Friday

A Father's Thoughts on Mother's Day



A Father's Thoughts on Mother's Day

Changing the world, one family at a time
by Jake Frost




MAY 9, 2010 (www.faithandfamilylive.com) - My world is different now. I used to wear a suit and tie, go out to lunch, and travel. Now I wear spit-up, pick-up lunch remnants from the floor, and my travelling is done pushing a stroller around the block. I’m a stay-at-home dad.

For many years I worked in a number of different jobs, mostly as a lawyer. When our daughter was born I was the one with the 9 to 5 job and my wife stayed home. She was in grad school at the time. But one day she got a call about a job opening. She applied, she got the job, and then we had some tough decisions to make.

My wife had never had a “real” job and she wanted to experience the career she’d spent so long preparing for. So, with a five month old daughter, we moved across the country to a brand new city for a brand new job and I became an at-home dad.

It’s been nine months now since I traded in the 9-to-5 world for the 24/7 world. I won’t go into all the trials and travails of a stay-at-home parent. Many seem well known already. Things like the constant demands, endless rounds of cooking, cleaning, diapers, etc. Not being able to take a shower every morning. Perpetual sleep deprivation ...

But there are also some surprises. Like the benefits of dichotomy.

I didn’t realize how nice it was to live in two worlds, shuttling back and forth between them, until I inhabited just one all the time. When you have a job, you leave the demands of home behind when you step out the door each morning. You get a break and step into a new world.

I know work has its own demands. But they’re different demands. In a different environment, with different people. Most of whom are even grown-ups, speak in complete sentences, and let you go to the bathroom by yourself.Then at the end of the day, you get a break from work and step back into the world of home. I didn’t realize how refreshing those changes of vista are until I didn’t have them anymore.

The biggest surprise, though, is how dismissively the vocation of stay-at-home parent is treated. An at-home mom who is a friend told me the story of attending a work function with her husband. Someone assumed she was another employee and asked what she did.

“I don’t work here,” she said. “My husband does. I’m a stay-at-home Mom.”

Awkward silence.

“Well,” the person finally said. “That’s nice too.”

When I used to tell people I was a lawyer, I was received as an equal. Now when I say I’m a stay-at-home dad, I’m greeted with a certain glazed look in the eye that says, “Who else around here can I talk to?”

Like changing vistas, I didn’t realize the power of positive affirmation from others until I didn’t have it anymore. It’s like air: you forget about it unless you’re not getting enough.

The strange thing is that there’s no job more important than raising kids. I’ve worked for big companies, small companies, government agencies, appellate courts, I was a partner in a law firm, I argued cases before my state’s Supreme Court, and I’ve never had a more important job than nurturing the young soul (and another on the way) entrusted to my care.

All day long, I have a bright eyed little spark of smiley energy glued to my side eager to help with everything I do. I’ve learned to do an amazing array of household tasks with one arm. I can whip up eggs in the morning in 20 minutes with one hand, holding a baby in the other the whole time. And I didn’t even cook before we got married.

Just as I’m learning and changing everyday in my new role, though, I know our daughter is also learning and changing as she watches everything Daddy does. The task of helping her grow into the person God wants her to be is a tremendous charge—one our modern culture ought to honor as worthy of a life’s devotion.

This is where dads come in. We can’t change the world to make society value and honor life, family, and those who dedicate themselves to both. But we can change the world of the mom in our own family by letting her know how much we value what she does. No one else will honor her vocation, so it’s up to us. Knowing that we respect her work can make all the difference as she struggles to fight the good fight, day in and day out.

And who knows, maybe we can change the world ... one mom, one family, one child at a time.

View this article in parishWorld.net.

—Jake Frost is a lawyer, writer and stay-at-home Dade who lives near the Mississippi River with his wife and children. He comes from a large family in a small Midwest town and writes for Catholic pulbications around the country.

Tuesday

Developing and Following a Spiritual Wellness Program

Developing and Following a Spiritual Wellness Program

By Maurice Blumberg

Then Levi gave a great banquet for Jesus in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Luke 5:29-32)

Have you ever heard of something called a wellness program? The idea behind it is to develop a lifestyle that will keep you healthy and make you less vulnerable to illnesses that require a doctor’s attention. A good wellness program will include a balanced diet, regular exercise, the right vitamin supplements, and regular physical checkups.

