Am I the only one that wishes Fr. Casey would have a conversation with Matt from the Ten Minute Bible Hour? I think the two of them would have a conversation worth hearing, for more than just the converted and faithful, but for everyone.
Fr Casey it sounds like you are being called on Deck and are next up to bat with Matt at Ten Minute Bible. It would be amazing to get you both together and see where it goes.
I think it was St Ignatius that said something along the lines of “work as if everything depends on you but pray as if everything depends on God” and the points of this video can definitely be seen throughout this quote! Good to see you back Fr Casey!!
If a certain Russian soldier had not thrown a grenade at one certain moment, which injured a German soldier, the said German soldier would probably have made it to Stalingrad - and not further. The fact that he was severely injured was probably life-saving for that soldier - who later became my dad. I am deeply thankful to that Russian whose grenade made my father limp for the rest of his life - instead of starving or freezing to death in Stalingrad. And I thank God for that. And no, I am not thankful for the mere fact that a horrible war killed millions of people. But I thank God that He, in that very moment, allowed a young soldier to survive and to become unfit as a soldier in Hitler's army. In a way, I owe my life to a grenade shattering a young man's knee. I do not believe that God made it fly in that direction, but that He allowed this to happen, and did not allow my father to die in war. Again, why him and not others? I don't know.
I sometimes wonder if God will reveal stories like this about every person in the end, and if we will all see how each of us played multiple parts in others stories to form one grand narrative. Just hearing that one story has already brought me a bit closer to God
@@corneliusquincydavenportic1913 I wonder that often too, how amazing would it be if we would all know in the end. Whether positive or negative influences, we will all be forgiven by the grace of God. Amen
Not to mention not having to take part in the atrocities that the Wehrmacht committed in Stalingrad. Glad your dad didn't have to have that on his conscience.
@@Commiechu absolutely. He was just enough burdened without having participated in war crimes. He used to say about his time as a soldier: "I fell for a criminal organisation."
It was an unnecessarily big fight in a relationship(that didn't work out) that made me spiral into Catholic youtube and begin my life as an active Catholic 😂😂.
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
Fr. Casey - In 2003, I lost my wife to mental illness, was separated from our daughter, I was hopeless. Something (Holy Spirit or my guardian angel) nudged me to seek counsel in my current parish. At that moment, I changed from a secular person who went to mass occasionally to a spiritual follower of Christ. But as you noted, it was my choice to seek out my priest, or go the bar and drown my sorrows.
There are Causes, Choices and Consequences. God caused you to seek out the priest; you made the CHOICE in the HOLY SPIRIT to seek out the priest that God had chosen for you and the CONSEQUENCE? The FRUITS of the HOLY SPIRIT! ☺
PETER KREEFT " BACK TO VIRTUE" There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’, and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done’ (The Great Divorce). "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your kind spirit guide me on ground that is level." [Psalms 143 : 10 - 10]
From the book "food for soul (c)" by Peter kreeft, # page 9 Only human beings can love because only human beings have free choice. Nothing else in the universe that we know of has the free will to choose to make itself more itself or less itself. Rocks can’t choose to be more or less rocky and dogs can’t choose to be more or less doggy, but humans can choose to be more human or less human, by choosing to love or not to love. This love is charity. Charity is not just our spontaneous feelings. It does not arise from our nature as selfish animals. It is a gift of God. So St. Paul prays for it, as we should too. He prays that God may “strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness.”
From the book "Theology of the Body In One Hour" by Jason Evert. # We resemble God not simply because we have an immortal soul, an intellect, and a free will. The sexual complementarity of the male and female bodies, in their masculinity and femininity, reveals that we are made for relationship, for a communion of persons. The same cannot be said of any other creature. Although plants and animals are capable of reproduction, they cannot make a gift of themselves in love. A communion of persons is only created by a mutual gift, and this requires free will-not just a biological instinct to reproduce. John Paul explained, “Man becomes an image of God not so much in the moment of solitude as in the moment of communion. . . . [This] constitutes perhaps the deepest theological aspect of everything one can say about man.” Pause and absorb what John Paul is teaching. He’s proposing that the sexual intimacy shared between a husband and wife is an icon of the inner life of the Trinity. In saying this, he is not sexualizing heaven, but is revealing that our sexuality points us there when it is properly understood. The call to be fruitful and multiply is a call to live in the divine image: to make a gift of ourselves through life-giving love. The call to communion that is revealed in the body is a sign of what persons are supposed to do: make a gift of themselves to others and ultimately to God, in the image of the Trinity.
Fr. Casey, it is great to see you back again. It's been a long time. At the age of 74 I can assure you that everything you said in your presentation is absolutely true. In looking back over my life and teaching career, I'm astounded WHERE God lead me in contrast to where I originally wanted to go.......and it all could not have worked out better!!
When I was in my late teens/early 20's I was addicted to drugs. Just about anything I could get my hands on, I would do. Because I had a hole inside me and no idea how to fill it. So I would just "go away" for a while, to forget the emptiness I felt inside. I had an epiphany one day when I was 21, I was basically homeless, crashing at a guy's place that my girlfriend at the time knew, stealing and panhandling for drug money. And I realized that if I kept going along that path I would end up dead or in jail by my next birthday. I went to my mom and stepdad's house and begged them to let me in, to help me get clean. They did. Over the next three months I isolated myself from everyone, I did chores around the house to earn my keep and I got myself clean. I began to look for jobs, but in my mind I had a nagging doubt that if I stayed in my hometown I would fall back into my old habits again. Temptation can be overwhelming. So I joined the military, the Navy to be exact, in order to remove myself from a situation where I would be tempted to go back to my old ways. I served for 5 years and separated as an E-5 (Quartermaster Petty Officer 2nd Class) I moved to Louisiana, 2200 miles away from where I grew up. I began working in security. Now, 14 years after my revelation, I have a house, I have a good job that I enjoy, and I am 14 years clean. I don't know what caused my epiphany, maybe it was God, maybe my own conscience. All I know is that the hole is filled, my life has purpose and meaning and I'm happy.
Fr Casey do you say the Latin Mass of all times? Or the New Mass? If you say the New Mass, do you say the Leontine pray and hail Mary after Mass.Card. Cupich wants it stopped..BANNED...What are you saying now?
A few years ago, I had my peak desperation in wanting love in my life. Despite being scared to death I used some dating apps and gave up within days because I am just too scared to do stuff like that. For some reason it strongly made me feel like I will be forever alone. Then, from absolutely thin air almost, I met a girl and we quickly fell in love. Despite being agnostic, I couldn't help but feel that this was too big of a coincidence. It felt almost like divine intervention. However, only 3 months after I met her, everything had fallen apart and she stopped seeing me. It was because I was so insecure about myself that I was deeply paranoid about what she was doing when I wasn't there and eventually I accused her firmly of cheating with no proof. She left because of it. At that point I thought that if god was real, he played me for a fool. However, after taking some time to grief about the loss I realised that perhaps god did not intend for me to find love at that moment, but show me that I am simply not ready for a relationship and that I need to work on myself first.
I just heard love God first and the girl second and everything will work out. God did not want you to be with an atheist, she may drive you away from him. Find a girl that loves God first. Try church groups. Wish you well!
