanation Father Mike.

[@Phoniv]

thanks for the post, I had the same question, and now its answered from the position of the church.

[@Eraldo_Coil]

It’s such a simple answer. Like a parent, if you do something wrong, you are punished. That doesn’t mean your parents don’t love you and care for you.

[@LilMadX]

But it’s not. Being punished eternally is barbaric, no matter how bad the crime is.

[@oliverneftaliandradeayala8504]

​@@LilMadX God gave us free will and he respects his decision, if you choose to live in sin he will not force you to live all eternity besides him

[@LilMadX]

@@oliverneftaliandradeayala8504 my point still remains, why does it need to be eternal? Seems unnecessary.

[@adanvillaboxing7841]

@@LilMadXyou’re still alive and well and have some wisdom to know how things will play out. Why not make the change now instead of questioning god ?

[@lindawright2557]

As much as I love my friends and family and would want them to be with me in Heaven, I can’t imagine anything taking the place of being in God’s presence. That, to me, is the be all and end all

[@simonrankin9177]

People have a choice ,its difficult to change a non believers mind ,ive tried many times , Christianity is really simple ,but so many people complicate it along the way , I plead with people to read there Bibles and ask God for guidance, many you tube preachers are not biblically trained ,very often its simply there take on things....

[@yanelypena1050]

Thank you ❗️🙏🙏🙏

[@MBFModernHomesteading]

‘That all shall be saved’ by David Bentley Hart does a fantastic job at answering this question.

[@amask99]

Hm... I can see where you're coming from. We should pray, fast and offer sacrifices for those who are alive now and will come into existence in the future so that they're saved. It's also important to evangelize in ways God wants us to. But I don't know if we can hope all people choose God, it depends on them. The possibily of rejecting God is very real, that's why we have to work hard, battle for souls and trust in God's Mercy

[@MBFModernHomesteading]

@@amask99 Hopefully Universalism was actually taught by Hans Urs von Balthasar who was a Catholic Bishop (appointed Cardinal but passed away before formally recognized) . He wrote a book called "Dare we Hope' also it is endorsed by Bishop Barron. I highly recommend both the work by David Bentley Hart in my original comment and this one to get a full perspective of the position. God Bless.

[@diane4983]

Our loved ones should never come before our love and trust in God. Our job is to raise our loved ones in the faith. The beautiful gift of free will is something God gave all of us. Pride and lack of humility are where these questions come from. Those who believe themselves so wise and above God...

[@anneturner2759]

Makes perfect sense…. Gimme the light, gimme the light, gimme the light !

[@junoelnacalaban8928]

HI FATHER!

[@abcd-wg2iq]

Nobody can prefer "darkness" over "light". If light is perfection then only way someone would choose darkness is if they made a mistake, saw some sort of light in it. And how can someone who is mistaken be judged? These people could be punished , as a temporary disciplinary learning method, but not destroyed. Never heard about anyone who did bad things and not believing there is some goodness or at least thrutfulness to it.

[@anthonym9716]

Lord have mercy and save our souls

[@mariod2890]

I was once told by a very holy priest that no matter what we've done in our lives God still gives us the opportunity to be with him after we die. That gives me so much hope for myself and for humanity.

[@M4TCH3SM4L0N3]

That is certainly a comforting thought, and it is close to what I believe and hope to be true about death, but I will also caution that nobody knows exactly what happens when we die or in what manner that choice will be presented to us. This is why it is crucial to make a habit in our lives of saying "Lord, not mine but your will be done." There are so many things that we grow attached to in this world that are not of God, even if they seem to fit in with the natural and holy desires God has given us. It may be that upon my death, for example, I will be confronted with all of the sins I've committed in my life, all of the harm I have done, and asked to give an account for my actions. Now, scripture teaches that we must confess our sins and repent, but I know that when someone confronts me with something that I have done wrong, my first instinct is to get defensive and to try to explain/justify my actions or to seek opportunities to blame others. If I cannot accept accountability for my own actions while forgiving those who led me to those actions or provoked me, how can I begin to ask for forgiveness? Lord, help me to be humble and forgiving of others, and grant me the grace to recognize and acknowledge my faults without defensiveness or resentment.

