20 Apr 21 – No One Can Say Jesus Is Lord Except By the Spirit

[0] Welcome to the Bishop Strickland hour.

[1] I always get excited.

[2] I don't even need ice tea today because I'm pumped about talking about our Catholic faith with a successor of the apostle, Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler.

[3] And Bishop Strickland, I know that probably is, I mean, you hear it all the time.

[4] You're a successor of the apostle.

[5] I don't know about you, but I think that is so beautiful that our church has this apostolic succession for 2 ,000 years of perennial teaching.

[6] of the church that to me is something beautiful that we need to remind us all of that so welcome to the show again bishop strickland thanks terry we have the catechism of the catholic church we're going to be getting to that but before we do it if this is your first time and uh just i just i'm going to say it because we're not on youtube right now we got kicked off for two weeks uh because I said, I did a show yesterday regarding the issue of pornography, and I was saying how bad it is.

[7] That's the real pandemic.

[8] And I also talked about the fact that the commandments, sometimes are like the Ten Commandments, we will do these on radio, and then sometimes the media people like YouTube will get all upset at me because I asked Bishop Strickland to do the Sixth Commandment Thou shalt not commit adultery and we're told that offends the audience but the pornography that's on that doesn't offend the audience that's how bad things have gotten so I think we need to continue just to teach the truth in charity because you know for as long as we can because we don't know how much longer we will have to share the gospel in a way with using the media so we'll just continue like we just business as usual because we cannot be quiet.

[9] We can't be silent when it comes to teaching people the gospel the good news of Jesus.

[10] But Bishop Strickland, you have some tweets here.

[11] You did tweet something here regarding and I'll just say you didn't say his name but it was Bishop, it was Cardinal Burke you said this is a very clear Catholic teaching for every person.

[12] Let us pray during this octave of Easter that those who have essentially opposed Catholic teaching will repent and their sins and return to full communion.

[13] Their salvation depends on it.

[14] Now, we're talking about Bishop Strick, excuse me, Cardinal Burke saying that these politicians, and I would even go so far as anybody who's at odds with the Catholic Church on moral issues, whether it's contraception, abortion, they've left the church in the sense that they are not in full communion to be able to receive Holy Communion.

[15] Now, I didn't say it.

[16] I happen to agree with Cardinal Burke.

[17] He's saying, and this is a canon lawyer who's saying it, that the headlines is they're an apostasy and an automatic excommunication.

[18] Now, I just find that shocking and also rewarding that a Cardinal in our church, who's in his 70s, it's going to be meeting Jesus soon, but he's been saying this for several years that the politicians should not, be receiving Holy Communion.

[19] He quotes Benedict XVI.

[20] He quotes John Paul to the Great with Veritatis Splendor.

[21] He has everything lined up, but this is a controversial statement, Bishop Strickland, and I know you agree with it, but what are your thoughts about a Cardinal coming out and stating this as clearly as he did?

[22] Well, like we said earlier, he's doing his job.

[23] He's being a pastor, not attacking anyone, but teaching the truth.

[24] It's the greatest charity to teach the truth.

[25] That's what Christ shows us constantly in his ministry.

[26] He is truth incarnate, and he's constantly bringing people the truth.

[27] And Christ was threatened, you know, really throughout his ministry.

[28] It wasn't just at his passion and death, but throughout the truth.

[29] the three years of his public ministry, people didn't like to hear the truth sometimes.

[30] And it's still the case.

[31] And I believe that what Cardinal Burke speaks of, really we have to remember applies to everyone.

[32] The greatest charity is to tell people, if you're opposing what the church teaches, the greatest charity is to tell people and say, if that's the case, Whether you're a politician or whoever you are, just a private citizen, if you're opposing church teaching, it's not appropriate to be receiving communion because the word says communion, a common union, a coming together.

[33] And so we need to encourage people.

[34] And certainly, we're all sinners and we need to repent, but we're called and challenged to do our very best to be in line with Christ and with his church before we commune with him in communion.

[35] That's what Cardinal Burke is saying.

[36] Yes, it's high -profile politicians that he's referring to.

[37] But it really applies to every person.

[38] And as I've said before, Terry, we talk, I think there's a great need for reverence toward the blessed sacrament.

[39] Because lack of reverence creates lack of belief and lack of respect for our Lord present on that altar, present in that suborium as a priest or deacon or layperson is there offering the body of Christ to the people that are coming forward communion.