What does this have to do with Jesus’ words to the Pharisees and scribes: “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do” (Luke 5:31). Because he consorted with prostitutes and other obvious sinners, Levi was himself probably spiritually “sick.” So it was only natural that Jesus, the divine Physician, would reach out to him.

Not all of Jesus’ disciples were in such bad shape. Andrew, for instance, was a devoted follower of John the Baptist before he met Jesus. And James and John were probably hardworking fishermen, devoted family men, and faithful Jews. Most likely, these men were in decent shape spiritually. But they followed Jesus because they recognized how much his spiritual medicine could help them live even fuller, healthier lives.

How healthy are you spiritually as a Catholic man? During Lent many of us implemented what could be called a spiritual wellness program based on the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. However, now that Lent is over we may now have gone back to our old ways of thinking and acting, and old habit patterns. You may not fall into the “major sinner” category that would apply to someone like Levi, so you may not need radical surgery. But what about those nagging aches and pains caused by anxiety, “minor” resentments, or “small” offenses against God’s commandments? None of us is perfectly healthy. We all need Jesus’ healing touch in one way or another. And that’s why we all should follow a spiritual wellness program every day of the year, not just during Lent.

What would a spiritual wellness program look like? Such a program can take on many forms. Below is a simple four-step approach to establishing a spiritual wellness program:

  1. Instead of vitamins, we follow a daily regimen of prayer and Scripture reading to give us the energy we need to stay focused on the Lord.
  2. Instead of physical exercise, the program includes the exercise of our wills to let in all that is good and reject all that is bad. To further strengthen and purify our wills, we do a daily examination of conscience – reviewing our day and repenting of any sins we may have committed.
  3. Instead of a healthy diet, we make sure we have a steady diet of the Sacraments, including receiving the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist to keep us filled with Jesus’ life and experiencing the reconciling power of Jesus’ forgiveness in Confession.
  4. Instead of regular physical checkups, we stay connected to brothers in Christ in the church through small parish-based men’s groups, where we can support one another and pray for one another.

These are fairly simple steps to take. But remember, it’s not all about us, it’s all about Jesus. He is our divine physician and healer. So why not join his wellness center, and start your spiritual wellness program today? You’ll be glad you did.

“Lord Jesus, you are the great physician of my soul. I want to follow you and live a life pleasing to you. Heal me and transform me in your love, so that I may live life to the fullest as your disciple.”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The Pharisees and scribes probably felt they were righteous enough not to need the healing and forgiveness that Jesus was offering to them. What about you? Do you still need more of Jesus’ ongoing healing and forgiveness? Why or why not?

2. One of the questions in the article is: How healthy are you spiritually as a Catholic man? How would you answer this question?

3. The article goes on to describe a four-step spiritual wellness program. Are their parts of this program you are already implementing? Which ones? Are their parts of the program you have not implemented? Are you willing to include them in your spiritual wellness program? Why or why not?

4. Are their additional steps you want to add to your program? What are they?

5. If you are in a men’s group try implementing the four-step program outlined in the article, or your own modified one. Share the fruit of doing this at your next men’s group meeting.

Also, if you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to pray for one another that each of you would be open to Jesus’ healing and transforming touch as you implement and follow your spiritual wellness program.

This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at PO Box 8540, Waco, TX 76714 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. If you would like to make a contribution to the NFCM, click here.


Monday

Do You Believe Jesus Wants to Heal You?

Do You Believe Jesus Wants to Heal You?

By Maurice Blumberg

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him (Luke 5:12-13).

Have you ever thought about why the leper’s first words to Jesus were: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Another translation uses the words “If you wish?” It seems to me that by using these words, the leper wasn’t sure if Jesus really wanted to heal him. It seems to me also that he was giving him the option not to heal him.

Why was this so? First of all leprosy is highly contagious, secondly he was considered to be ritually unclean. He was forced to live in a leper colony populated only by people with the same frightful disease. isolated from other people. In fact, when a leper approached anyone they had to shout “Unclean, unclean.” So although he seemed to have the faith to believe that Jesus could heal him, it is not surprising, because of his own sense of unworthiness, that he was not sure Jesus would want to heal him. How wonderful was Jesus’ response. “I am willing” and he healed him.

Well, fortunately none of us have leprosy, but much like leprosy our sins can make us feel unclean and unworthy, especially when we are asking for healing for ourselves or others. They can tell us that change is impossible. They can shape the way we look at ourselves and even the way we look at and approach God. In other words, our thinking can be like that of the leper. Perhaps, there are times when we do think that way, but when we do it is because we are forgetting what our Heavenly Father and Jesus are really like and how they view us.

