"Main Character: Perfect" | The Second Sunday of Advent (Fr. Mike's Homily)

Perfectionism can move us from caring to quitting.
Spiritual perfectionism can lead people who care about the Faith and who love God to a place of harshness and hurry so much that they just want to give up. But the Gospel reminds us that God is gentle and patient.
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[@nickca6104]

I recently became Roman Catholic and I just started watching Father Mike. I love how he explains the word of God. He explains it in such an easy to understand way!

[@hazysyd]

Thank you so much Father, I really needed to hear this! I struggle immensely with scrupulosity and worry and I’m always so frustrated that I’m not “doing it right”. It’s been a terrible torment, and I have not had peace. It’s a poisonous thing and has caused me hardly bearable depression and anxiety at times. But thankfully, especially through wonderful words of life like this, Jesus is helping me get out of it. God bless you Fr. Mike!

[@jamesmcgrath3841]

@hazysyd Indeed. Same here. Course you do know that scrupulosity is based on pride? When you see that it makes it far easier to overcome.

[@michellebegin386]

I also share the same symptoms of scrupulosity and perfection in prayer … which I cannot always do. It’s basically a torment.

[@katief.c.1946]

I’ll pray for you!

[@TheGlantzs]

St. Therese the Little Flower struggled with scrupulosity for two years and said it was the most painful thing she ever went through. Two points here. It’s temporary. Pray to her to help you heal. God bless!

[@ginapiro4825]

I struggle with scrupulosity and perfectionism too. Maybe we can offer our sufferings to God. On behalf of ourselves and others

[@Mike-oe6fl]

May we worship only God and His son Jesus alone. No one else.

[@andrewhatton1606]

God loves us and I love the Catholic Church

[@TheJoyofFamily]

God woke me up at 3am to hear this and learn. Thank you Lord. I need to stop moving the goalposts.

[@sandraregenye4827]

Thank you so much for your intensive focus on our Shepard who wants us to accept His grace and help He is God not me

[@tinacassese2882]

I've been struggling to believe that God actually loves me. I am constantly finding the same sins over and over. And never seem to make any progress. Lord, help me to pray. Help me to know what you want from me. Lord, help me to know and feel that you love me.

[@dcinsc7]

Same here. All I can do is keep praying and keep tryin’ to get right.

[@mariatothemoon]

I pray that you feel His love through other people so it is tangible. And I also pray for signs from God specifically meant for you. The mere fact that you still can pray means He's also reaching out to you from His end. Keep praying. 💗🙏

[@tinacassese2882]

@@dcinsc7 Thank you for your comment. It's nice to know that I have virtual friends out in the universe. I hope the God will lift you up. Lift your spirit up when you will feel better too.

[@tinacassese2882]

@@mariatothemoon Thank you for your kind words. But I don't ever give up. I just wish I felt better. I see good things happening, but all the people who prayed. But it doesn't seem to be that way for me. No pleasure, thank you for your comments.

[@jalita26]

Thanks Fr Mike

[@ChildofGod98765]

No matter what we are facing God will give us strength. Jesus has turned my pain into purpose. I’m a single mother battling heart disease and lupus. I’m overwhelmed at times because both of my children have autism. I started homeschooling them last year so my hours to work are limited. I keep faith even as I struggle to pay rent, and as I struggle to buy groceries for my children. I’m ashamed of my situation. I want to give up yet God gives me strength. Strength to go on. Strength to share my testimony. No matter our struggles God will never leave our side. Praise God and keep faith no matter what.❤❤❤

[@moniquearseneault1458]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@lindamccloud-bondoc963]

God bless you in your struggles.

[@cathywolford3306]

🙏❤🙏

[@tammeyquirion6816]

Prayers for you. Hebrews 4:16 has helped me get through challenging times.

[@tammys7341]

Oh boy, did I ever listen to this talk at the right time! There’s no doubt God lead me to this talk, I so needed to hear these words. Thank-you Father Mike, you are amazing🙏🙏🙏.

[@mariocano2767]

I've listened to this sermon 4 times

[@yem872]

very timely to me ❤ Thank you father 🙏🙏

[@benbing3926]

This is such a great video for those of us who struggle with scrupulosity and anxiety. Thank you.

[@Deus_timens_et_amantes_vulpes]

Thank you Father it definitely has helped me out a lot thank you very very much

[@nathanngumi8467]

Word. Thanks Fr, a very encouraging message!

[@NossaSenhoraDasGracas1127]

Everyone! PRAY for Fr.Mike and his team he needs prayers more than ever before

[@shaluyehshuah]

Happy Birthday Fr. Mike🎉🎂

[@laceydeancoaching]

Struggling with that maladaptive perfectionism due to trauma and a life of a lot of suffering in my family. Praying for healing, deep surrender, and relief of that “disappointing”, not enough feeling.