@@cherylhee9762 - good ideas. Try co-ed bowling league or your town's rec. dept. volleyball team. Show up every week, no excuses. Low cost, no special skill - just sign up (as a beginner if need be.) Chat a little. Smile. Stay for the pizza or cookout after the game. No romance fireworks predicted, none likely. Just relax around people a little, no agenda.
@@Mman07311 I believe we should be more specific when uttering the word Catholic which means Universal. Fr. Casey is Roman Catholic which is THE head of the *Christian* Faith. Belief in and followers of Jesus Christ. (Many people do not know that Roman Catholics are Christians).
True story: I once asked God why I have acne and He told me it was because He didn't want me to be too vain. I didn't understand then but now I understand that if I had perfect skin in my teens I probably would have committed more sins of vanity back then. Now I no longer have acne and am a more modest person.
@@gerryquinn5578 That's a good point. Don't wait until you are injured or dying in a hospital to start talking to God. Start now. He speaks to every heart who inclines to His voice.
This came into my RUclips feed at the perfect time. But of course it did 😂 I asked for a sign in prayer yesterday and here it is. Bless you and thanks 🌸
I’ve often imagined that life is like walking the dog. The dog does what she does…totally engrossed in the sights and smells… seemingly oblivious to me unless I jerk her leash to protect her from something I know will harm her. She doesn’t know that car will kill her so no running into the street. She doesn’t know that the “food” she smells is actually rat poison so I forcefully drag her away (she’s a beagle so she resists me like the hound she is). She doesn’t know the risks of cavorting with unfriendly cats but this time I let her sniff and get her nose slapped because I calculate that the lesson learned is more important than the painful scratch. I am the dog and my guardian angel is holding my leash.
“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” ECC 9:11
Luck or God, I really did get the good end of the stick. Dad dropped out of school at 12 to help support his family, gave up a life he loved, foreman on a cattle ranch, to become a successful small business owner. He wasn't a church going man but he treated the poor, elderly, unemployed, etc. with respect and compassion. )Mom would kid dad about unexplained credit extensions and bill payments.) His actions ingrained a love of education, hard work, and a concern for others into my brother and I. I became college instructor and was always amazed at the things that former students would tell me that I did that had a major impact in their lives. In most cases it was not the big well planned lessons but the little things that were important. The smallest thing we do may have a huge impact in someone else's life. My guess is that luck is just a nickname for God.
I’ve always believed that God offers us choices and it’s up to us to make the right choice and if we chose unwisely He then provides further choices to get us back on the right path. God always provides🙏
Luck is a strange one, My brother has won the lottery three times but me on the other hand could bet the sun was going to rise tomorrow and that would be the day Jesus chose to come back…
Always remember - praying/begging God for a 1st prize lottery win could fall on deaf ears for He is NOT an ATM machine 😑. You'll have to hang your hopes on chance/luck😏
This is very deep thinking. Too often I find that many Christians engage in shallow simplistic ideas about the world. I am so moved to see a priest with such penetrating insight. God Bless you Father Casey!
Thank you. I needed this. I was just thinking about how in some ways my life was so meaningless. And at 75 coming to an end soon. But then you made me look at things so differently. I may not be a millionaire or famous or the surgeon that I wanted to be as a small child or ballerina. But I did work as a Medical Technologist and worked with cancer patients. I made a small contribution to their lives. I have a wonderful son. I have a beautiful miraculous Catholic Faith that nurtures me. I am striving so hard every day now in my faith. It is personal , to me. But not to God. He is my guiding star. I am now retired. Going to daily Mass again and loving it. Going to frequent confession. I feel that I need this guidance. And enjoying this also. I feel like going frequently to confession makes you come to terms with your life, your humanity. Your realization that you are just o e person. But a very special person to God. Confession you more than mend bridges. You build stronger bridges with Christ. Develop and intimacy with Christ in a greater friendship and love ❤️. Thank you for this one. I have been feeling so depressed and down and lonely. Now not so much. You lifted my spirit!!🙏🙏🙏🙏💕🙏❤️🔥
Ah yes the mysterious ways of God often only noticed in hindsight. The realisation of comfort that He has a plan for us and yet still we are free to choose the path is indeed the peace that is beyond understanding. Thank you for your thoughtful and reassuring talk. 🙏
It's so good to see you return Fr. Casey! This past week I've been watching many of your videos, and your one on confession helped me recently to prepare for and understand my first time seeing a priest and doing the Sacrament of Penance which I am very grateful for. Thank you, and God bless.
Welcome back! Whether it's chance or the hand of God, I think realizing we don't have full control of our circumstances is important. It keeps us humble.
@solea - That is true that we have no control over the circumstances that come our way. But we DO have control over the choices we make when faced with those circumstances. I think of the people in the upper floors of the Twin Towers on 9-11. To jump--or stay and be burned alive (assuming there was no other way out). The circumstances were not going to change, but the choice was always theirs. The end result was always going to be death. The choice was which was going to be quicker and/or less painful.
Welcome back after your summer break, Fr Casey! Interesting thoughts around being privileged by what we get from God. Actually, you do work in sales, for the company called Catholic Church, and you're doing it really well!
Father Casey thank you for your words. You are so young and so full of wisdom "In the grand scheme of life, in all the choices that we could make , God is with us" Beautiful!! God bless you always. Greetings from Argentina
I had never heard of my college, either. Growing up in western NYS I was convinced I would never go anywhere near NYC, but the college I ultimately attended in New Jersey sent me twice as much mail as all the others. I never applied anywhere else. Not only did I get a great education, but I met the love of my life there and we have been married for almost 34 years. There are no coincidences. God guides. ❤️
Hello Fr. Casey!! Its so nice to see you again since the the whole thing in months unfolds itself. Hoping you could visit to thw Philippines someday and Hoping rhat i could meet you.
It's funny how often I think of this topic. It's crazy how much those little things guide our life and completely change the course of what was expected. I welcome the idea, sincerely because it shows God cares for us and is beside us through life as you said, father. Great video!
I came into the church about 12 years ago and now I look back over my life and see all the times God pointed out to me the right path, but my eyes were closed, when I finally opened them, there was only one correct path to travel, so whish i had opened them earlier, but better late than never
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
Interesting how fate plays a role in lives. RUclips’s algorithms sent me a recommendation to watch two friars react to a video. I subscribed not only that channel, but also Fr. Patrick’s and this one. The kicker…I’m an agnostic. Fate is interesting.
@Vermont Mike - Yes, that is what some people call it--fate. But was it fate that chose to watch the video or was that your choice? Perhaps that is called free will, something God has given each of us. Every choice we make has its consequences--for good or for naught. But in the long run, the choice--and the consequence--will always be ours. No one, really, "forces" us to make that decision--no matter what the circumstances. The only real "outside" force that pushes us one way or another is which consequence is the less painful one OR the better for our life.