[40] The greatest reverence that any of us can offer is a clean heart.

[41] And to humbly acknowledge that I'm a sinner and to do my best to repent, to go to confession, and to approach receiving our Lord with the cleanest heart possible, that is reverence.

[42] Certainly there are other aspects of reverence, but that's where it starts.

[43] And I think there's a, a serious irreverence, lack of respect to the Lord, where people maybe haven't been to confession in years.

[44] And sadly, they're doing what they were told.

[45] Because for a long time, when I was first in the seminary, back in the 70s, people were told, oh, you don't need to go confession unless you've committed a serious sin.

[46] And you've probably heard as I have.

[47] I have.

[48] Well, I haven't killed anybody, so I don't need to go to confession.

[49] And certainly, you know, murder is a serious sin, but there are other serious sins.

[50] And really, Terry, I think it opens the door for a spiritual reflection for all of us.

[51] We say when we were just before the bishop, Pope Francis, all of us say those same words with the congregation, Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

[52] We need to really think about what we're saying and acknowledge that we need to be as worthy as possible.

[53] We're never going to really be worthy, but we need to be working at it and eliminating serious sin and then doing our best to eliminate all sin from our lives.

[54] It's a lifelong journey, but that is growing and worthiness.

[55] and then the Lord will help us to be stronger.

[56] And it's a relationship with Him that allows us to grow in sanctity.

[57] We need to do that right here and now, as long as we're breathing.

[58] It's not about just being holy so that when we die we can go to heaven.

[59] It's not something we can postpone because we don't know when our world's going to end.

[60] So really it all comes together very logically.

[61] to follow Jesus Christ, but we resist it.

[62] Each of us does in our own sinfulness and society resist it because too many people don't really believe in or want to pay any attention to the Christian ethic that we're called to live.

[63] Well, I think you just said it at the end when you said they don't believe.

[64] There's a lack of belief in the real presence.

[65] If that Holy Communion is just a piece of bread, then what's the big deal about receiving it if I'm in a second marriage or if I'm for abortion because it's just a piece of bread and unfortunately Bishop Strickland I hate to be so critical but we have songs that are sung in our Catholic church that says incorrectly that Jesus is in the bread and the wine no he's under the appearance of bread and wine and so I think our lack of precise language and also our lack of reverence has encouraged this like, well, what's the big deal?

[66] Receiving Christ, and, I mean, he's a symbol.

[67] This is what, unfortunately, has happened.

[68] And I think you made a comment before the show to me, and I was inspired when you said other brother bishops are saying, not only are we, you know, we're trying to get, you know, our politicians to be right with the church on things, but can you repeat to me?

[69] I don't need names, but the fact that they're saying we need to teach the politicians their faith because many of them are Catholic, and are not teaching anything close to what the Catholic Church teaches.

[70] Absolutely.

[71] One of our primary jobs as priests and bishops is to teach, teach, govern, and sanctify.

[72] And we need to do a better job.

[73] And I was glad to hear one of our bishops saying that and saying, we need to really, they're children of God.

[74] Even if they don't believe in God, they're still God's children.

[75] and out of the greatest charity, as shepherds, as teachers, we need to really take that approach of putting our energy into teaching people the truth and then letting them get on with business, get on with medicine, get on with politics, get on with all the endeavors that make our complex society work.

[76] I've fully endorsed the idea that we need to teach more, and it's frustrating.

[77] being, I'm sure, for all bishops and priest, when we take the approach that we've got to get hands -on about fixing business and fixing politics and fixing everything, then we're not making much progress there.

[78] I think we need to teach those who are doing that.

[79] They're not always going to listen, but that's our role.

[80] Amen.

[81] And we have to trust that the grace of God is there also to change hearts.

[82] Talking about teaching when we come back, We're going to jump into the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

[83] We'll be right back with more of the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[84] Welcome back to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[85] Bishop Strickland doesn't know I'm going to do this to him, but I'm going to quote Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who he has a great respect for, because it just made me think what he was saying.

[86] And then I got my quotable Sheen out.

[87] It says, Bishop Sheen says, Hey, Mr. Engineer, can you play that clip about a full Sheen ahead for me?

[88] Is that too late?

[89] Okay, here's what he says.