[@esky6789]

Thank you, Mike! God Bless You

[@amalamolnobin9798]

Thank you for this eye- opening message Father....Loved it.....!!

[@mauriciocomesana1272]

This is exactly what I was nededing, exactly what I prayed for Today. Thank You so much Fr. Mike, You have been the messenger for me today.

[@laceydeancoaching]

This was so powerful to me. Thank you.

[@shaluyehshuah]

I think what burns me out is to solely follow the rules, it's when I break a few of em here and there. That makes me feel like when I don't got it, he got my back.

[@padgettga]

amen

[@giuseppinaprocopio3739]

You are so handsen! God bless,!

[@VanillaBean15]

This is exactly what I needed :') thank you so much Father Mike! It's perfectly timed! I had found myself feeling lonely, judgy, cranky and overall disapointed in everyone arround me 😢 this totally explains why I was feeling that way and why things were not moving forward ❤ Thank You God, for allowing me to hear this VERY NEEDED message. You're the bestest ❤😊

[@jaihartono7542]

Thanks Fr Mike. Your homily touched my deeper heart. I can feel the tenderness of God’s love. Praise be to You, Abba Father ❤

[@mikeguillory4422]

Thank you, Father Mike! Needed to hear this today! “The main character is Jesus, not you. Don’t think you have to carry the burden that the main character wants to carry.”

[@NathanielPratt-ru6kj]

I love you Father Mike never miss an opportunity to hear your love and devotion to our King, pray for us Lutherans who are losing our faith

[@gerry.shafer6101]

HANG. IN. THERE. & GOD. BLESS. YOU. !!!

[@carolcarroll6716]

I will pray. 🙏

[@mariatothemoon]

I too will pray. 🙏

[@jimamos8681]

Thankks for reminding me that Jesus is the star of my life! I will try to remember His Mercy as I struggle with the "paralysis of analysis" as I grow from malfunctioning to functioning!

[@kandyestepho807]

Wow this was so good!! Praise be Jesus Christ. May the lord Jesus bless you❤

[@leoncaruthers]

Matthew 5:48

[@vkmir]

Fr. Mike: I love your teachings. Your love, wisdom and humility toward all is amazing. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. Pray for you every day. God bless. 🙏💞🙏

[@rachelmcentarffer3190]

God bless you, Father Mike, for this great message!

[@shaluyehshuah]

Thanks!

[@elib3elib3]

This one hit home… thank you again for a great homily Fr Mike

[@janefosha7847]

Thank you for this excellent helpful homily!

[@antoniocortescuevas1928]

Thank you Father Mike for this beautiful homilies. AMDG

[@staceyspargo5897]

Thank you Father, I so needed to hear these words. I love Jesus so much...and have felt not enough, always getting tasks less than, falling short. He is my savior and I have let him down. Forgiveness has been my goal in this year and this has been difficult but I keep trying. It is a matter of letting Him love me with his grace and mercy. Thank you so much.

[@shannonryan2447]

Thank you, Father Mike! 💜 Feels like you are speaking right to me. So grateful for this. Praying a Hail Mary for you!

[@mctess3783]

Thank you Father Mike.

[@marieyakezatemendoza7972]

Thank you very much for this beautiful sermon Father Mike

[@kathycorkery]

Thank you God!

[@becb1637]

You have been on my heart and mind lately and know prayers are being lifted for you daily.... To be still and know He is God and that all that you "feel" is not yours to carry. May you find His peace that passes all understanding when you stop and allow yourself to rest in Him.

[@PeacechiefTV]

thank u so much Fr. Mike for your greatly needed message! such perfect timing too..

[@theCatbalou]

This couldn't have come at a better time. Fr. Mike, thank you!! ❤

[@marlenebuchholz3217]

Yes that has happened in the past. But I was told by a priest to look at the good the I do, even if I mess up. And keep preserving. I ask MaMa Mary for the gift, every day

[@Elisa8637]

God loves you just as much if you are at the back of the church as if you were at the front I was thinking. This is such a priceless talk & so many need to hear this & remember that it is God who converts & draws people. & that the Church is God’s first & foremost & it is He who keeps it going. ❤

[@mssixty3426]

Wow! First I've heard this correlation between perfectionism and procrastination - at my age! I had some ideas of this in some areas of life, but hadn't carried it over to more areas in my life. Thank you Father Mike!

[@lidiaportolese9957]

I needed to hear this today 🙏 thanks again Father Mike ❤

[@chinothedreamgiver1629]

Hit the nail on the head.

[@Tishcat]

Again!

[@christinastateham3048]

Very nice Father Mike, there are many people who feel like God would never love them because of their sins. Or still not forgiving yourself after you've repented. I remind myself that is denying Jesus gift to us on the cross. He forgives, that's what He does, loves and forgives.💖

[@natd2330]

Thank you for this homily, Fr Mike. I needed to hear this.