They love us unconditionally. We know that God the Father gave up his only Son to free us from sin and make us whole. Every time we look at the cross, we can see how much our Lord values us. We can be filled with hope that when we cry out to the Lord he hears us. We have great dignity! And that means that we have a future! It means that we can rise above any sense of shame or guilt or unworthiness that holds us down when we come to the Lord for forgiveness and wholeness.

No matter what your state is right now, no matter what your circumstances are, we have these great promises from God:

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Are you ready to confidently approach the throne of grace with your needs? Are you ready to believe that Jesus not only can heal you, but that he also wants to heal you? Here’s an experiment to try this week. During a time of prayer, picture yourself coming to Jesus as the leper did. Offer him whatever is burdening you, and ask him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can heal me.” Then stay there, looking at Jesus and letting him look at you. Quiet your heart and mind until you hear Jesus say back to you, “I do will it. Be healed.”

Don’t let this experiment stop with this week. We are beloved sons of our Heavenly Father. Let’s continue to confidently approach the Lord’s throne of grace, and with expectant faith, present our needs to him.

Maurice Blumberg is a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org//) and Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to Servicemen and Prisoners for The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/).

nfcm.jpg

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to adapt material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

  • 1. The title of this article is “Do You Believe Jesus Wants to Heal You?” How would you answer this question?
  • 2. Why do you think the leper qualified his crying out to Jesus with “If you are willing?” In what way are you like the leper? How are you different?
  • 3. Why is sin often compared to the disease of leprosy, when it comes to its impact on our spiritual health?
  • 4. The article goes on to say that when we allow our sins to keep us from approaching the Lord with expectant faith, it is because “we are forgetting what our Heavenly Father and Jesus are really like and how they view us.” Do you agree with this? Why or why not?
  • 5. Do you view God the Father and Jesus as “cops in the sky” ready to pour out their wrath on us every time we sin or screw up, or as a loving Father and a merciful Savior ready to forgive and heal us every time we come to them? Why is having the right understanding of the character of God so important? Why is belief in the promises of Ephesians 3:12 and Hebrews 4:16 also important as well?
  • 6. If you are willing, try the experiment described in the article and share the results of it with another brother in Christ. If you are in a men’s group, share the results at your next meeting.
This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at PO Box 8540, Waco, TX 76714 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. If you would like to make a contribution to the NFCM, click here.



Thursday

Real Men Pray the Rosary


Real Men Pray the Rosary
Contemporary Catholics Retool Rosary
By Ana Campoy


MCALLEN, Texas, Apr. 9, 2010 (http://online.wsj.com) — For years David Calvillo ignored his mother's pleas to pray the rosary, a thing he associated with old ladies and funerals.

Then he was handed a wooden-bead rosary at a religious retreat, where he prayed it among a chorus of 79 other men. After going through the 59 beads, he was impressed by the connection he felt with his fellow attendants, his mother and God, he says.

Now he's trying to sell others on the rosary's "power and strength," creating an online group called "Real Men Pray the Rosary." Its logo: A raised fist with a rosary dangling between clenched fingers.

"I'm a child of the '70s," said the mustachioed 49-year-old lawyer, alluding to the raised-fist salute of that era's Black Power movement. "I thought that would convey the right message."

Catholics, who will celebrate Easter this Sunday along with other Christians world-wide, have been saying the rosary for centuries. The necklace-like string of 59 beads represents a cycle of prayers—53 Hail Marys and six Our Fathers. As modern-day Catholics discover the rosary anew they are also updating the instrument and creating a market for nontraditional interpretations.

The basic concept, using beads to keep track of prayers, remains the same, but some rosaries are taking a decidedly contemporary form. There are several rosary iPhone applications; one lets users slide virtual beads on the screen.

Rosary manufacturers are offering a variety of novelty models, in many cases aimed specifically at men. One new model has football-shaped beads to encourage boys reluctant to sit through a litany of prayers. For other tastes there are rosary bracelets with peace signs.

While Catholics modernize rosary use, other Christian denominations are also looking for ways to make praying more accessible and relevant, from adopting different postures to revisiting repetitive reciting, experts say.