I recently had a talk with my friends about free will, and it left me wondering the points given to me. Until, I watched this video. Shifting my perspective gave me a whole new meaning and understanding. Thank you and God Bless you Fr
In terms of interacting with the youth of my church, the Catholic church I attended for 35 years, organized a softball match for them in the parking lot - one time back in the early 1980s. Once. That was it. That was the entire social interaction our Parish had with its youth, other than Sunday School, for as long as I lived there. Meanwhile, my friends who attended the Protestant churches of the area would come to school each week and talk about all the cool stuff they did that weekend with their church, or the trip they went on, or the event they partook in. As a kid in the Catholic Church I always just thought that church was supposed to be somber and repetitive. And that you were supposed to be dedicated but don’t get too excited about it. I have to admit, I had church envy as a kid who wanted so much more.
I like your proposition that, even if circumstances are an act of god, it still is our responsibility to listen and take the chance. It reminds me of something I heard recently: There once was a very pious man, who was very confident god was on his side. One day, a major hurricane was headed towards where he lives. When he heard the radio giving the order to evacuate, he thought to himself: "not for me. I am a good man and god will save me.". A bit later, when thwir neighbors could not find him in the shelters, they decided to call him in the phone. "Thank you for your concern", he answered, "but I will stay home and pray. God loves me, and he will save me". Later, just before the storm, the firefighters made rounds in the streets, knocking on every door, to make sure everyone was safe. "Thank you", he said again, "but I know God is on my side. I am safe here. Good luck to you." One hour later, the hurricane hits his town, making his house collapse. The poor man painfully dies, alone, crushed by his own home. When arriving in paradise, he asks God: "I thought you were on my side! Why did you let me die so painfully?" To which God responded: "I sent you a warning through the radio. I made your neighbors call you. I evenet the firefighters go to take you personally. What else did you expect me to do?"
When I was 14 my family moved to another state and I was very upset with God about it. Been very engaged with the teen ministry, it was sad to leave all behind. But my new church loved missions and helping our persecuted brothers and sisters in the East. This is how I was introduced to the beautiful work of missionaries and after college I became one!
After watching this, I realized I am so spoiled. I am so lucky in ways that others are not. I should feel humbled by this. Life is truly a journey or a mystery. I have no clue how I even discovered Breaking in the Habit. I cannot remember but now I watch it regularly. I guess we should allow certain things to enter into our lives and let them take us somewhere.
i started this video with interest and a bit of fear in my mind, and i finished it with a lot less of that fear remaining. In a week or so, i will have probably one of the most important exams of my life determining whether i can pass to next grade or not, and while i try to put in as much effort as i can to pass, the overlurking fear of failing and subsequently failing in life is always there. But this video gave me comfort, that while i will pray everyday and do everything in my power to pass that exam, my life still isn’t over if i fail. Maybe that can be a new start. Thank you for this feeling.
Thank you for bringing abandonment and providence to the forefront. And showing people why we should thank God for everything. "Everything is Grace." Good to have you back on the RUclipss Father. And thanks for giving Br. Mike those books for his leadership team, he gave me an extra copy and it was very, very well timed. Let go 😉.
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
Hi Fr Casey ☺, I wondered if you were returning and hope you had an enjoyable, peaceful, Godfilled break/vacation. Welcome back👋 🙂 Luck/Chance/fate! Luck is a word which human beings created. And if we are describing an event which ties in with what we define as LUCK - then, yes luck does exist and could cover a range of occurrences Or is it God's providence? 😉☺
So good to see you back I missed you and Fr Patrick over the summer ! I needed to hear this today I’m going through some tough times and good to be reminded I am where I am for a reason even if I can’t see it at the moment .
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
Welcome back Father Casey. I've missed your videos and wisdom. Here in Melbourne Australia, we are still in Lockdown, our sixth for a total of 216 days, thanks to COVID. I can't even go to mass. I watch a livestream of our Archbishop saying mass with one cantor only each Sunday. Your return will be like a breath of fresh air.
PS we can only go to the doctor, buy food within 5 kms from home, and exercise alone for one hour per day. Masks are compulsory too. There is also a curfew between 9pm and 5am. Only essential services workers can work. I never thought I'd be living under these conditions in Australia. But until we get the vaccination rate up that is how it will be.
Excellent and insightful video. I have considered moments in my own life that were affected by some simple events. What I studied for uni was simply recommended to me by my half-brother's friend which impacted me for many years to come.
3 года назад+1
Welcome Back!!! We missed you and are "LUCKY" to have you.
I’ve always struggled between predestination and free will. I’ve heard much of what you’ve said in this vid over the years, from different sources, and it seems to fit best as to why things happen the way they do, why people are who they are, and end up where they do, for good or ill (you didn’t touch on any negative consequences).
Toncsi, from my experience is that if you choose to go contrary to where God has planned for you to go, you will be miserable and go through many hardships. Albeit, it might also be Devine testing. But if you weren’t meant to be a doctor- your going to miserable practicing as a doctor. It seems that only after things are said and done , and you finally give in and change your course, you connect the dots... God bless!
Ecclesiastes 9:11 highlights the luck element perfectly: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. With that said, Ecclesiastes also confirmed the importance of obedience: Fear God and keep his commandments.
Great insight. I firmly believe in God and from the time we are born till we die He is working with us to keep us close to the road that is best for us. He never forces us into anything but He gives us ample opportuniites to choose what is the better alternative. He does work things for good for those that trust Him and love Him. He writes straight with crooked lines. Thank You Abba!
This reminds me of the story on one of our parish priest, which he told us on the day of his ordination. Rev. Fr. Francis Dakun, was supposed to be on his was to an interview for a position as a medical assistant. While waiting on a bus stop near their farm, he forgot one required document in his house nearby. Leaving his other documents at the bus stop (why he did that was beyond himself), he ran back to fetch the forgotten papers. When he went back to the bus stop a brief moment later, a cow had the papers in it's mouth, chewing on them like a tasty treat. He didn't get to go to the interview - but a few years later, there he was, a newly ordained priest, telling his congregation about that fateful day at the bus stop. He now serve at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Keningau Diocese in Sabah, Malaysia.
Excellent explanation! I read the book the Outliers a couple of year ago because my daughter recommended it, but know I understand the concept better, God always makes a lot of more sense. Thank you for this video!
This video should be shown to high school students preparing for Confirmation or attending religious education in any given parish. What a wisdom! Fr. Casey, thank you.
Tend the garden plot that you have been given and see what seeds sprout. Be a good steward, nurture them and reap the harvest. And then, of course, there is also the alternate possibility of the Cosmic Dope Slap when you begin to see what others around you have already clearly seen and understand which points you in the right direction.
Welcome back Fr. Casey; glad to see that your time away seems to have been efficacious-your insight and inspiration certainly are respectively, deep and strong. Your journey has been very, very different from mine, yet almost exactly the same. A difference I perceive in my journey is awareness of the inspirations and nudges my angel (or the Holy Spirit-it's a mystery to me) give. Ask me sometime why I even considered returning to the Church (not for a very admirable reason … and it had nothing to do with wanting to impress a woman). Yes, Our Lord is a Shepard, leaving the flock to find the stray. PS: Great click-bait; did you sample several, or hit a home run with the first idea?
No, I very clearly showed that I made all the decisions. I could have very easily chosen otherwise. The point is that there are influences in our lives that can’t be discounted. I’m sure God was trying to influence me well before these things and in many cases that I said no.
I spent many years suffering to find myself invited to the supper of the lamb Glory. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All you people bless the Lord!