[90] He says, we can lose our souls not only by doing evil, but also by neglecting the good.

[91] That hit me like a ton of bricks, Bishop Strickland, because sins of omission, where we don't commission omission, where we're not out there when we can have an opportunity, it seems to me that not only the bishops, the priests, but we lay people have to speak out also to not just public officials, but to people at work.

[92] it's time to really teach people the faith, and it's funny, Bishop Strickland, the Catechism of the Catholic Church does just that, and in my humble opinion, I'm wanting to teach baptized Catholics first before I go outside and even share it with my non -Catholic friends, because you know what I'm noticing, Bishop Strickland?

[93] My baptized Catholics have such a limited knowledge of their faith that I believe that we evangelize inside the church and then we can evangelize outside.

[94] Am I on to something or do you think I'm reversing the order?

[95] No, I think you're right.

[96] We all need to be more committed to Christ and that comes through catechesis, evangelization, prayer, and we need to support and encourage that because too many and sadly through society, through the church not focusing on teaching.

[97] A lot of people have been taught that, being Catholic is just sort of belonging to a club and it's a group and it's not about deeply held beliefs.

[98] But really, the Catholic Church and her beauty is about what is human life?

[99] What is creation about?

[100] What are we here for?

[101] What is our origin and our destiny?

[102] And a lot of the saints talk about the reality that we come from God and we're called to return to God.

[103] We're created in the image and likeness of God.

[104] That's good news.

[105] That's joyful, a joyful message.

[106] And we just need to find all the ways we can to teach.

[107] Because people learn one message or the other.

[108] People have learned in modern culture what's valuable and what's not because they absorb that.

[109] And when it's not the truth that they learn, it becomes more and more harmful and destructive.

[110] And we're seeing that unfold.

[111] As people have learned that wealth and fame and pleasure are the great things in life.

[112] Are we in a better place?

[113] I don't see that.

[114] And I think many people don't see that.

[115] It's all becomes a facade that covers up a lot of hurt, a lot of pain, a lot of agony that people are in in all kinds of aspects of life because they don't know the truth.

[116] And people are despairing in this COVID time because they don't know who they are.

[117] They don't know that they are valuable and precious in the eyes of God.

[118] And they should be precious to each other as in the human family.

[119] People just don't know the truth.

[120] And it really, just as we say, the scriptures say, the truth sets us free, not knowing the truth is like putting shackles on the human person.

[121] It binds us to a darkness that can destroy us.

[122] Never has to.

[123] We can buy our own free will.

[124] We can choose to turn back to the light.

[125] But we've got to make that choice.

[126] And it's our job, yours and mine, in different ways.

[127] But each baptized Christian, And certainly for us as Catholics who have the fullness of Christ, word and sacrament, we have an obligation.

[128] And that's basically what I'm living out is the best I can, very imperfectly, very weakly at times.

[129] But I have an obligation to share the truth that I believe and know is what sets us free.

[130] to keep that hidden and to say oh well just go along and get along we've done we've done too much of that and it's when it's destructive of the person that's not love to just say oh well if you want to take that poison just go ahead that's your choice we've got to at least say no that's poison stop if they choose to ignore us that's one thing but to choose to be silent that sin of omission I think it's very pervasive throughout society at every level, not to just blame leaders, but everyone.

[131] We all have a leadership role if Christ has given us the faith that guides us.

[132] You know, Bishop Strickland, while I'm listening to you, I'm thinking of a book by Cardinal Ratzinger, in 1985 called The Ratzinger Report, and he said pretty much what you just said.

[133] It's really interesting.

[134] It all comes back.

[135] He talks about the problem of our ecclesiology.

[136] It's a big word for those who don't.

[137] It's the church.

[138] How do you see the church?

[139] You see it as an optimist club or the bride of Christ?

[140] And I think that's something you don't get unless you're taught that the church is the bride of Christ.

[141] But how many people my age and under were never taught that?

[142] And that's one of our challenges that we have.

[143] But let's get to our catechism if we can.

[144] Paragraph 151, it's headling, to believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God.

[145] This is the thing that, again, we're baptized Catholic.

[146] but so many of us haven't met Jesus Christ I mean that I talk to them and they say well I don't know I mean I'm Catholic and that's the extent of it so I want to take them by the hand and say okay well let's study your faith so you get to know the person of Christ through study and prayer like Bishop Strickland just said bring them into the blessed sacrament to see you know to be there with Jesus this is what I think we need to do but let's get to Paragraph 151, it says, and then Bishop Strickland gives a little commentary on it.