"Too often there's been a sense that your spiritual life is separate from your regular life," said Kurt Fredrickson, an associate dean at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. "All of these practices are ways to actually use your body and your surroundings as part of your prayer."

Saying the rosary is a form of meditation on the life of Christ through devotion to the Virgin Mary. It is said to have been started by St. Dominic in the 13th century. Several popes have promoted its use, most recently Benedict XVI, who has said the rosary "is not a pious practice banished to the past, like prayers of other times thought of with nostalgia. Instead, the Rosary is experiencing a new springtime."

Monsignor Anthony F. Sherman, executive director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomes the new forms of the rosary as long as they help Catholics think about how Jesus's teachings apply to their lives.

"If all these things lead to the heart of what the rosary is about, then praise be God; if they become a distraction that is another issue," he said.

Alan Bedard, president of Creed Rosary Manufacturing Co., of Wrentham, Mass., says overall rosary sales are up. A growing number of the company's clients are prayer groups that order customized models.

Some of Mr. Bedard's rosaries are made of gold and can sell for thousands of dollars. On the other end of the spectrum is Rosary Army, a group that teaches how to make a rosary by knotting nylon twine. Founder Greg Willits calls the rosary "a weapon of spiritual warfare" to keep men on the right path in a world full of temptations. During Lent, the Atlanta-based group has collected 5,000 nylon rosaries from members to be given away to selected individuals, rather than in bulk.

In Mission, Texas, in the Rio Grande valley, David Lerma started a group called Prayer Warriors that local Catholics commission for rosary-prayer sessions. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Mr. Lerma, a 46-year-old who drives a pickup truck and favors camouflage gear, goes to a different house with an oversized rosary made of rose petals encased in acrylic.

Mr. Calvillo, the McAllen lawyer, sometimes prays with the Prayer Warriors, but his main focus is on his "Real Men Pray the Rosary" Facebook page, where he has amassed more than 6,000 friends, including one who uses a rosary fashioned out of ball bearings.

View this article in ParishWorld.net

Friday

"Behold, your mother."

"Behold, your mother."


John 19:26-27 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The last gift Jesus gave to us, His mother. Have you accepted this gift from Him? Mary doesn't distract us from Jesus, she leads us to Him. As Mary says in Luke 1:46 "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;" Mary only wants us to love her son as she does. On this Good Friday, let us thank the Lord for His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Let us also thanks Him for leaving us one more gift, our Mother Mary. May we look to her to always lead us to her Son, our Lord Jesus!

Wednesday

St. Joseph and Manhood

St. Joseph and Manhood
By Msgr. Charles Pope

I remember once being amused to hear that a certain Franciscan Theologian from the 19th Century (whose name I cannot remember) wrote a six volume “Life of St. Joseph.” Six volumes?! How could one possibly get enough material? We know so little of Joseph from the Scriptures. He seems to have been the strong, silent type. Not a word of his is recorded. But his actions have much to say, especially to to men. On this feast of St. Joseph we do well to ponder him as a model for manhood, for husbands and fathers.
  1. A man who obeys God and clings to his wife – Joseph was betrothed to Mary. This is more than being engaged. It means they were actually married. It was the practice at that time for a couple to marry rather young. Once betrothed they lived an additional year in their parents’ household as they became more acquainted and prepared for life together. Now at a certain point it was discovered that Mary was pregnant, though not by Joseph. The Scripture says that Joseph was a “just man.” This is does not mean that Joseph was a fair and nice guy (though I presume he was). What it means was that he was a follower of the Law. He based his life of the Jewish Law that God gave through Moses and as interpreted by the Rabbis. Now the Law said that if a man discovered that a woman to whom he was betrothed was not a virgin, he should divorce her and not “sully” his home. Joseph as a just man, that is a follower of the Law, was prepared to follow its requirements. However, he did not wish to expose Mary to the full force of the law which permitted the stoning of such women. Hence he chose to follow the law by filing the divorce decree but not publicly accusing her. He would remain quiet as to his reason for the divorce and Mary would escape possible stoning. To fail to divorce Mary would expose Joseph to cultural ramifications. Just men just didn’t marry women guilty of fornication or adultery. To ignore this might have harmed not only Joseph’s standing in the community but also that of his family of origin. But you know the rest of the story. Joseph is told in a dream not to fear and that Mary has committed no sin. Matthew records: When Joseph awoke, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (Matt 1:24). Now a man obeys God even if it not popular, even if he may suffer for it. Joseph is told to cling to his wife. He may suffer for it but he as a man “obeys God rather than men.” It takes a strong man to do this especially when we consider the culture in which Joseph lived, and in a small town, no less. Joseph models strong manhood and has something to say to the men of our day. In the current wedding vows a man agrees to cling to his wife, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness or health. This is what a man is to do. Our culture often pressures men to bail out when there is trouble Joseph shows the way by obeying God over the pressures of prevailing culture, even if he will personally suffer for it.