I'm with you Father Casey (you have the same name as my nephew and grand nephew, lol!) I remember the Prince of Egypt, the part where the old man is talking about how we're all woven into the grand tapestry of life. Some of us may be shinier or more colorful threads, but we are all threads woven into the grand design of the Maker. I find great comfort in that. I study faith, genealogy, and physics, I know, weird combo, lol, and studying this stuff only strengthens my belief and my conviction that patterns happen for a reason. Some call it the Butterfly Effect, and I also call it the finger of God nudging us along in the way we should go. I'm thankful for weird things, like the fact that if Hitler never came to power I wouldn't exist. Of course I think Hitler was a total piece of trash, but the fact is that if he hadn't done what he did my grandmother Lucja would have never met my grandfather JC. I study a lot of history too, and when you do that you see patterns a lot. But yeah, we're all threads in the Pattern. 😁
I am so happy that you are back! I hope that your time away was good for you. This post may have been a fruit of your special time. Years ago, probably before you were born, I had a time when I needed to look at my life from a wee bit of distance. Ever since, my favorite part of the entire OT is Ecclesiastes3. My own variation of the Jesuit Examen has helped me through everything since. I have also come to the profound conclusion that gratitude is the basis for joy, even in the sad times. You are doing a wonderful job with these posts. Thank you for them!
Fr Casey has been gifted with wisdom to discern and follow through on a vocation at an early age. And then he is a perfect fit for evangelizing young and old alike. Not a coincidence. His video on the Confusion of Pope Francis shows how the Holy Spirit is at work in him in a candid, intelligent way.
Father Casey, it is good to see you back. God bless and keep the faith! My own life expierence is filled with the hand of God. Faith in God provided a life of travel and adventure. God provided me with many advantages and carried me many times. I do not know why. I am not a "Church going Christen" because every church I ever tried to get involved with was more interested in their earthly work and not God's glory. God in his wisdom provided many paths to him. I got my religeous training in a Salvation Army Church that was across the street from my grandmothers house. She took care of that small church for years. It was a very small congregation of poor people and from them I learned compassion, a reverence for God and a strong belief in Jesus. I am grateful.
I can really relate to this...God works in very mysterious ways, often through people and circumstances beyond our control. Padre Pio once said he believed in coincidences...but that God was in charge of the coincidences.
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
So great, Father Casey. Thank-you!! Seeing the hand of God in every moment of our lives and realizing He is in control...what a wonderful perspective. It give us greater joy and peace. One funny note, I also went to my college based on receiving a brochure from them. God bless you and your ministry!
You are right humility and trust is what is needed in life. You accepting the invitation made all the difference. But surely someone's prayers and tears opens the door of grace for you and many.
I believe in Devine intervention. God is always watching out for us and offering us His best....but He always gives us freedom of choice and we can pick the wrong way to go. Believe me, I have made a few bad choices!!! BUT when I look back I can see Gods' loving hand trying to lead me to take the right path. DARN!!! That freedom of choice!!! At 48 yrs old I found a caring new friend that led me to the art of following God's will and living a life of true freedom and ease.
I often feel that God loves me perfectly. Really, sometimes I just get to see things that I would have never expected to happen. Some of those things happen out of nothing and then I just feel that it's God. I just thank Him.
Too bad he doesn't seem to love perfectly people who are born into war torn countries, or who have to live in famine and disease, or who get brain cancer, or die in natural disasters or random car accidents
Isn’t it amazing how God works in those minute details that people think He just ignores?? I love sitting and reflecting on how the Lord has put me where I am today and the steps and details He beautifully woven together to get me here ❤️❤️ Love that He isn’t finished yet either!!
I haven’t watched your channel in a couple years because, quite frankly, I haven’t been very active as a Christian for a while either. Your video popped up out of the blue as I was breaking down over having to make some big decisions with college, and that doesn’t seem to be a coincidence. I think I’m going to head back to church because of it.
Hi Father Casey! I love your videos here on your channel and your collaboration channel with Father Patrick, you guys have been an inspiration for me to be interested in Catholicism. I have watched your Catholicism in Focus videos, and it helped me see your faith in a different, yet clear light; along with Lizzieanswers, The Thomistic Institute, etc. God bless you!
I've always said, we are exactly where God wants and needs us to be. I tske comfort in that thought, even when the present feels uncomfortable. The Lord bless you Fr Casey.
It's verry interesting that what you discuss here can really go hand in hand with the philosopy of stoicism. I have seen absolute lows in my life, almost living out of my car from unemployment, to absolute highs like where I am now financially and mentally. It took me realizing that I am not in control of all aspects of life to really turn things around and become happy again.
Am I the only one that wishes Fr. Casey would have a conversation with Matt from the Ten Minute Bible Hour? I think the two of them would have a conversation worth hearing, for more than just the converted and faithful, but for everyone.
I agree!
I want to see him on Matt fradds podcast!
Yeah, really.
Yes please
Fr Casey it sounds like you are being called on Deck and are next up to bat with Matt at Ten Minute Bible. It would be amazing to get you both together and see where it goes.
I think it was St Ignatius that said something along the lines of “work as if everything depends on you but pray as if everything depends on God” and the points of this video can definitely be seen throughout this quote! Good to see you back Fr Casey!!
It was St Augustine
Both St Ignatius and St Agustine have a similar quote, but definetely!!
If a certain Russian soldier had not thrown a grenade at one certain moment, which injured a German soldier, the said German soldier would probably have made it to Stalingrad - and not further. The fact that he was severely injured was probably life-saving for that soldier - who later became my dad. I am deeply thankful to that Russian whose grenade made my father limp for the rest of his life - instead of starving or freezing to death in Stalingrad. And I thank God for that.
And no, I am not thankful for the mere fact that a horrible war killed millions of people. But I thank God that He, in that very moment, allowed a young soldier to survive and to become unfit as a soldier in Hitler's army.
In a way, I owe my life to a grenade shattering a young man's knee. I do not believe that God made it fly in that direction, but that He allowed this to happen, and did not allow my father to die in war. Again, why him and not others? I don't know.
Wow. That’s amazing. What an incredible thing to think about and give God thanks for.
I sometimes wonder if God will reveal stories like this about every person in the end, and if we will all see how each of us played multiple parts in others stories to form one grand narrative. Just hearing that one story has already brought me a bit closer to God
@@corneliusquincydavenportic1913 I wonder that often too, how amazing would it be if we would all know in the end.
Whether positive or negative influences, we will all be forgiven by the grace of God. Amen
Not to mention not having to take part in the atrocities that the Wehrmacht committed in Stalingrad. Glad your dad didn't have to have that on his conscience.
@@Commiechu absolutely. He was just enough burdened without having participated in war crimes. He used to say about his time as a soldier: "I fell for a criminal organisation."
Welcome back, Father Casey. This place is a bit better with you in it.
Ye :3c
It was an unnecessarily big fight in a relationship(that didn't work out) that made me spiral into Catholic youtube and begin my life as an active Catholic 😂😂.
Yeah! But ist was your choice not to watch cute cat videos instead. ;)
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
@@rezitatorin exactly 😹😹😹. Thank youu
@@josephzammit8483 thank you. I ought to read more about saints
@@laureneonunkwo4519 You're welcome.
