Do you ever pause to evaluate your spiritual life? As evangelists, it is easy to get caught up in all the urgent matters of evangelization that we fail to take time for our own spiritual recollection. In this episode, Mike Gormley discusses the importance of taking stock of our spiritual lives and maintaining the goal of eternity with God.
Snippet from the Show
We spend a lot of time on things that are urgent and often neglect those things that are not urgent but still important.
Shownotes
Moments of Recollection
Do you find moments to pause? Dave VanVickle, one of our hosts, takes two hours every day to turn off all screens and recollect. He’ll read the Church Fathers or pray. Mike has been attempting to follow his example. He will sneak into his office and keep the door shut while he takes time to think and remember the important things and not just the urgent things.
Understanding Hell
Very often in Evangelization, the topic of Hell comes up. The question is asked repeatedly, “Why would a good and loving God allow a place to exist that separates a person from him forever?” People attempt to do away with Hell based on this question. However, it is important to recall the truth about Hell. It is not just a place of punishment. It is what happens to our souls when we wholly give ourselves over to wickedness.
Many people have fallen into the mistake of thinking someone is so lucky if they live in sin their whole life but then repent on their deathbed. This is a mistake because it means that we consider someone lucky even though they lived their entire life without knowing God. This misunderstanding comes from a glorification of sin.
Aristotle said that everyone enters the world with raw, untutored desires that need to be harnessed. He said that a sinful man will come to see that his way of living does not work. However, this is just the beginning. A person may see that the sinful life does not work, but this doesn’t mean that they want a sinless life. Moving towards detestation of sin is moving into a virtuous life.
For the Evangelist
There are so many urgent things that are put in front of us and seem to need an immediate response. However, it is essential that each one of us take time to focus on the important things, especially our own spiritual lives. The pursuit of virtue or relationship with God cannot be delayed. We must develop a humble submission to God’s plan. We must take time for our own spiritual lives.
Resources
- Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com
- Text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and be added to Gomer and Dave’s email list
- Visit Dave’s website www.thecatholictruthaboutangelsanddemons.com and www.artofevangelization.com
- Visit Mike’s website at www.layevangelist.com
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Meet Your Hosts
Michael “Gomer” Gormley
Michael has been leading evangelization and ministry efforts for the past ten years, both as a full-time parish staff member and as a speaker and consultant for parishes, dioceses, and Catholic campus ministries.
Mike is also the founder and creative director of LayEvangelist.com, and the producer and cohost of a Catholic young adult podcast Catching Foxes, which discusses the collision of Faith and Culture.
He is married to his college sweetheart, Shannon, and they have about 1,000 children and get about 3 hours of sleep a night, which is alright by him.
Dave VanVickle
Dave VanVickle fell in love with the Lord at the age of fourteen and has since dedicated his life to bringing others into a radical relationship with Christ.
He is a speaker and retreat leader who focuses on proclaiming the universal call to holiness, authentic Catholic spirituality, spiritual warfare and deliverance. Additionally, Dave has over ten years of experience assisting Priests with their ministries of exorcism and deliverance.
Dave resides in Pittsburgh with his wife Amber and their five children: Sam, Max, Judah, Josie and Louisa.