  2. A man whose vocation is more important than his career – In Bethlehem Joseph is warned by an angel in a dream: Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him (Matt 2:13). Joseph may well have had much to lose in this flight. Back in Nazareth he had a business, a career if you will. He had business prospects, business partners and contacts. Fleeing to a distant land might mean others would take his business etc. But Joseph was a father and husband before he was a businessman. His child was threatened and his first obligation was to Jesus and Mary. His vocation outweighed his career. In a culture like ours where too many parents make their careers and livelihoods paramount and their children are too easily placed in day care Joseph displays a different priority. It is true that many parents feel they have no choice but to work. But it is also true that many demand a lifestyle which requires a lot of extra income. Perhaps a smaller house, less amenities etc would permit a daycare free childhood for more of our children. Joseph points the way for parents: vocation has priority over career. For fathers especially Joseph shows that a man is a husband and father before he is a businessman.

  3. A man who protects his family- And for men, Joseph also models a protective instinct that too many men lack today. Our children, like Jesus was, are exposed to many dangers. Our American scene does not feature a lot of physical dangers but moral dangers surely abound. Fathers, what are your children watching on TV? What are their Internet habits? Who are their friends? What do your children think about important moral issues? Are you preparing them to face the moral challenges and temptations of life? Are you teaching them the faith along with your wife? Or are you just a passive father, uninvolved in the raising of your children? A man protects his children from harm, physical, moral and spiritual. Joseph shows forth this aspect of manhood.

  4. A man of work -The Scriptures (Matt 13:55) speak of Joseph as a “carpenter.” The Greek word however is τέκτονος (tekton, os) which can mean more than a worker in wood. It can also refer to a builder or any craftsman. It seems unlikely that Joseph and Jesus would have worked exclusively in wood since wood was more rare in the Holy Land and used more sparingly than in our culture. Stone was surely plentiful and so it may be that Joseph also worked with stone as well as wood in his work. It was and through his work Joseph supported his family. It is the call of a man to work diligently and to responsibly and reliably provide for his family. Joseph models this essential aspect of manhood. Paul felt it necessary to rebuke some of the men of his day for their idleness: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us….For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they earn the bread they eat. (2 Thess 310-12)

  5. A man who teaches his son- We learn from Scripture that Jesus too was a carpenter (Mk 6:3). It is obvious that it was Joseph who taught this trade to Jesus. Consider the hours each day they spent together as Joseph patiently handed this trade on to Jesus, teaching him of its intricacies, and methods. It is not enough for a father to provide for his children, he must also prepare them for life. He does this through modeling and teaching discipline, moderation, hard works, self-control, and many other life skills. In our times it is more rare for fathers to teach a trade to their sons or other children. But in the end a man prepares his children for life. Joseph models manhood by preparing his Son Jesus for life as a tradesman.

Joseph is a model for manhood. Nothing he ever said was recorded but his life speaks eloquently enough. He is referred to at the Guardian and Patron of the Universal Church. He has these titles for he was guardian, protector and patron(provider) of the Church in the earliest stage, when the Church was just Jesus and Mary. But since the Church is the mystical Body of Christ, in protecting, providing and preparing Jesus he was doing that for us for we are in Christ as members of his body. Men especially do well to imitate St. Joseph and invoke his patronage in all their endeavors as Husbands, Fathers and providers.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Sunday

Committing Our Lives to Christ and Receiving New Life in Him

Committing Our Lives to Christ and Receiving New Life in Him

By Maurice Blumberg

Lent is a wonderful season to deepen our relationship with the crucified and risen Lord. One way to do this is to deepen the commitment of our lives to Christ and live out more authentically the new life we have received in him.

I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. (Galatians 2:19-20)

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)

We all know that flipping burgers at the church picnic, singing in the choir, or serving at the soup kitchen does not make us Christian. But what about our Lenten practices like praying more, reading our Bible, or attending Mass more regularly? As helpful as they are in growing in our faith, they do not, in and of themselves, make us Christians. You are a Christian when Jesus plants his divine life into you through Baptism and you receive it through faith. Nothing else can replace this combined act of divine grace and human response! It is a gracious gift, not an earned right like a military rank or an academic degree.