Fr. Casey - In 2003, I lost my wife to mental illness, was separated from our daughter, I was hopeless. Something (Holy Spirit or my guardian angel) nudged me to seek counsel in my current parish. At that moment, I changed from a secular person who went to mass occasionally to a spiritual follower of Christ. But as you noted, it was my choice to seek out my priest, or go the bar and drown my sorrows.
There are Causes, Choices and Consequences. God caused you to seek out the priest; you made the CHOICE in the HOLY SPIRIT to seek out the priest that God had chosen for you and the CONSEQUENCE? The FRUITS of the HOLY SPIRIT! ☺
PETER KREEFT " BACK TO VIRTUE"
There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’, and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done’ (The Great Divorce).
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your kind spirit guide me on ground that is level."
[Psalms 143 : 10 - 10]
From the book "food for soul (c)" by Peter kreeft,
# page 9
Only human beings can love because only human beings have free choice. Nothing else in the universe that we know of has the free will to choose to make itself more itself or less itself. Rocks can’t choose to be more or less rocky and dogs can’t choose to be more or less doggy, but humans can choose to be more human or less human, by choosing to love or not to love. This love is charity. Charity is not just our spontaneous feelings. It does not arise from our nature as selfish animals. It is a gift of God. So St. Paul prays for it, as we should too. He prays that God may “strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness.”
From the book "Theology of the Body In One Hour" by Jason Evert. # We resemble God not simply because we have an immortal soul, an intellect, and a free will. The sexual complementarity of the male and female bodies, in their masculinity and femininity, reveals that we are made for relationship, for a communion of persons. The same cannot be said of any other creature. Although plants and animals are capable of reproduction, they cannot make a gift of themselves in love. A communion of persons is only created by a mutual gift, and this requires free will-not just a biological instinct to reproduce. John Paul explained, “Man becomes an image of God not so much in the moment of solitude as in the moment of communion. . . . [This] constitutes perhaps the deepest theological aspect of everything one can say about man.” Pause and absorb what John Paul is teaching. He’s proposing that the sexual intimacy shared between a husband and wife is an icon of the inner life of the Trinity. In saying this, he is not sexualizing heaven, but is revealing that our sexuality points us there when it is properly understood. The call to be fruitful and multiply is a call to live in the divine image: to make a gift of ourselves through life-giving love. The call to communion that is revealed in the body is a sign of what persons are supposed to do: make a gift of themselves to others and ultimately to God, in the image of the Trinity.
Fr. Casey, it is great to see you back again. It's been a long time. At the age of 74 I can assure you that everything you said in
your presentation is absolutely true. In looking back over my life and teaching career, I'm astounded WHERE God lead me in contrast
to where I originally wanted to go.......and it all could not have worked out better!!
where did Fr Casey go? He took a break?!
When I was in my late teens/early 20's I was addicted to drugs. Just about anything I could get my hands on, I would do. Because I had a hole inside me and no idea how to fill it. So I would just "go away" for a while, to forget the emptiness I felt inside. I had an epiphany one day when I was 21, I was basically homeless, crashing at a guy's place that my girlfriend at the time knew, stealing and panhandling for drug money. And I realized that if I kept going along that path I would end up dead or in jail by my next birthday.
I went to my mom and stepdad's house and begged them to let me in, to help me get clean. They did.
Over the next three months I isolated myself from everyone, I did chores around the house to earn my keep and I got myself clean.
I began to look for jobs, but in my mind I had a nagging doubt that if I stayed in my hometown I would fall back into my old habits again.
Temptation can be overwhelming.
So I joined the military, the Navy to be exact, in order to remove myself from a situation where I would be tempted to go back to my old ways.
I served for 5 years and separated as an E-5 (Quartermaster Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I moved to Louisiana, 2200 miles away from where I grew up.
I began working in security.
Now, 14 years after my revelation, I have a house, I have a good job that I enjoy, and I am 14 years clean.
I don't know what caused my epiphany, maybe it was God, maybe my own conscience.
All I know is that the hole is filled, my life has purpose and meaning
and I'm happy.
Fr Casey do you say the Latin Mass of all times? Or the New Mass?
If you say the New Mass, do you say the Leontine pray and hail Mary after Mass.Card. Cupich wants it stopped..BANNED...What are you saying now?
Keep up the good work! It was the Holy spirit!
Oh yes, that's God's fingerprint for sure. Congratulations!!
Good for you.
@@Tobymydog812Oy.
A few years ago, I had my peak desperation in wanting love in my life. Despite being scared to death I used some dating apps and gave up within days because I am just too scared to do stuff like that. For some reason it strongly made me feel like I will be forever alone. Then, from absolutely thin air almost, I met a girl and we quickly fell in love. Despite being agnostic, I couldn't help but feel that this was too big of a coincidence. It felt almost like divine intervention. However, only 3 months after I met her, everything had fallen apart and she stopped seeing me. It was because I was so insecure about myself that I was deeply paranoid about what she was doing when I wasn't there and eventually I accused her firmly of cheating with no proof. She left because of it.
At that point I thought that if god was real, he played me for a fool. However, after taking some time to grief about the loss I realised that perhaps god did not intend for me to find love at that moment, but show me that I am simply not ready for a relationship and that I need to work on myself first.
Hope you can learn to love yourself first, stay strong!
I just heard love God first and the girl second and everything will work out. God did not want you to be with an atheist, she may drive you away from him. Find a girl that loves God first. Try church groups. Wish you well!
@@cherylhee9762 - good ideas. Try co-ed bowling league or your town's rec. dept. volleyball team. Show up every week, no excuses.
Low cost, no special skill - just sign up (as a beginner if need be.)
Chat a little. Smile. Stay for the pizza or cookout after the game. No romance fireworks predicted, none likely. Just relax around people a little, no agenda.
Can very much relate as a young man struggling with insecurity in/outside my relationships. Stay strong brother! You got this.
I never thought Catholicism and hockey, which are two of my major interests would be mentioned in the same video
Just hoping to clarify: is Catholicism just another interest, or something further beyond?
@@reintaler6355 well I'm Catholic and I'm interested in it but that's about it
@@Mman07311 I believe we should be more specific when uttering the word Catholic which means Universal.
Fr. Casey is Roman Catholic which is THE head of the *Christian* Faith. Belief in and followers of Jesus Christ. (Many people do not know that Roman Catholics are Christians).
@@patthompson8591 Yeah I know I'm Catholic
me too! very cool
So glad to see you back. We missed you. Hope your time off was rewarding and productive.
True story: I once asked God why I have acne and He told me it was because He didn't want me to be too vain. I didn't understand then but now I understand that if I had perfect skin in my teens I probably would have committed more sins of vanity back then. Now I no longer have acne and am a more modest person.
God spoke to you? Seriously?
@@gerryquinn5578 Yes. If you ask Him a question, He will answer. It would be impolite not to, no?
@@krdiaz8026 : Most of the people I know who talk to God are found in hospitals.
@@gerryquinn5578 yes God speaks get in touch with him
@@gerryquinn5578 That's a good point.
Don't wait until you are injured or dying in a hospital to start talking to God.
Start now. He speaks to every heart who inclines to His voice.