[147] For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated from believing in the one he sent his beloved son, in whom the father is well pleased.

[148] God tells us to listen to him.

[149] The Lord himself said to his disciples, Believe in God, believe also in me. can believe in Jesus Christ because he is himself God.

[150] The word made flesh.

[151] No one has ever seen God, the only son who is in the bosom of the father, he has made him known because he has seen the father.

[152] Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and can reveal him.

[153] He can him.

[154] Man, Bishop Strickland, that paragraph has a lot to say in that one little paragraph about Jesus.

[155] Yeah, absolutely.

[156] And several quotes from sacred scripture right there, just one after another.

[157] And as it says very clearly, and I think that is Christianity.

[158] To believe in God and to believe in his beloved son, Jesus Christ, the one he sent, and to listen to him.

[159] I mean, really, in many ways, that paragraph captures, we were talking about Catholics not understanding what being Catholic means.

[160] It means that.

[161] It means that paragraph.

[162] We are the people who believe in God, who believe in his son, and listen to God telling us, listen to him.

[163] And listen to him means live the commandments.

[164] I like to line from the readings from this past Sunday where it says the commandments of God are not burdensome.

[165] I could talk a long time about that because so much that is broken in our world right now in our society with canceled culture and all the things going on politically and in the church and throughout the world.

[166] It's because too many people have decided the commandments of God, the truth that they bring us are burdensome.

[167] People have decided it's burdensome to know the truth of who we are and to believe that we're created in the image and likeness of God, male and female he created us.

[168] It's not burdensome, it really sets us free.

[169] It gives us joy.

[170] It helps us to know the purpose that we were born for to flourish in this life and to know God in eternity.

[171] So really this paragraph captures the true meaning of being Catholic.

[172] It's not just a club, but it's it goes to the very fabric of what life is about and who we are.

[173] And it's a joyful message.

[174] If we listen to Jesus, what does he tell us?

[175] He tells us that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

[176] He tells us that we will be fulfilled by these commandments.

[177] He tells us that he is going to suffer and bear a cross and that we have to carry our cross.

[178] with him to be his disciples all of that is a joyful message of of union with with the son of god who then he is the way the truth and the life as i'm sure we've said before as we talk originally christianity was called the way and i think that's a beautiful simple reminder this is the way that what this paragraph talks about is the way to live life, the way to our eternal destiny, the way to navigate whatever obstacles we face today and tomorrow.

[179] And all of us do face obstacles.

[180] We're disappointed.

[181] We fail in things.

[182] We make wrong decisions.

[183] I would imagine every man and woman out there, if they're honest with themselves, we'll say, yeah, I messed up there and I made the wrong decision and maybe I was silent and I should have spoken up or maybe I spoke up and said the wrong thing.

[184] We all make mistakes, but if we look to Jesus, more and more, we will, because he is the way, the truth and the life, we will get better.

[185] We'll make fewer mistakes.

[186] We'll get holier.

[187] probably we've all known older people and as we're talking we're about the same age and people think we're older people which we are but there are people significantly older than us that have grown in wisdom and use their experience to really help to guide their family to guide their community of friends to guide the the community that they're a part of and that's the beauty of being open to the truth and seeking to be changed by it more and more.

[188] Well, I know we're going to take a quick break, but here's an example of knowing the truth about life.

[189] Ask a person who's in suffering, and when they look at their suffering and they have no understanding of how they can have redemptive suffering and uniting it with Jesus Christ, they have like wasted pain and it's very painful.

[190] Then look at a person who has the faith in Jesus Christ who says, you know what, I'm going to unite this suffering for the salvation of souls.

[191] That's what we're talking about having that kind of meaning and purpose of life.

[192] That makes life worth living.

[193] You're listening to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[194] My name's Terry Barber with Virgin Most Powerful Radio.

[195] We're going to come back and talk more about the meaning and purpose of life through the catechism of the Catholic Church because what's our purpose to help bring you to the knowledge of love Jesus Christ and his bride the church.

[196] Stay with us.

[197] Welcome back to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[198] I'm going to make a confession here.

[199] When I'm I was a teenager, about 19, 18 years of age.

