How to Get to Heaven by Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike SchmitzHeaven and Hell: Why We Must Talk About Salvation Seriously
We live in a world that often assumes salvation is a given—as long as you're not “a bad person.” But in a powerful and sobering reflection, Fr. Mike Schmitz challenges this modern assumption and reminds us what Jesus actually said about heaven, hell, and the narrow path to eternal life.
"This is a hard word... but it’s serious," says Fr. Mike.
Will Many Be Saved?
How Many People Will Go to Heaven?
In Luke 13:23, someone asks Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” It’s a question that’s just as pressing today as it was then.
Fr. Mike points out that the popular belief today is simple: “Just don’t be Hitler, and you’ll go to heaven.”
But Jesus says something very different:
“Wide is the road that leads to destruction… and many are on it. Narrow is the gate that leads to eternal life" (Matthew 7:13–14).
This isn’t just a metaphor. According to Fr. Mike: "Left to our own, our natural-born trajectory is not towards God—it's away from God."
Do All Good People Go to Heaven?
How to Get to Heaven According to Our Culture
Sociologist Christian Smith once studied the religious beliefs of American youth and coined the term Moralistic Therapeutic Deism—a belief system many unknowingly adopt:
- Be nice (moralistic).
- God exists to make me feel good (therapeutic).
- God stays distant (deism).
- Good people go to heaven when they die.
- Don’t be evil, and you’re fine.
Fr. Mike reflects that “We define ‘good’ as simply not being a murderer. But that’s not the Gospel.”
What Does the Bible Actually Say About Salvation?
How to Get to Heaven According to God
According to Scripture and the Catholic Church, there are at least four key components for entering heaven:
- Baptism: “Unless you are born again of water and Spirit…” (John 3)
- The Eucharist: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man…” (John 6)
- Faith: “If you confess with your lips and believe in your heart…” (Romans 10:9)
- Doing God’s Will: “Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter heaven…” (Matthew 7:21)
Fr. Mike emphasizes that salvation is not about drifting through life—it’s about intentional discipleship. “None of them say, ‘Be a good person.’ None say, ‘Just don’t kick dogs.’”
Heaven Isn’t a Participation Trophy
Heaven Has to Be Earned
Too often, we assume heaven is automatic. But Fr. Mike reminds us that “Heaven is not a prize for being good when you die. Heaven is for those who have reoriented their lives toward Jesus—by his grace.”
We are born good, made in the image of God—but also broken. That means we’re not naturally headed toward heaven. Fr. Mike explains that “The bad news is, on our own, we wouldn’t choose God. The good news is—we're not on our own.”
God’s Grace Is for Everyone
Can Anyone Get to Heaven?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Christ suffered and died for every person—past, present, and future. No one is excluded from the invitation to salvation. Anyone can get to heaven.
“There is no one whom God doesn’t want. There is no one God isn’t actively calling,” Fr. Mike says.
Salvation is like a wedding invitation, Fr. Mike says. “You might have an RSVP, but unless you actually show up, you’re not at the wedding.”
What About Those Who Don’t Know Christ?
Can People Who Don't Know Jesus Get to Heaven?
Fr. Mike addresses a common question: What happens to those who never had a chance to know Jesus or the Church?
“We hold out hope,” he says. “If they choose the good they do know, and God’s grace is working in them, they may still be saved through Jesus.”
The Church does not presume to judge souls—but it does take Jesus’ words seriously.
The Good Thief: A Symbol of Hope
Remember the good thief on the cross next to Jesus? He wasn’t baptized. He never received the Eucharist. But he professed faith in Christ: “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
“If the good thief can hope, so can we. And so can you," Fr. Mike encourages.
“You Strive”: A Call to Action
What Is the "Narrow Gate" in the Bible?
While we hope that many are saved, Jesus makes a personal call:
“Strive to enter the narrow gate" (Luke 13:24).
It’s not about what others are doing—it’s about what you are doing.
“No one gets to heaven by drifting,” says Fr. Mike. “We only get there by God’s grace and by choosing him with our whole hearts.”
Do Not Assume Salvation, But Have Hope
This message may feel heavy—but it’s full of hope!
“Something to pray for. It’s heavy—but it’s hopeful.”
Fr. Mike completes his thoughts by saying we should not assume salvation. Let’s seek it. Let’s respond to the invitation. And let’s pray for one another—because heaven is real, and so is hell.