I apparently missed when this premiere started, but it's so good to see you again, Father.
He released another video within the last few days teasing that something was premiering on 9/27.
This came into my RUclips feed at the perfect time. But of course it did 😂 I asked for a sign in prayer yesterday and here it is. Bless you and thanks 🌸
I’ve often imagined that life is like walking the dog. The dog does what she does…totally engrossed in the sights and smells… seemingly oblivious to me unless I jerk her leash to protect her from something I know will harm her. She doesn’t know that car will kill her so no running into the street. She doesn’t know that the “food” she smells is actually rat poison so I forcefully drag her away (she’s a beagle so she resists me like the hound she is). She doesn’t know the risks of cavorting with unfriendly cats but this time I let her sniff and get her nose slapped because I calculate that the lesson learned is more important than the painful scratch. I am the dog and my guardian angel is holding my leash.
Beautifully said Chris! May God bless you all of your days!
Excellent analogy! That is absolutely the best description of free will.
Fr. Casey, I feel lucky that God showed me your channel. It is good to have your guidance again. I pray you are doing well.
I am delighted you have returned. You were missed. Hope your break was rewarding for you.
“I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.” ECC 9:11
Luck or God, I really did get the good end of the stick. Dad dropped out of school at 12 to help support his family, gave up a life he loved, foreman on a cattle ranch, to become a successful small business owner. He wasn't a church going man but he treated the poor, elderly, unemployed, etc. with respect and compassion. )Mom would kid dad about unexplained credit extensions and bill payments.) His actions ingrained a love of education, hard work, and a concern for others into my brother and I. I became college instructor and was always amazed at the things that former students would tell me that I did that had a major impact in their lives. In most cases it was not the big well planned lessons but the little things that were important. The smallest thing we do may have a huge impact in someone else's life. My guess is that luck is just a nickname for God.
Praise God brother! For be is good!
@@eman2382 Yes, He is.
God bless you Fr Casey. Keep up doing what you are doing now.
I’ve always believed that God offers us choices and it’s up to us to make the right choice and if we chose unwisely He then provides further choices to get us back on the right path. God always provides🙏
Luck is a strange one, My brother has won the lottery three times but me on the other hand could bet the sun was going to rise tomorrow and that would be the day Jesus chose to come back…
LMAO
Always remember - praying/begging God for a 1st prize lottery win could fall on deaf ears for He is NOT an ATM machine 😑. You'll have to hang your hopes on chance/luck😏
I am too. I neever ever win in lottery even consolations. But then i remember, i never bet either.
This is very deep thinking. Too often I find that many Christians engage in shallow simplistic ideas about the world. I am so moved to see a priest with such penetrating insight.
God Bless you Father Casey!
Thank you. I needed this. I was just thinking about how in some ways my life was so meaningless. And at 75 coming to an end soon. But then you made me look at things so differently. I may not be a millionaire or famous or the surgeon that I wanted to be as a small child or ballerina. But I did work as a Medical Technologist and worked with cancer patients. I made a small contribution to their lives. I have a wonderful son. I have a beautiful miraculous Catholic Faith that nurtures me. I am striving so hard every day now in my faith. It is personal , to me. But not to God. He is my guiding star. I am now retired. Going to daily Mass again and loving it. Going to frequent confession. I feel that I need this guidance. And enjoying this also. I feel like going frequently to confession makes you come to terms with your life, your humanity. Your realization that you are just o e person. But a very special person to God. Confession you more than mend bridges. You build stronger bridges with Christ. Develop and intimacy with Christ in a greater friendship and love ❤️. Thank you for this one. I have been feeling so depressed and down and lonely. Now not so much. You lifted my spirit!!🙏🙏🙏🙏💕🙏❤️🔥
God bless you friend, know that your life is written by Him
Ah yes the mysterious ways of God often only noticed in hindsight. The realisation of comfort that He has a plan for us and yet still we are free to choose the path is indeed the peace that is beyond understanding. Thank you for your thoughtful and reassuring talk. 🙏
It's so good to see you return Fr. Casey! This past week I've been watching many of your videos, and your one on confession helped me recently to prepare for and understand my first time seeing a priest and doing the Sacrament of Penance which I am very grateful for. Thank you, and God bless.
Welcome back! Whether it's chance or the hand of God, I think realizing we don't have full control of our circumstances is important. It keeps us humble.
@solea - That is true that we have no control over the circumstances that come our way. But we DO have control over the choices we make when faced with those circumstances. I think of the people in the upper floors of the Twin Towers on 9-11. To jump--or stay and be burned alive (assuming there was no other way out). The circumstances were not going to change, but the choice was always theirs. The end result was always going to be death. The choice was which was going to be quicker and/or less painful.
God bless you father ! A tool for my conversion years ago, a tool for my vocation!
Welcome back after your summer break, Fr Casey! Interesting thoughts around being privileged by what we get from God. Actually, you do work in sales, for the company called Catholic Church, and you're doing it really well!
Father Casey thank you for your words. You are so young and so full of wisdom "In the grand scheme of life, in all the choices that we could make , God is with us" Beautiful!!
God bless you always. Greetings from Argentina
I had never heard of my college, either. Growing up in western NYS I was convinced I would never go anywhere near NYC, but the college I ultimately attended in New Jersey sent me twice as much mail as all the others. I never applied anywhere else. Not only did I get a great education, but I met the love of my life there and we have been married for almost 34 years. There are no coincidences. God guides. ❤️
Amen brother! Rejoice and praise God all of your lives!
Always!
Hello Fr. Casey!!
Its so nice to see you again since the the whole thing in months unfolds itself. Hoping you could visit to thw Philippines someday and Hoping rhat i could meet you.
It's funny how often I think of this topic. It's crazy how much those little things guide our life and completely change the course of what was expected. I welcome the idea, sincerely because it shows God cares for us and is beside us through life as you said, father. Great video!
I came into the church about 12 years ago and now I look back over my life and see all the times God pointed out to me the right path, but my eyes were closed, when I finally opened them, there was only one correct path to travel, so whish i had opened them earlier, but better late than never
Amen to that! Thanks for sharing your story! God bless.
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
Thank you. It is so great having you back. I love listening to you and you always give me something to think about.
God Bless you.
Interesting how fate plays a role in lives. RUclips’s algorithms sent me a recommendation to watch two friars react to a video. I subscribed not only that channel, but also Fr. Patrick’s and this one. The kicker…I’m an agnostic. Fate is interesting.
@Vermont Mike - Yes, that is what some people call it--fate. But was it fate that chose to watch the video or was that your choice? Perhaps that is called free will, something God has given each of us. Every choice we make has its consequences--for good or for naught. But in the long run, the choice--and the consequence--will always be ours. No one, really, "forces" us to make that decision--no matter what the circumstances. The only real "outside" force that pushes us one way or another is which consequence is the less painful one OR the better for our life.
Many are called, but few are chosen. You're being called, Mike.