[@katesanchez3407]

Thank you so much!!

[@R_Thomp]

Thank you Father

[@judym.2124]

Father Mike, Thank you for all you put into your homilies. I keep playing this over and over again. I need to hear this and remember and have permission to just soak in God’s love. May God continue to bless you and I hope you soak in God’s love.🙏💕🙏

[@lillight4JC]

Guilty as charged!!!🥺 Thank you again, dear Fr Mike! Eternally grateful for you! God bless you abundantly and unceasingly🙏🏼♥️🕊🙏🏼

[@kcor1961]

Thank you Father!

[@elaineborn6135]

You're speaking into my heart, Fr. Mike!!

[@PEFitness]

Thank you Father Mike!!! 🙏🙏🙏

[@annemcgoff8495]

Thank you!🙏🥲

[@richardvoyek6180]

Thank you Fr Mike your homily was an eye opener.

[@gladysvaca2795]

Thank you. I needed these words

[@mommalovato4003]

Thank you Father for always speaking the truth. 🙏🏽 God bless you.

[@williambrennan9662]

Thanks Father Mike said so well God Bless✝️🙏

[@bejfinley]

We need someone to make this homily into a cartoon for kids. ❤

[@NossaSenhoraDasGracas1127]

Ok ❤ it will take about 3 months to make

[@kelkabot]

Why?

[@VIVACRISTOREY-]

Thank Father Mike. For sometime I have been struggling because I want to fly towards my LORD and I kept trying to push my Family hard and never did I stop and think that they will have theyre own pace. Ive been in such error. VIVA CRISTO REY!!

[@blacksheep11277]

I needed this blessed word!! Thank you! 💜

[@annmarielee9677]

Wow this talk is soooo good...& So true...."be a human!". thank you!!

[@andrear1105]

Thank you so much

[@ferinejohannes3986]

Fr. Mike, I think this is your best homily I have ever watched!! Absolutely amazing! Thank you Father! 🙏. May God continue to bless you.

[@norasorenson8559]

Thank you Father Mike. Really needed to hear this. Struggling in many areas in my life.🙏🙏

[@MrsAngelala]

Thank you.

[@yem872]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ may God receive your mother in his loving home❤❤

[@3176sue]

I need to listen to this each day this week ; or longer. Thank you Holy Spirit for Fr Mike. Father, I need this more than you’ll ever know. ❤️. (Also, I believe HS sent me week 1 of last years Advent Homily. Sitting in front of Jesus at adoration for 29 min every day for a month. I feel so distant from God. I know this is something I desperately need to do)

[@MaryJoJohnson-fs5yz]

You just answered a question for me that I hadn’t formulated yet. And the answer is what I needed desperately to hear. Now to settle that answer into my heart and spirit! God bless you Father!

[@CedarSam]

I was doing OK until the end and then 😭. This is one to revisit often. Thank you!

[@tammeyquirion6816]

I cried when I listened to this because this is where I am at. Thank you Fr. Mike for helping me with words to pray to invite Jesus to be part of my story. I'm tempted to list my burdens and to justify, but then I remember that is the maladaptive perfectionist. God knows where I am and I invite him to help me. I surrender, I can't do it my way. YOU are God, I am not. Please God lift my burdens, lighten my load, let me see and feel that you love me. The other day I was at recess duty, (I'm a teacher) and randomly a little fourth grade girl gave me this beautiful star covered in gold sprinkles, She was handing it to me and I told her how pretty it was. I was giving it back to her and she told me it was for me. Thank you Jesus. It was a moment that I'm connecting to this message of who the "real star" is. I'm keeping it on my desk, in my classroom as a reminder.

[@detteb5540]

"Called for the higher calling" this makes sense ever otherwise anyone could live on FALL not to strive for Holiness where God awaits us all. In giving Jesus the permission to be on it and meet Him in that need, to be the main character in our lives. Beautiful reflection for this second Advent. Following this homily for this advent season. "Happiness comes from recognizing that I am called for the higher purpose". Caring not quiting.💜 Thank You Fr. Mike.

[@reginaclaire4680]

My son has the adaptive perfectionist thing. He doesnt suffer from negative ambitiousness for its own sake.