[200] We had a group of altar boys at a parish, and about nine or ten of us would stay up on Friday nights and have pizza, and we would open up a catechism of the Catholic Church, and we would study our catechism, because the priest who was at our parish really encouraged us to study our faith.

[201] And are you ready for this, Bishop Strickland?

[202] You're going to laugh when I tell you this.

[203] We're teenagers.

[204] You know what catechism we were studying?

[205] Baltimore.

[206] How did you know?

[207] Yeah, have I ever told you that, sorry?

[208] I don't think so.

[209] No way, no way.

[210] I don't tell me. But the point of it is, we had a love for thirst for knowledge, and we wanted answers.

[211] And that's what the catechism does.

[212] It gives us a set of really clear answers on the faith.

[213] All right, let's shift gears down to paragraph 152.

[214] And if you don't have a catechism, I already's been giving them out.

[215] I'll give more out.

[216] Call me at my cell number, 661, 972, 7872, 7872, and I'll get you a good catechism.

[217] I'll get you the Baltimore, actually.

[218] All right.

[219] Paragraph 152, to believe in the Holy Spirit.

[220] One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in His Spirit.

[221] It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men who Jesus is.

[222] for no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit who searches everything even to the depths of God no one can comprehend the thoughts of God except the spirit of God only God knows God completely that's beautiful we believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God wow Bishop Strickland before you respond to that I just really love that quote right out of scripture that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit Yeah it again gets to the very basics of what we believe And you see that with the apostles We're here in the Easter season where we read about I love the readings from the acts of the apostles It's really one of my favorite books in sacred scripture Because it shows it illustrates exactly what our faith is.

[223] And you see the transformation.

[224] Yep.

[225] And these 11 men, Peter and the rest of the apostles, that were sort of a rag -tag group, as we're a rag -tag group now.

[226] Amen.

[227] But after they receive, after Pentecost, and even before that, but especially after Pentecost, they really are literally on fire with the spirit.

[228] And I reflected.

[229] on that a lot.

[230] I think through the ages, we've tended to let those fires kind of dwindle.

[231] The Holy Spirit, what I, sometimes people say we need a new Pentecost.

[232] I disagree.

[233] I believe we need to live Pentecost in a new way.

[234] Amen.

[235] Just the way the apostles did.

[236] It's the same Holy Spirit.

[237] Yep.

[238] And we've talked about it before, but one of, I mean, we need.

[239] supernatural faith.

[240] We need to really believe what scripture says.

[241] We need to believe that the sacraments are signs of Christ that really carry an effect with them of healing, of nourishing, of forgiveness, of strengthening, of helping us to live a commitment, whatever the sacrament is, or washing us clean of sin and giving us that original gift of the life of the spirit.

[242] But we need to really believe what the church teaches and reading scripture, especially the acts of the apostles, to put ourselves in those scenes and to really nurture that belief because the world doesn't.

[243] The world counteracts it and says, oh, that's not scientific or that's impossible or all of the ways that the world wants to reject this truth.

[244] I think we need childlike, not childish, but the child, I mean, Christ tells us, if you don't accept this like children, you aren't going to be saved.

[245] You aren't going to be part of those in salvation.

[246] And it's humbling.

[247] It's just the truth that God is so far beyond us, but he's reached out to us with his son, and the father and the son send their spirit to guide us through the ages.

[248] And that's the reason that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, even though they seem to be rattling like crazy.

[249] And many people are walking away.

[250] Many people are apostasizing or really turning their back on their faith and deciding that, well, they may reject the label Catholic or they may not.

[251] But if you're rejecting basic teaching of the church, you're rejecting the faith.

[252] And you can't really say that you are living what these two paragraphs are talking about if you're not listening to the Son of God.

[253] And if you're not seeking to be guided humbly by the Holy Spirit, just to read that again.

[254] what we just you read already here for no one can say jesus is lord except by the holy spirit that's quoting first corinthians chapter 12 no one can even say jesus is lord we need to think deeply about that and really be reminded that even that level of faith is a gift yes of the holy Spirit.

[255] We have to open our hearts to those gifts and use our minds, use our ability to learn and to grow and to continue to nurture that.

[256] But sadly, I think especially a lot of young people go in the opposite direction.

[257] They say, I don't really believe this.