Welcome back, hopefully you had a refreshing break
Dear Fr. Casey, God bless you always ⚘you are appreciated and respected ⚘
I recently had a talk with my friends about free will, and it left me wondering the points given to me. Until, I watched this video. Shifting my perspective gave me a whole new meaning and understanding. Thank you and God Bless you Fr
Glad you are back father🇿🇼,,God's hand ~incomprehensible
Welcome back my favourite 'adonis'😁😁 priest, hope you had a restful vacation with your family & had enough time & space to complete your projects. 😊
😂😂😍
In terms of interacting with the youth of my church, the Catholic church I attended for 35 years, organized a softball match for them in the parking lot - one time back in the early 1980s. Once. That was it. That was the entire social interaction our Parish had with its youth, other than Sunday School, for as long as I lived there. Meanwhile, my friends who attended the Protestant churches of the area would come to school each week and talk about all the cool stuff they did that weekend with their church, or the trip they went on, or the event they partook in. As a kid in the Catholic Church I always just thought that church was supposed to be somber and repetitive. And that you were supposed to be dedicated but don’t get too excited about it. I have to admit, I had church envy as a kid who wanted so much more.
your ministry is SO important - may the Lord give you the grace to be faithful to Him ... all the way HOME
I like your proposition that, even if circumstances are an act of god, it still is our responsibility to listen and take the chance. It reminds me of something I heard recently:
There once was a very pious man, who was very confident god was on his side. One day, a major hurricane was headed towards where he lives. When he heard the radio giving the order to evacuate, he thought to himself: "not for me. I am a good man and god will save me.". A bit later, when thwir neighbors could not find him in the shelters, they decided to call him in the phone. "Thank you for your concern", he answered, "but I will stay home and pray. God loves me, and he will save me". Later, just before the storm, the firefighters made rounds in the streets, knocking on every door, to make sure everyone was safe. "Thank you", he said again, "but I know God is on my side. I am safe here. Good luck to you." One hour later, the hurricane hits his town, making his house collapse. The poor man painfully dies, alone, crushed by his own home.
When arriving in paradise, he asks God: "I thought you were on my side! Why did you let me die so painfully?" To which God responded: "I sent you a warning through the radio. I made your neighbors call you. I evenet the firefighters go to take you personally. What else did you expect me to do?"
When I was 14 my family moved to another state and I was very upset with God about it. Been very engaged with the teen ministry, it was sad to leave all behind. But my new church loved missions and helping our persecuted brothers and sisters in the East. This is how I was introduced to the beautiful work of missionaries and after college I became one!
After watching this, I realized I am so spoiled. I am so lucky in ways that others are not. I should feel humbled by this. Life is truly a journey or a mystery. I have no clue how I even discovered Breaking in the Habit. I cannot remember but now I watch it regularly. I guess we should allow certain things to enter into our lives and let them take us somewhere.
i started this video with interest and a bit of fear in my mind, and i finished it with a lot less of that fear remaining. In a week or so, i will have probably one of the most important exams of my life determining whether i can pass to next grade or not, and while i try to put in as much effort as i can to pass, the overlurking fear of failing and subsequently failing in life is always there. But this video gave me comfort, that while i will pray everyday and do everything in my power to pass that exam, my life still isn’t over if i fail. Maybe that can be a new start. Thank you for this feeling.
Thank you for bringing abandonment and providence to the forefront. And showing people why we should thank God for everything. "Everything is Grace."
Good to have you back on the RUclipss Father. And thanks for giving Br. Mike those books for his leadership team, he gave me an extra copy and it was very, very well timed. Let go 😉.
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
Hi Fr Casey ☺, I wondered if you were returning and hope you had an enjoyable, peaceful, Godfilled break/vacation.
Welcome back👋 🙂
Luck/Chance/fate! Luck is a word which human beings created. And if we are describing an event which ties in with what we define as LUCK - then, yes luck does exist and could cover a range of occurrences Or is it God's providence? 😉☺
Providence 👍
Amazing sharing Friar! Thank you 💛
So good to see you back I missed you and Fr Patrick over the summer !
I needed to hear this today I’m going through some tough times and good to be reminded I am where I am for a reason even if I can’t see it at the moment .
This reminds me of a quote I heard recently, "God can move mountains, but he wants us to pick up the shovels."
That’s a very profound quotation!
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
Welcome back Father Casey. I've missed your videos and wisdom. Here in Melbourne Australia, we are still in Lockdown, our sixth for a total of 216 days, thanks to COVID. I can't even go to mass. I watch a livestream of our Archbishop saying mass with one cantor only each Sunday. Your return will be like a breath of fresh air.
PS we can only go to the doctor, buy food within 5 kms from home, and exercise alone for one hour per day. Masks are compulsory too. There is also a curfew between 9pm and 5am. Only essential services workers can work. I never thought I'd be living under these conditions in Australia. But until we get the vaccination rate up that is how it will be.
Excellent and insightful video. I have considered moments in my own life that were affected by some simple events. What I studied for uni was simply recommended to me by my half-brother's friend which impacted me for many years to come.
Welcome Back!!! We missed you and are "LUCKY" to have you.
Glad you’re back to your videos I truly appreciate and enjoy their content
God continue to Bless You
Wow! I really needed to hear this. I've missed your videos, Father Casey! God bless your return.
It's good to see you again! You've been missed.
Excellent message, which has inspired and touched someone on the other end of the Earth, here in East Asia.
Amazing video, Father! Hope you enjoyed summer. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got for us this fall 🙏🙌🤩
I’ve always struggled between predestination and free will. I’ve heard much of what you’ve said in this vid over the years, from different sources, and it seems to fit best as to why things happen the way they do, why people are who they are, and end up where they do, for good or ill (you didn’t touch on any negative consequences).
I think about that too, maybe too much though.
Toncsi, from my experience is that if you choose to go contrary to where God has planned for you to go, you will be miserable and go through many hardships. Albeit, it might also be Devine testing. But if you weren’t meant to be a doctor- your going to miserable practicing as a doctor. It seems that only after things are said and done , and you finally give in and change your course, you connect the dots... God bless!
Ecclesiastes 9:11 highlights the luck element perfectly: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.
With that said, Ecclesiastes also confirmed the importance of obedience: Fear God and keep his commandments.
Proverbs 16:9 "A man may plot out his course, but it is the Lord who directs his steps."
Great insight. I firmly believe in God and from the time we are born till we die He is working with us to keep us close to the road that is best for us. He never forces us into anything but He gives us ample opportuniites to choose what is the better alternative. He does work things for good for those that trust Him and love Him. He writes straight with crooked lines. Thank You Abba!
This video came to my life on the perfect timing. Thank you Fr. Casey.
This reminds me of the story on one of our parish priest, which he told us on the day of his ordination.
Rev. Fr. Francis Dakun, was supposed to be on his was to an interview for a position as a medical assistant. While waiting on a bus stop near their farm, he forgot one required document in his house nearby.
Leaving his other documents at the bus stop (why he did that was beyond himself), he ran back to fetch the forgotten papers.
When he went back to the bus stop a brief moment later, a cow had the papers in it's mouth, chewing on them like a tasty treat.
He didn't get to go to the interview - but a few years later, there he was, a newly ordained priest, telling his congregation about that fateful day at the bus stop. He now serve at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Keningau Diocese in Sabah, Malaysia.
Excellent explanation! I read the book the Outliers a couple of year ago because my daughter recommended it, but know I understand the concept better, God always makes a lot of more sense. Thank you for this video!