[@harperjdav]

As you say, we are not more noble than God. So I guess the other side of this coin would be to suggest that since I would not leave someone behind, and I am not more noble than God, then surely God would leave no one behind.

[@jmelinda6232]

I like the way you think 😏

[@atrifle8364]

Free will is a gift. We can choose to reject God

[@brianlebreton7011]

I’m so thankful God has given us someone in our age/era willing to tackle these hard deceptions we tell ourselves. Thank you Father for your insights. What I love about this message in particular is how you take off the veil of self-righteousness hidden in our reasoning which is always a struggle.

[@EduardoRomero1965]

Beautiful!! Reminds me of the Great Divorce from CS Lewis.

[@rosem6877]

I have said this, emanating from the depths of my heart: “I cannot go to Heaven without my (now adult) children.” This is my humanity speaking, I carried them for nine months, I nursed them, I was with them every step of the way, they are a part of me. It’s very complex because I left the Catholic Church as a teen and later chose not to baptize my children thinking the right thing was to let them choose what to believe when they were grown. Having rediscovered my faith with fervor last year I now regret that decision, among other things. Please understand, I do not feel noble or that I love more than Almighty God; I am expressing the sadness of the prospect of a fathomless loss. I often pray “make me die to everything of this world, that at death separation from all earthly things may be easy” in the 4th station of “The Way of the Cross for the Holy Souls in Purgatory “ and every time I wonder if that includes my strong feelings about my kids….

[@marvalice3455]

I don't have any kids, but I grew up very close to my younger brother and sister. Neither are in the church, and my heart aches for their soul. I know it's not the same, but I at least have a taste of the feeling

[@hoakerhoaker]

I hear your pain, from both of you. Trust that God has a plan. And mercy is love’s second name.

[@amask99]

I think you can still use that pain to pray to God so He changes their hearts. Fasting, the Mercy Chaplet, the Rosary. They are not beyond saving, really!

[@romanokidd5285]

Great explanation Father on this subject. I do need to address the military example used though. With 30 years of experience in the military, it is very true that we never leave a person behind. But when you join the military, you accept a new way of life that is different from the life you used to have and with new requirements and ethos (kind of like becoming a Christian). It is a life of honor, courage, and commitment placing God, country, and others above self. But this requires the person to accept the rules and regulations of military life. If they refuse to follow orders or the regulations in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), they cannot stay in the military service. They are discharged because they place themselves and their will/desires above the good of the unit and the military service they belong to; especially if they are destructive or immoral decisions/addictions, such as drug or alcohol addiction, theft, murder, rape, etc. It is not that we left that person behind, but they choose not to be part of the military through their actions. The military is infinitely less loving, compassionate, fair, or honorable than God is, so his thought process is flawed, to begin with.

[@PyroLooney01]

Dear Fr. Schmitz, how does someone return to the Catholic faith after not practicing for several years and committing several mortal sins? How do you begin to heal your relationship with God after such a long time?

[@AA-lq5bj]

Recommend you read The Parable of The Lost Son, “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ Luke 15

[@robertpapp9013]

I love God and jesus

[@hunivan7672]

"You are not more noble then God." Exactly. If even a lowly human being can choose to reject Heaven unless all are saved, then God is definitely going to go even farther then that.

[@kpj9522]

My question is if your mantra from the military is leave no one behind, then isn’t it up to you to evangelize your friends so that they will hopefully choose God and not be left behind?

[@Yahda7]

What about people born mentally ill without much capacity to help themselves or receive the grace of God?

[@ValentinaKajcinovska]

God loves them too simple ❤

[@craigpdyer]

Very thoughtful. Thank you.

[@JohnTwoFive]

Many thanks for the lessons and prayers!

[@Bigchilezlife]

Thank you fr.Mike!!!