[@samanthaortiz6595]

Amen 🙏🏻

[@huongtn6]

Amen 🙏🙏🙏✝️❤️thank you Father Mike ❤️

[@DonMiguelCarlos]

Sometimes there are actually some people who don't want to be the main character but are left with no choice but to be that because alot will crumble when they let go, alot of people depend on them...Eversince I was a kid I wish I could just be on the sidelines and not be the main character but I always find myself in the middle of it all and everyone around me looking to me to solve the problem...and there are some times when I did let it go and something bad happens when I do so I don't do it anymore...but God always clutch provides but I'm tired😔

[@lindaharper2870]

Mic drop Fr Mike 🎤🙏🏻

[@leigh2827]

loved this

[@Eternallyhopeful7788]

Very Good! ❤❤❤

[@kathybirkett3848]

❤🙏

[@kesses9041]

THANK YOU!! Your words (or rather His through you) really helped me a lot! Am crying now. Reedeming tears and pain. I was to preach this Sunday and almost fled just minutes before because I felt so utterly unqualified and as if I really wasnt worthy or capable of filling such big shoes. But I stayed, I prayed and I confessed it all, all my sins too, and cried for help. And then did what I felt He called me to do. I just pray the people there heard what they needed to hear. 🙏❤️

[@sarahyoupi385]

❤

[@msgoody2shoes959]

We are to help each other but I’ve discovered the reasons why so many Catholics distrust... yup forgiveness is given, with the expectation of consent in the future.

[@moniquearseneault1458]

❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@britaahonen1489]

Yeah. There's no word for someone that overtakes your body, and your a professional instantly, you don't have to do it all,

[@user-is3tx9eo6c]

With all love and respect Mike , I would like to hear your opinion on pope Francis and his recent decisions !

[@DadInFastForward]

2:47. This has happened with my faith my entire life. It seems to run in a cycle. My faith grows, I get close, I make a mistake, I get discouraged, I fall back, I get in the whacky hate love thing, I walk away and then God calls me and Im like wtf, now you are calling me, at my lowest and of course I say yes even though a part of me is so exhausted and just wants to say no. and then Rinse and repeat. It does seem that every "low" is "higher" than the last. Almost like the foundation, the relationship gets stronger and stronger.

[@emilyl6746]

Lol I came out the womb a maladaptive perfectionist. I was my mother's most difficult pregnancy. Her labor was lengthy because I wouldn't come out until I was good and ready. Singleness has been the area of my life where I see my perfectionist tendencies. I avoid situations where I'll be the odd wheel. I strive to look my best physically. I approach dating as if it's anything else: something that has to be worked hard at to be good enough. When I've been ghosted I fixate on what I could have said or done to cause it. I replay interactions over and over in my head to try to figure out the exact moment in which the other person decided I wasn't worth it. I'm hard on myself because I've heard people's opinions which are that if an attractive woman is still single by a certain point then the problem is her. Perfectionism eats you alive because outwardly people see one thing but you feel incredibly inadequate on the inside. While I'm flattered when someone compliments my looks, that person has no idea about the many hang ups and insecurities underneath. Looking attractive isn't all about vanity but about hiding my own pereceived deficiencies. In other words, if everything looks good from the outside, you won't see the pain and loneliness. I just ask God for his grace and to help me see that not love doesn't need to be earned and that one day someone won't pick me apart and run from my flaws.

[@staceyspargo5897]

So Father, how do you help someone like this. I pray for them. Thank you from an old student.

[@ruthvholland]

Peace be. 24:46 Yesterday some Baptist were at the place of a mechanic same time I arrived. The temptation to say- John the Baptist was born before Jesus but he was not in existence before Jesus because they were so idly busy wanting me to know how perfect they are evangelizing to a Catholic that they fail to recognize the truth. I forward to them Advent and they drew their sword to cut the beauty of the Holy Virgin Mary- They were hang up on she is a sinner. I was happy to remember saying the Haily Mary and recalling she was born without sin. They asked if I go to confession. I said yes. Well, the cliche reply-- confess your sins to no man. I said, I confess my sins to the son of man. They heard me not I allowed them to win their battle cause Holy Mary/Jesus already win their war for me with his precious blood. There was a 14 and 18 yrs old boys going about wanna be 12 yrs old Jesus but not so. Happy you speak the truth of John the Baptist saying he is not The Word; unlike those Baptist pointing fingers at me . John pointed his finger at himself and Jesus stating who is on 1st base. Holy Mary pray for us Amen.

[@ruthvholland]

Glory be to God. Thanks!

[@wms72]

Two of my grown sons hate me, though they can't explain "Why?" I've apologized several times for anything I did to harm them. I never tried intentionally to harm them. But it's hard to let go of searching through the past looking for what you might've done wrong, to forget your errors, when people hold unspecified grudges against you, and refuse relationships that should be there. My grown son who homeschools his illegitimate son in the Catholic faith, assaulted me in January of 2022. I haven't spoken to him since then, nor has he apologized, yet he still receives the Holy Eucharist, as far as I know. Where is the grace?

[@user-mariardz]

Father just a question I know God isn’t harsh but he is a jealous God but he’s also slow to anger? and does not like people who don’t believe but still pray? I’m just trying to define this?

[@IONov990]

It is difficult to believe God actually loves us despite our weaknesses, character flaws, and sins. My question is well why?