This video should be shown to high school students preparing for Confirmation or attending religious education in any given parish. What a wisdom! Fr. Casey, thank you.
Excellent video Fr Casey, great to have you back
Tend the garden plot that you have been given and see what seeds sprout. Be a good steward, nurture them and reap the harvest. And then, of course, there is also the alternate possibility of the Cosmic Dope Slap when you begin to see what others around you have already clearly seen and understand which points you in the right direction.
A story by Voltaire ends with the hero saying, "We must cultivate our garden."
Welcome back Fr. Casey; glad to see that your time away seems to have been efficacious-your insight and inspiration certainly are respectively, deep and strong.
Your journey has been very, very different from mine, yet almost exactly the same. A difference I perceive in my journey is awareness of the inspirations and nudges my angel (or the Holy Spirit-it's a mystery to me) give.
Ask me sometime why I even considered returning to the Church (not for a very admirable reason … and it had nothing to do with wanting to impress a woman). Yes, Our Lord is a Shepard, leaving the flock to find the stray.
PS: Great click-bait; did you sample several, or hit a home run with the first idea?
This is wonderful! God bless you, Father!
"Free will is still intact", immediately after showing how much of his life's direction demonstrates a lack of free will.
No, I very clearly showed that I made all the decisions. I could have very easily chosen otherwise. The point is that there are influences in our lives that can’t be discounted. I’m sure God was trying to influence me well before these things and in many cases that I said no.
@@BreakingInTheHabit Thanks for your response. What book(s) would you recommend reading on the subject of free will? Thanks for your time.
I was realy nervous about my place and path but now that i look back it is clear that god has a plan with me he always had. Thanks
I spent many years suffering to find myself invited to the supper of the lamb Glory. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All you people bless the Lord!
I'm with you Father Casey (you have the same name as my nephew and grand nephew, lol!) I remember the Prince of Egypt, the part where the old man is talking about how we're all woven into the grand tapestry of life. Some of us may be shinier or more colorful threads, but we are all threads woven into the grand design of the Maker. I find great comfort in that. I study faith, genealogy, and physics, I know, weird combo, lol, and studying this stuff only strengthens my belief and my conviction that patterns happen for a reason. Some call it the Butterfly Effect, and I also call it the finger of God nudging us along in the way we should go. I'm thankful for weird things, like the fact that if Hitler never came to power I wouldn't exist. Of course I think Hitler was a total piece of trash, but the fact is that if he hadn't done what he did my grandmother Lucja would have never met my grandfather JC. I study a lot of history too, and when you do that you see patterns a lot. But yeah, we're all threads in the Pattern. 😁
Welcome back father Casey! I’m so excited right now!!!!
I am so happy that you are back! I hope that your time away was good for you. This post may have been a fruit of your special time. Years ago, probably before you were born, I had a time when I needed to look at my life from a wee bit of distance. Ever since, my favorite part of the entire OT is Ecclesiastes3. My own variation of the Jesuit Examen has helped me through everything since. I have also come to the profound conclusion that gratitude is the basis for joy, even in the sad times. You are doing a wonderful job with these posts. Thank you for them!
Wwwooooooo Fr. Casey has returned!!!!!!!!!!!
Fr Casey has been gifted with wisdom to discern and follow through on a vocation at an early age. And then he is a perfect fit for evangelizing young and old alike. Not a coincidence. His video on the Confusion of Pope Francis shows how the Holy Spirit is at work in him in a candid, intelligent way.
Hello Fr. Casey, welcome back! Your videos are always uplifting and help to keep me on the straight and narrow path.
Father Casey, it is good to see you back. God bless and keep the faith! My own life expierence is filled with the hand of God. Faith in God provided a life of travel and adventure. God provided me with many advantages and carried me many times. I do not know why. I am not a "Church going Christen" because every church I ever tried to get involved with was more interested in their earthly work and not God's glory. God in his wisdom provided many paths to him. I got my religeous training in a Salvation Army Church that was across the street from my grandmothers house. She took care of that small church for years. It was a very small congregation of poor people and from them I learned compassion, a reverence for God and a strong belief in Jesus. I am grateful.
I can really relate to this...God works in very mysterious ways, often through people and circumstances beyond our control. Padre Pio once said he believed in coincidences...but that God was in charge of the coincidences.
Well said! I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you
Good to see back Fr Casey, you have been missed.
I'm so happy to see you back!
So great, Father Casey. Thank-you!! Seeing the hand of God in every moment of our lives and realizing He is in control...what a wonderful perspective. It give us greater joy and peace. One funny note, I also went to my college based on receiving a brochure from them. God bless you and your ministry!
Love your John ruskin painting. I love him, visited his house in England when I was a kid
Welcome back father Casey!! I hope you had an amazing summer. God bless you and your family
You are right humility and trust is what is needed in life. You accepting the invitation made all the difference. But surely someone's prayers and tears opens the door of grace for you and many.
I believe in Devine intervention. God is always watching out for us and offering us His best....but He always gives us freedom of choice and we can pick the wrong way to go.
Believe me, I have made a few bad choices!!! BUT when I look back I can see Gods' loving hand trying to lead me to take the right path. DARN!!! That freedom of choice!!!
At 48 yrs old I found a caring new friend that led me to the art of following God's will and living a life of true freedom and ease.
I often feel that God loves me perfectly. Really, sometimes I just get to see things that I would have never expected to happen. Some of those things happen out of nothing and then I just feel that it's God. I just thank Him.
Too bad he doesn't seem to love perfectly people who are born into war torn countries, or who have to live in famine and disease, or who get brain cancer, or die in natural disasters or random car accidents
Welcome 🙏 back
I look up to you as an young catholic
Isn’t it amazing how God works in those minute details that people think He just ignores?? I love sitting and reflecting on how the Lord has put me where I am today and the steps and details He beautifully woven together to get me here ❤️❤️ Love that He isn’t finished yet either!!
Fr. Casey I really enjoy listening to you and your story. Thank you for sharing your story and Faith.
My experience of a "yes" to a suggestion that came in my life, make me strongly relate with what you said! Thank you brother for your testimony!
I haven’t watched your channel in a couple years because, quite frankly, I haven’t been very active as a Christian for a while either. Your video popped up out of the blue as I was breaking down over having to make some big decisions with college, and that doesn’t seem to be a coincidence. I think I’m going to head back to church because of it.
Nice to see you again, Father Casey! I was just thinking about you the other day. 😊
Hi Father Casey! I love your videos here on your channel and your collaboration channel with Father Patrick, you guys have been an inspiration for me to be interested in Catholicism. I have watched your Catholicism in Focus videos, and it helped me see your faith in a different, yet clear light; along with Lizzieanswers, The Thomistic Institute, etc. God bless you!
I've always said, we are exactly where God wants and needs us to be. I tske comfort in that thought, even when the present feels uncomfortable. The Lord bless you Fr Casey.
It's verry interesting that what you discuss here can really go hand in hand with the philosopy of stoicism. I have seen absolute lows in my life, almost living out of my car from unemployment, to absolute highs like where I am now financially and mentally. It took me realizing that I am not in control of all aspects of life to really turn things around and become happy again.
Welcome back from summer vacation Fr Casey! I hope you had a wonderful and restful summer.