[258] And then they begin to nurture their doubt and their disbelief by reading things of the world and by getting caught up more and more in sin and in denying that there's such a thing as redemptive suffering.

[259] I mean, they just get on a path that takes them further and further from the truth of Jesus Christ.

[260] And, you know, that takes us right to the next paragraph about faith is a grace.

[261] And I always said this, that ask Jesus Christ for stronger faith every single day as part of your, you know, getting up in the morning.

[262] Thank God for the new day, but ask him for stronger.

[263] faith.

[264] If you don't do that, your faith will be weak.

[265] But paragraph 153 says, when St. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, Jesus declared to him that this revelation did not come from flesh and blood, but from my father, who is in heaven.

[266] Faith is a gift of God.

[267] What you just said is supernatural virtue infused by him.

[268] Before this faith, can be exercised, man must have the grace of God, what, to move and assist him.

[269] This is how it works.

[270] He must have the interior help of the Holy Spirit who moves the heart and converts it to God, who opens the eyes of the mind and makes it easy for all to accept and believe the truth.

[271] Wow, that's a mouthful.

[272] That's how it works.

[273] Your thoughts?

[274] Well, as Christ says to Peter, you didn't receive this from flesh and blood.

[275] Right.

[276] What that speaks to me of, and it says it in the next line, supernatural.

[277] Flesh and blood are of this world, of this creation.

[278] But we have to know that there is something beyond that, something deeper, something invisible.

[279] something that is beyond creation, the supernatural truth.

[280] And I think that in our age, because probably more than ever before, we have a lot of data figured out of how the natural world works.

[281] I mean, you plant a seed, and we know the enzymes and all the intricate things that have been happening since creation began.

[282] But we think because we've figured so much out that all truth is just natural.

[283] It's all just part of this creation and that there is no supernatural truth.

[284] And when we go down that path, we really lose who we are because we are natural and supernatural beings.

[285] There's the life of God that is planted in us created in his image and lightning.

[286] So, to focus only on nature begins to reduce us to a series of molecular operations and chemical reactions.

[287] Right.

[288] And that is a very poor, that is an impoverished understanding of the human person that really is tragic.

[289] It is.

[290] But too many people see humanity in those terms.

[291] And they say, well, we can manipulate it however we want.

[292] because it's just a bunch of chemicals and it's a bunch of molecular reactions and we can alter those and we can turn ourselves from this to that and then back to this and that again and we can be a different entity every day if we want to that's what the world says and it is so impoverished it is so empty to forget that supernatural component of the human person I'm just saying amen to everything you said because I think of my truth.

[293] You know, people say, that's my truth.

[294] You know, you got your truth, I got my truth.

[295] No, Jesus Christ is the truth.

[296] And I think that you said it's in such charitable way.

[297] I'm going to have to quote you on that because sometimes I'm not as charitable as telling people that, you know, you're no arbitrator of truth.

[298] You don't know, I mean, you're human, you know.

[299] But I appreciate you saying it in such a delicate in such a straightforward way also.

[300] Hey, before we take a quick break, Bishop Strickland, tell us a little bit about your institute here in Tyler, Texas, please.

[301] Well, the St. Philip Institute was founded about four years ago, and it's really, it's a huge job it has to teach the truth in a world that doesn't want it.

[302] Even for too many times, even we who call ourselves Catholic and are believers, believers.

[303] When truth, when the truth gets tough, we want to go the other direction.

[304] Right.

[305] But Christ shows us that when the truth gets tough, we need him more than ever.

[306] And that's what the St. Philip Institute is working to share the truth, whether we're ready to receive it or not, because we need it.

[307] Amen.

[308] You're listening to the Bishop Strickland Hour on Virgin Most Power radio we'll be back before the catechism of the catholic church welcome back to the bishop rickland hour talking about paragraph 154 now from the catechism of the catholic faith as titled faith is a human act think about this faith is a human act paragraph 154 believing is possible this is the key only by the grace and the interior helps of the holy spirit but it is no less true that believing is a authentically human act.

[309] See, free will.

[310] But it is no less true that believing is an authentically human act, trusting in God, cleaving to the truths he has revealed are contrary neither to human freedom nor to human reason.

[311] Even in human relations, it is not contrary to our dignity to believe what other persons tell us about.

[312] themselves and their intentions or to trust their promises.

