Do You Present Your True Self to Others? 

This man alone (in conjunction with spiritual guidance) convinced me to become an RCIA student to join the Catholic Church. I am 66 years old - not a moment too soon! LOL

Acknowledging guilt while clinging to innocence. Whoa. As soon as you said that, Father, I had memories of myself in the confessional.

2024 and I am here, these never get old

This was so touching because I've built this false version of me from all my weaknesses that I feel like I'm a victim, and at the same time thinking that I am an unworthy, dirty sinner all the time. It's how I've always seen myself, this false sense of myself based on my failures and weaknesses. And I sometimes don't even dare ask God to love me. I really needed to hear this, THANK YOU FR. MIKE! Now I pray that God will love the true me, the one under all the masks, the one searching for His Love and Mercy.

This spoke to me - and convicted me - so deeply. Lately God has been stripping away some of those falsehoods I've been clinging to about myself and my history, and oh, it hurts, and it is scary. Especially when one's been holding on to them for years and doesn't know what life in truth even looks like. But it means freedom - freedom to accept God's love, and to love Him and people and myself the best I can. To accept my true identity. Thank you for these words.

"let God love you, as you are" but I'm not sure I know who I am :( lol. all I know is I fear and worry a lot.

I love Father Mike.

It’s hard to be your true self with others. With God, it is indispensable. Thank you for teaching me that Father Mike

God bless you, father Mike.

Father you are a trip!! But you are a good trip!! I know I'm sounding like a hippie but I never was one!! But seriously what you just talked about is so true! I learned this a long time ago and I am thankful that I did and I wish my two daughters could learn it because they went to college and they lost their real selves and I've been waiting now for 10 years for them to come home and be their TRUE selves!! Every now and then they let their guard down and behold I encounter them as they really are and as their mother I know the real from the fake and it is beautiful. It never lasts that long and they put the mask on again, but you know I thank God for those moments, those precious moments and in my prayers each night I asked the Holy Spirit 2 guide them amd teach them that it's alright and actually far more pleasing to God that they should be themselves! I really found this video to be enlightening and I wish a lot of people could hear it! Thank you bother and God bless!

This is much more peaceful then the news

I haven’t gone to confession on so many years. I was affected by the humanity of the priests. I found that so many people, friends, we’re saying that some priests were so hard, not being forgiving and understanding my , our, spiritual needs at that time. It’s not easy to open up and say what is deep in my heart. I’m a private person and it’s hard to go to confess and open up, not to God, but the priest. I know that God loves me and it makes me so happy and thankful for his grace. But, it’s easier to pray to God for forgiveness then to go to a priest that may not give me the guidance and forgiveness that I seek.

Your talks are so good. I love how they apply to everyday life and how I have felt in my life. Ty Father Mike

Thanks...for years I've put my spiritual life on hold waiting to be perfect. Recently I realized I'm enough and He Loves me for who I am.

Thank you so much Father for the wonderful and truly meaningful teaching in this video!!

This is EXACTLY what God's been saying to me a whole lot lately. Shedding the false self. That's what lifes about Letting the TRUE self emerge. And letting God love me. Right on fr. Mike.

Fr. Mike is so wise and endearing at the same time. A good combination that helps what he says sink in all the more.

God Bless your soul Father.

Still continues to bless even 4 years later 💜

😇🙏🙏Heavenly father, please Love❤️the "Me" that "Liked" father Mike's message today.😬😬😬

I smell a Grammy Father Mike!

Very good message. I think sometimes we are afraid to be real with God because we've seen all around us that PEOPLE fail to really love. I wrote/recorded a song with a line that goes "If true love has no conditions, then most love is only fiction, 'cause they hate you if you're ever bad enough." God's love is true, but we've been conditioned by witnessing the fallen, faux love of human beings that we can't imagine anyone, even God, can truly love someone "warts and all." But He can. I strive to follow His example, and also to surround myself with people who DO truly love, so that I can have that tangible reminder: We CAN ALL be loved even as we are. There IS a love that can separate sin from sinner. Only if we realize that it is possible to absolutely HATE the sin but absolutely LOVE the sinner will we be able to extend that mercy to ourselves too, enough to be totally honest with ourselves about just how absolutely rotten our sins are, yet without loathing ourselves with destructive self-hatred.

You are made for glory 💯

4 years later and this came up at the perfect moment in my life. HOLDING back the tears. Thanks be to GOD for Father Mike and Ascension Presents. I feel so unloveable but allowing my true self to be loved by God

Hey Fr. Mike, just a word of semi-unsolicited advice: when you have a song stuck in your head, you should solve a puzzle, like an anagram or a sudoku. Because such tasks use the same neural pathways, if focused, you will reduce or eliminate the recurrence of auditory memory concerning the earworm/tune. It works, promise.