Now, having been crucified with Christ and having received this gift of new life in Christ (Galatians 2:19-20), what are we to do with it? A royal baby has done nothing to merit his future crown, and yet from the day of his birth he is expected to learn the ways of the king and embrace his duties. In a similar way, our new life in Christ also brings certain responsibilities. We must learn the way of the Gospel by embracing Jesus’ teaching in our hearts and in our actions.

If we want the spiritual empowerment of the crucified and risen Christ to have any effect on us at all, then we must become “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). That means that we must step out and do what God says! This is the only way the new life in Christ will move from being a planted seed at baptism to becoming a majestic tree that bears fruit in our lives and out in the world.

The saints are holy not because they spoke eloquently about God but because they committed their lives to Jesus Christ and to doing God’s will. Are we willing to do the same? If we are, each of us can be a “saint” in our own way. Each of us has the awesome privilege of participating in our own salvation through surrender, trust, and obedience to Christ. Of course we can’t save ourselves through works like singing in the choir or reading good spiritual books. But through Christ in us, we can do the works of God and receive eternal life.

“Lord Jesus, I want to please you in every way. I surrender my life to you. By your Spirit, empower me to live a new life worthy of the calling I have received—a life worthy of the grace you have poured into me through your Cross and resurrection.”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

nfcm.jpg

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The Scriptures from Galatians 2:19-20 states that we have been “crucified with Christ.” What does that mean to you?

2. The reading from James 1:22-25 tells us that we need to keep ourselves from sin and “to care” for others. What are some steps we can take in our spiritual growth to open ourselves more deeply to God’s transforming love, so that as Catholic men we will “be doers of the word and not hearers only?” If you are in a men’s group, what steps can take together to reach out to others, especially “orphans,” “widows,” and others less fortunate than you?

3. In what way is our obedience to Christ and his commandments in our daily lives a witness to others that he is truly the Lord? How are you doing? What steps can you take to do better; knowing that “doing better” is not just a matter of trying harder but a greater reliance on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit? Why is our interior peace so dependent on living as godly and holy men?

4. What can we do in our prayer life, and in our celebration of the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, that will allow us to experience greater renewal in our inner selves and begin to manifest the love, power, and compassion of Christ to others?

5. In the meditation, we are challenged to become “doers of the word, and not merely hearers” (James 1:22). The meditation goes on to say: “That means that we must step out and do what God says! This is the only way the new life in Christ will move from being a planted seed at baptism to becoming a majestic tree that bears fruit in our lives and out in the world.” Is your faith and new life in Christ still just a planted seed or is it blooming and bearing much fruit? What can you do to deepen the new life in Christ that dwells in you?

6. In the meditation, we also hear these challenging words, “The saints are holy not because they spoke eloquently about God but because they committed their lives to Jesus Christ and to doing God’s will. Are you willing to do the same?” If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another that each of you would commit your life more deeply to Jesus Christ. Use the prayer at the end of the mediation as the starting point. Share the fruits of these prayers, and your “ongoing” prayers, at future men’s group meetings.

This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at PO Box 8540, Waco, TX 76714 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. If you would like to make a contribution to the NFCM, click here.


Friday

Opening Ourselves to Jesus’ Call to Follow Him

Opening Ourselves to Jesus’ Call to Follow Him

By Maurice Blumberg

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through (the) eye of (a) needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” (Mark 10:17-27)

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish (me) to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”

Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.

Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.

And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:46-52)

Jesus’ call to each of us as Catholic men is to follow him in a life of service in a spirit of humility and love. Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man (Mark 10:17-27) and James and John’s request (10:35-45), emphasize both the impossibility of following the Lord on our own strength and God’s abundant generosity in enabling us to do things that are beyond our natural ability. In these stories, we meet people whose responses fell short of what Jesus was looking for. But in the story of blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52), we are introduced to someone who understood.

Jesus asked Bartimaeus the same question he asked James and John: “What do you want me to do for you?” (See Mark 10:51; 10:36.). He knew that they would only ask of him the things they believed he could accomplish, and that this would reveal who they really thought he was. Was Jesus just a good and wise teacher (10:17)? Was he a king who promoted his loyal followers (10:37)? Or was he the Son of David who could perform the miraculous with a word of command (10:51-52)?