[313] For example, when a man and a woman marry to share a communion of life with one another, if this is so, still less is it to contrary to the dignity to yield by faith the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals and to share in an interior communion with him.

[314] Boy, Bishop Strickland, go ahead and share that.

[315] That's a lot of good material.

[316] I'm all ears.

[317] Yeah, it's pretty packed with meaning.

[318] And it just a reminder of probably a lot of people as we read this aren't sure what a human act is.

[319] But it really ties in to what we repeated just this time several times is to be human is to be a being created in the image and likeness of God.

[320] And to a human act means that we're using our intellect, as it mentions free will, human freedom, and human reason.

[321] It's using our God -given brain, our God -given ability to choose what we do, choose right and wrong, it's using all of that to say, I believe what God says.

[322] I believe his son.

[323] I think we talked about it last week.

[324] In the Regina Chaley, him, Resurrection Sikudixit, which in Latin, I mean, it basically just says he rose because he said he would.

[325] Yeah.

[326] So faith is believing what God the Father said.

[327] This is my son.

[328] And listen to him.

[329] Faith is also believing what the son said.

[330] Faith is believing that they sent their Holy Spirit.

[331] The Holy Spirit guides us, each of us, from our baptism.

[332] We are blessed with the Holy Spirit.

[333] So all of that is a choice.

[334] We hear a lot about choice in our society.

[335] people being free to choose whatever, that God doesn't force us to do anything.

[336] And that free will is one of those basic aspects of the sanctity of our lives.

[337] Anytime any entity or any individual tries to take the free will of another person away, I mean, thank God, there are limits on that.

[338] And the martyrs really illustrate that ultimately no one can force us to change our heart, to change our interior belief.

[339] And by definition, martyrs die, offer up their physical life rather than allow someone to take their free will choice to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow him.

[340] God respects that.

[341] And even though sometimes humanity doesn't in in dictatorships and in times of persecution of those who believe, but God always respects our free will.

[342] That's part of the mystery of being created in his image and likeness.

[343] And it's it's part of the mystery of the brokenness in our world.

[344] But if we didn't have free will, then we're not really human.

[345] We aren't able to act differently.

[346] Animals don't have free will.

[347] They have instincts and they react to their environment and they can be beautiful or they can be deadly.

[348] But they're not choosing a snake that bites someone and kills them.

[349] It's not the snake.

[350] It may look like it.

[351] Sometimes we may feel like that animal is after me, but that animal is not choosing.

[352] I'm going to go kill that person.

[353] Only human beings can make that kind of.

[354] of choice.

[355] And that's what this is talking about.

[356] It's a human act to believe because we're using our free will and reason to listen, to discern what we've heard, and to make the free will choice.

[357] I believe.

[358] And I'm going to live accordingly.

[359] Certainly, we don't do that perfectly, and we sort of hedge on that belief in our sinfulness.

[360] But that's what believing people do.

[361] do is say, I've read God's word, I've heard it preached, and I believe it.

[362] Amen.

[363] And I want to live a life that corresponds with that belief.

[364] Well, said, I think of what Bishop Sheen would have said.

[365] He probably would have said something like, the only value in saying yes to God is you have the freedom to say no. And that's what Bishop Strickland is saying.

[366] And that's beautiful, free will.

[367] Your paragraph 155 is short.

[368] We just have a few more minutes here, but I'll go through it.

[369] In faith, the human intellect and the will cooperate with divine grace.

[370] Believing is an act of the intellect, assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace.

[371] You've said that.

[372] That sentence basically explains the mechanism of what we're doing.

[373] And Bishop Strickland, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't really a lot of this come down to turning your life over to Christ?

[374] Our Protestant brothers have something of value to say about that.

[375] In other words, I don't want to do my will.

[376] I want to do God's will in my life.

[377] And when I do that, I believe that God gives us supernatural graces to respond to that.

[378] Absolutely.

[379] And you're right that our Protestant brothers and sisters, those of other Christian communities, really, they have a lot of good things to share.

[380] And a lot of what I hear emphasized that I very much.

[381] much support, and we as Catholics need to embrace as well.

[382] We have the fullness, but they have some language sometimes that is helpful.

[383] I agree.

[384] Taking Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior is what this is about.

[385] It is a personal choice.

[386] He's a person, we're a person, and we're embracing saying, I believe in that person, and ultimately, I'm going to do my best to live my life in accord with what the person Jesus Christ says and be willing to even die for his truth.