Woh..am so overwhelming that I can't explain to you hoe these short talks are helping me. God bless you..

I believe God would listen to our prayers regardless of who we think we are at that moment. As we continue to walk in our faith and trust in God and His Word, eventually our true selves will gradually reveal itself through Christ Jesus. This will, in turn, allow us to shed this false identity we've created from either our successes or our failures, which we have associated ourselves with for our lives.

Yes! The false self. This goes really deep. There is a surface false self, the self that we think other people think we are. That includes personality, likes and dislikes, skills and talents, strengths and weaknesses. But underneath there is an even deeper false self, the mind and the body. All material form is false self. The only true self is the essence. Only the essence is infinite, eternal, and divine. And it is pure unconditional love.

For some reason this made me cry. It is so simple and profound and yet, it is so easy to miss.

LOL that start. Love you Fr. Mike!

Be blessed father💕💕💕💕💕

When my kids and I were going to a non-denominational church I was always my real authentic self which is high energy and friendly, the pastor said "I have determined that you are just one of the children they just voted on you to pretend to be the grown up because you are taller." I asked him if he meant to say I act childish and he said that's exactly what he meant, when we are out in public I don't act high energy nor friendly anymore so other adults will accept me.

I absolutely love Fr. Mike 😂 ~ I love your sense of humor ~ Fod Bless 🙌

I’ve been feeling extremely down and loathing over how I feel academically inadequate from those around me, and I’ve let it define my self worth for some time now. I’m talking to someone who is very smart and two years ahead of me in college and I’ve learned to establish my security of this difference in how happy I genuinely am for him, and how thankful I am to God for his successes. I’ve also accepted that I haven’t done my best (past) but am now doing everything that I can to ensure success in my academic journey (present) and all the while reminding myself that God sees me as worthy, washed away from my short comings, and so I must do the same for myself to avoid scrupulosity. It deeply hurts God when we don’t forgive ourselves.. and so I do, and I’m going to move on with the Lord as my guide instead of the approval of others unless it’s out of genuine concern of my well being. 🙏🏻

Legitimately, every time I open a video because I simply see Fr. Mike's face in the queue, that which he speaks on is that which I need to think and pray about. I am so excited for this summer, because I've been told that Fr. Mike will be on a retreat that I'll be at, and it is an exercise in patience to wait.

Father mike is like a Chaotic good D&D player, he's just so funny. lol

Ah, Viva La Vida... I hear Jerusalem bells are ringin' Roman cavalry choirs are singin' Be my mirror, my sword and shield MY MISSIONARIES IN A FOREIGN FIELD And for some reason I can't explain I know Saint Peter will call my name Never an honest word... But that was when I ruled the world.

Public identity from strengths - wow I so get this. Thanks for the self reflection because I really needed this today!

Father Mike I am a survivor of human trafficking granted it was only 45 days. Sometimes so hard not remain 😪 a victim. However I know God has made me a savior. Please 🙏 pray for me. Glenda

Im not Christian or Catholic but to "let God love you as you are" as the purpose/meaning of life? Is sublime and is also in my religion... And what an amazing reminder...simple, powerful, and true. Good one Fr Mike!

Hi Father Mike, I just recently begin to watch your videos on the bible in one year. I have also watched some of your videos on friendship, relationships, discernment... I love that you are very candid, and love the simplicity and yet the depth of your messages...I pray that the Lord be always with you, and the Holy Spirit will always guide you and bring many to Jesus through you...

Hello Fr. Mike your videos are great. May the Lord guide you always and continue touching lives. Much love from Africa (Kenya). God bless you!

“That's the One I Love!" 💟 Brilliant.

I thank you Father Mike. God tells me when I am not being truthful with him, I struggle with this. Blessings Father. I will keep working on this.

When a priest dreams about confession stems from a holy soul with a heart imbued with pure motivations. (By contrast, when I've dreamed of women, it hasn't been about confession, but something else. At least there's no sin in dreams or sleep.). By the way, good point Father Mike - about God not loving one's false self.

Reminds me of Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, great message

Father is absolutely correct, we try to put the happy pizza face on which is a mask when we are around people we do not know when we first meet them, we try to be the perfect person but at the end of the day, being yourself is the best advice. Yes we are all sinners and strive to be like Christ everyday, but if we allow ourselves to act like God crested is to be around people then they will know who you truly are, which is a Son and Daughter of the one true God. Amen

I used to wear a mask and show people a picture of me I wanted them to see now I am pretty much my authentic self. Getting older helps with a lot of things.

Yooooo, father Mike you are great. Whish you the Holy Spirit never let you alone. God bless you (😉)

Wow, in seriously questioning these masks I wear, I believe I have come before Christ in the confessional that way... Thank you

Wow: this message was soo deep. I will have to watch this video a couple more times to fully comprehend (hopefully) the subject your considering. Thank you Fr. Mike for sharing! Best regards, Vid.