Bartimaeus asked for something that he could not accomplish on his own, while James and John asked for something they felt they could live up to. To petition in our weakness and need is harder for us, because it requires humility as well as faith. Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus despite the crowd’s rebuke. He saw his helplessness, but he also trusted that Jesus would answer him.

We all have different needs: physical, financial, relational, and spiritual. No matter what our need, however, Jesus can help us if we cry out to him in prayer. The world often rebukes simple faith in God, but God never does. So cry out to Jesus in prayer as Bartimaeus did. Let God’s love, which has been poured out in the person of Jesus Christ, transform you. Be humble but confident. Trust that what the Angel Gabriel said to Mary is also true for you, “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37).

Right now, during this grace-filled season, Jesus is asking each of us: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Lord Jesus, during this Lenten Season, prepare my heart to receive more of your love and deepen my faith in you, so I can serve you in humility and love. I cry out to you believing that you will answer my prayer for healing, for peace, and for salvation – not only for me but for all my loved ones. Son of David, have mercy on me.

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. How would you characterize your response to Jesus’ call to “follow him in a life of service in a spirit of humility and love?”

2. The article speaks of the “impossibility of following the Lord on our own strength.” Why is this true? Why does it require “God’s abundant generosity in enabling us to do things that are beyond our natural ability?”

3. The article also contrasts the behavior of the rich young man, James and John, and the blind Bartimaeus. Which of these do you relate to the most? What steps can you take to build that faith and humility that Bartimaeus had?

4. The article ends with these words, “Right now, during this grace-filled season, Jesus is asking each of us: “What do you want me to do for you?” Take some time to prayerfully reflect on how you would respond to this question. What are the two or three most important needs in your life right now?

5. Do you believe that Jesus can answer your prayers in these areas? Do you believe that what the Angel Gabriel said to Mary is true for you? “Nothing is impossible for God.” If you are in a men’s group, end your meeting by praying to Jesus for one another’s needs, using the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.

This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at PO Box 8540, Waco, TX 76714 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org.

Tuesday

Are You Man Enough? By Father Bryce Sibley

Are You Man Enough?

By Father Bryce Sibley

Audio talk by Fr. Bryce Sibley on Masculine Spirituality.

Click here to listen.

Sunday

Deaconate Formation Office Invitation

Deaconate Formation Office Invitation

The Diocese of San Bernardino invites you to join deacon candidates and their families for Mass at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral.


Click here for flyer.

See For Catholic Men calendar for directions

Saint James the Less Knights to host Men's Talk.

A CALL TO ALL MEN........


St. James the Less Knights of Columbus in Perris, CA will be hosting another
Men's talk by Father Ed Gomez. The talk "Peter The Rock"
will be held on the feast of Saint Joseph,
Fri
day, March 19th at 7:30 p.m. All men 18
and older are invited. If possible please
invite a friend to this wonderful opportunity
to learn about this great Saint. St. James is located at

269 3rd Street, Perris, California, 92570

Phone: 951-657-2380

Please see the For Catholic Men calendar for directions to St. James the Less

Friday

Lent, A Time to Ask, Seek, and Knock

Lent, A Time to Ask, Seek, and Knock

by Maurice Blumberg

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11).

We are in the second week of Lent, and if you are like me, you are trying to be faithful to your Lenten promises with varying amounts of success. The Lord offers us a unique opportunity in our prayers during Lent to ask, seek, and knock in accordance with Matthew 7:7-11. As we do this, let’s expect our Heavenly Father to touch us deeply as we come to him with humble, contrite, and grateful hearts. Let’s expect a deeper outpouring of his love and healing upon us. Let’s expect to be transformed more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus.

Ask, seek, and knock. These are action verbs that Jesus used to describe how he wants us to relate to our Heavenly Father. Notice, too, that Jesus didn’t put any limits or qualifiers on these words. He didn’t say to ask the Father for something only when we are in trouble or distress. He didn’t say to seek the Father only when we feel that we have lost our way. He didn’t say to knock only when we feel that all other doors have been closed to us! We can ask, seek, and knock at any time, even when things are going just fine!