[387] And that relationship, that personal relationship is critical because I think that's where a lot of Catholics wander away because they've never developed that personal relationship.

[388] And then the world tells them, all these things the Catholic Church says are true.

[389] It's depersonalized.

[390] It's not connected to their relationship with Jesus Christ.

[391] and so it's easier for them to walk away.

[392] And certainly that happens in any of the Christian communities, not just Catholics, but if you don't continue to nurture that relationship for you as a person with the person of Jesus Christ, it's easy to disconnect it.

[393] And all of us find probably multiple teachings of Christ challenging.

[394] But the personal relationship we have says we want to be true to our Lord and Savior, so it makes it maybe still not easy, but much more doable to, because we believe in Jesus Christ.

[395] We have that personal relationship.

[396] It's the same in a marriage.

[397] That's right.

[398] To really be faithful to your wife is easier when your relationship, your personal relationship is strong.

[399] It's not just living some rules, but it's living in relationship with that person that you don't want to disappoint, you don't want to hurt, you don't want to live in a way that's contrary to that commitment you have.

[400] The same applies to Christ or for myself as a priest.

[401] My commitment is Christ and his church.

[402] And it's the same kind of personal relationship commitment that the world really needs profoundly.

[403] And we need people that stay committed to whatever commitment, whatever relationship they have.

[404] And the ultimate relationship for all of us is that relationship with God and his son, Jesus Christ, strengthened by their Holy Spirit.

[405] Sign me up, Bishop Strengthen.

[406] I love it.

[407] You know, when I'm listening to you, I think of Catholics who are lukewarm, so to speak, they haven't been to confession in years.

[408] I think you brought that up earlier in the show.

[409] And I'd like to make a pitch right now that if you hadn't been to confession because of COVID in the last year, make the appointment.

[410] Call your local parish and say, Father, when can I come?

[411] And usually a priest will say, look, if you need to come now, I'll set an appointment with you.

[412] If not, they always usually have Saturday evening confessions.

[413] But I would even push the priest to say, Father, I can't wait until Saturday.

[414] That's good verbiage to tell the priest.

[415] I know, because this is what the priesthood's about, you know, is about Mass, and here he comes.

[416] confessions.

[417] I mean, you're not, don't think you're going to burden the priest.

[418] Bishop Strickland, am I on to something, or do you think that it's okay for lay people to just be real direct with their local parish priest and say, I need to go to confession?

[419] Absolutely.

[420] I've always told the priest in this diocese, and they're good about it.

[421] Yeah.

[422] That when someone says, Father, can I go to confession?

[423] The answer is yes.

[424] Not, well, sometime or later, but just yes.

[425] Make it happen.

[426] And our priests are good about doing that.

[427] And I will say this.

[428] I had real estate for life on yesterday, and they tell me they have 12 different families that move to Tyler, Texas through our website, which is kind of fun.

[429] And one of them I know was a good friend of ours who got a teaching job and a classical school in Taylor, Texas.

[430] So it's a great place to live.

[431] And I would recommend if you're a young family listening, get out of California.

[432] That's my suggestion to my kids because of the wickedness that's going on in California.

[433] And I think that if you can find a state that allows more freedom, especially religious freedom, go there, and then find a bishop who's going to teach, govern, and sanctify.

[434] That's Tyler, Texas.

[435] Bishop Strickland, how about a final blessing?

[436] And I didn't get paid a commission to say that.

[437] The Lord be with you.

[438] And with your spirit.

[439] Almighty God, we ask your blessing for all listening and all employees.

[440] involved in this radio program, especially in these Easter days.

[441] Help us to rejoice in this Easter season and continue to sing Alleluia to celebrate the resurrection of your son.

[442] And we ask this, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[443] Amen.

[444] Don't forget, we've got lots of events coming up on Virgin Most Powerful's website.

[445] The men's conference is coming up on the 11th of June.

[446] We also have an evangelization conference on the 15th of May. it's all virtual.

[447] You're welcome to check us out at virgin most powerful radio .org.

[448] May God richly bless you and your family and at this Easter season keep the faith, pass the faith on and God love you.

[449] We hope to see you next time.

[450] Don't forget you can listen to any of these shows on podcasts by going to virgin most powerful radio .org.

[451] God love you.