Although this is an old one it rang so true for me this Sunday Monday after such a hard day yesterday. Thank you.

God knows us for who we are...even when we are fake. But I guess when we go humbly in front of Him and ask Him to mend our true faults, He can act on them. When we see ourselves as innocent beings we can never experience His Mercy. Fr Mike great videos, because you manage to reach within our minds and hearts, interpret it and explain it well.

This is great! Feeling complete in my Love for God even more! I think I finally feel acceptable to love and to give love. Worthy because I am his son 💪🏽

"Kinda sorta sinner or kinda sorta saint." Nailed it.

Just started to lesson to your videos and know I can't stop 😅 I love the way your just so joyful when you teach. I'm 20 years old and was born catholic and when I became the age of 16 things was starting to get worst with my catholic faith i moved out and did not fallow God anymore for at less 5 year's and let me tell you that it was the most hard time in my life I felt empty I was trying to see my future but it was dark I wanted to do better but I use the things of this world to make me happy and thats why I became so down some voice in my head telling me I'm nothing go kill yourself you'll be way more happy and I cried for help for almost a week cause it was getting to the point I got scared of my own mind I started praying again everyday and just in one day I felt way better and then after a week of praying my boyfriend witch he's not a catholic told me that we was going to pray with me everyday and him as well wanted help and that made me cry and thank God cause I knew that God was lessening to my prayers im gonna continue praying and not give up cause know that I'm older its like stuff makes so much since I just know way more and understand what God was teaching us and its really beautiful. I hope everyday that God can help my boyfriend and that one day we could get married and live the life of catholic.

At least your song has lyrics. I have had the “ Star Trek” opening music stuck in my head since May!

Most of the time yes I show my true self to others. This is a true fact.

This is a timeless message. God loves you for who you are and not what you think you are. Many a times, we think that we are heroes or villains of our story, but that is only a part of who we are. God needs to love you, all of you, and only then can you feel his grace and mercies. When we shed all pretenses and prejudices against others and ourselves, then we can truly experience the love of God.

Thank you father Mike, this resonated with me Sometimes wisdom is new revelation, sometimes it's a reminder, yeah?

Thank you father Mike!

I was wondering when he would pop back in to say "like comment and subscribe!" 😂

I am who I am God is perfect Im not I have my good days I have my bad days I dont like hurting anyone deleberly God is not finished with me yet God loves me I heard Him say to me 'I love you" that's how I know I am worthy of His Love With God all things are possible I am Grateful Thankful Blessed In Jesus name Amen

Salvation is a gift to receive, not a goal to be achieved. God loves us for who we are but loves us too much to leave us as we are

Fr. Mike I like your humor

wow I needed to hear this !

God bless you father Mike we need good priests like you

The day i walk into confession with no sin reminds me of the Irish prayer, May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows your dead. I’m on a journey tripping & stumbling the whole way but striving toward God. I’m not hopeless, just less than perfect.

Amen 🙏🙏🙏! Lord, I want you to love me as I am, please! Thank you, Lord! 🤟🤟🤟! Thank you, Father Mike! 🙏🙏🙏

I love this!!! Thank you Father Mike!

Thank you for your wisdom!

Right on, Father Mike!!!

I love this and agree with this wholeheartedly

This is 💯 beautiful!!! 💕

Vulnerable to God and not just transparent. Authenticity.

just what I needed to hear. ❤️❤️❤️

I needed to hear this today!

Wow thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️

It sooo hit the spot Padre, thank you and Blessings!!

This was awesome. Thank you!

thank you father Mike...

father Mike you are awesome God bless you may the Lord be with you

Thank you!

This is so beautiful!! We get closer to God the more honest we can be with him. The easiest lie we make is to ourselves, so how to get under that. Fr. Mike you make it so much more possible to want to give that up. Thank you!

Oh my gosh, yessssss I doooo this!:( This video was perfect timing!!

Thank you for this, Father. Great message.

Great stuff! Thank you!

This was brilliant! Thank you so much!

Just what I needed right now, thank you Father

I need this now. Thanks Fr. God bless all

I really needed to hear this today. Thank you, Fr. Mike.

i AM PROUD OF MY TRUE SELD,NUT TOTHERS HAVE PRESENTED THEIR TREUE SELF AS MY TRUE SELF AND MADE A fortiune.

Thank you GOD

I love your videos so much, Fr. Mike!!!!

God bless you.

Holy cow ... is this true. Between Instagram, Facebook, etc. people are always putting up a phony facade. Other people then read this "idealized self" and they get down on themselves for not being "as perfect". It's maddening.

Thank you, Father! : )

Perfect timing, Father.

This one touched deeply

I really really like this.