The promise of the gospel is that we can be in touch with our Father throughout the day, no matter how bad—or good—a day we are having. Are things going great? Terrific! Thank God and ask him to be with you even more. He wants to do so much for us, not just help us out of a jam. Wouldn’t a good father want to encourage his children, provide for them, and form them at all times, not just during the tough times? So why should we think any less of—or expect any less from—our Heavenly Father?

Lent is a good time to open up our whole lives to the Father, not just those areas that may need healing or those paths that need redirection. It can be so hard to accept the fact that God loves us and wants the absolute best for us, but it is true nonetheless!

So turn to your Father today and ask him to shine his light in all areas of your life. Ask him to give you even more growth in your talents and abilities or for new insight into those areas that are going well and those that are not. Knock on the doors of new opportunities for witnessing to him at work. Seek even more unity and peace in your family and within your parish, even if everyone is getting along already. He is a generous Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children.

“Father, thank you for your love and care. I open my life fully to you, Lord. Fill me with more of your presence, and help me to grow in ways pleasing to you.”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. Share the ways you have tried to open your life more fully to our Heavenly Father and Jesus during Lent. What steps can you take to open yourself even more deeply to their love and healing during the remaining weeks of Lent and Holy Week?

2. The article says that, “We can ask, seek, and knock at any time, even when things are going just fine!” How well do you do this? How can you improve in doing this?

3. The image of God the Father in Matthew 7:7-11 is one of a loving father who delights in giving good gifts to his children. Is that your image of your Heavenly Father? Or is it one of a stern taskmaster, a cop in the sky, or of an indifferent father? If any of these latter images ring true to you, and you are in a men’s group, have the men in your group pray for you to be healed of them, especially if they come from your relationship to your earthly father.

4. We hear these words in Matthew 7:11: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” What good gifts would you like to ask your Heavenly Father for during this season of grace? With expectant faith, add these to your times of prayer during Lent. If you are in a men’s group, share any answers to your prayers at future meetings.

This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at PO Box 8540, Waco, TX 76714 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org.


Saturday

The Spiritual Warriors, "I Am A Soldier Of God" Men's Conference

St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church to Host Men's Conference

The Spiritual Warriors of St. Paul The Apostle Church in Chino Hills will host a Men's Conference on Tuesday, March 9th from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. The theme of the conference is entitled "I am a soldier of God" and will feature Southern California Lay Evangelist Jesse Romero.
For more information contact the number below or check out the calendar on For Catholic Men for directions.

St. Paul The Apostle Church , March 9th 7:00 - 9:30 PM
14085 Payton Dr. Chino Hills, 91709
909-456-5503

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference Talks

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference Talks
Now Available


Audio files have been made available from the Sharing the Treasures® 5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference. The conference held on February 20th, 2010, featured Fr. Larry Richards.
Fr. Larry Richards serves as pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community in Erie, Pennsylvania.

BE A MAN

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference


February 20, 2010


Click below for audio links


These are being provided for FREE
If you like the talks then send a donation to St. Kieran School
For Donations to St. Kieran School
Make a check payable to St. Kieran School and mail it to
St. Kieran School
1347 Camillo Way
El Cajon CA 92020

Thursday

The Importance of Standing Shoulder-to-Shoulder as Catholic Men

The Importance of Standing Shoulder-to-Shoulder as Catholic Men
By Maurice Blumberg
Shared by Ed Vasquez


God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in proclaiming the gospel of his Son, that I remember you constantly, always asking in my prayers that somehow by God’s will I may at last find my way clear to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith, yours and mine (Romans 1:9-12).

Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you (Romans 16:21-23).

When the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe (Acts 14:20).

The community of believers was of one heart and mind (Acts 4:32.)

What is your image of St. Paul? Do you imagine him to be a “lone ranger” Christian traveling from town to town and evangelizing without a support system to help keep his spirits high and his eyes fixed on the Lord? But the reality is that Paul’s missionary work would have been impossible without his brothers in Christ. In fact, as he opens his Letter to the Romans, Paul tells his readers how much he wants to visit them again, “that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith” (Romans 1:12). It’s obvious, too, how much he cherishes them, because he sends personal greetings to so many of them at the close of his letter along with his other brothers in Christ (Romans 16:21-23). Even after being stoned in Lystra, he still needed to rely on his brothers to tend to his wounds, help him regain his strength, and send him on his way with Barnabas, his faithful companion. (Acts 14:20).

I do not believe that God intended for Catholic men to live out their faith on their own. We too need brothers in Christ for strength and encouragement as we face the challenges of the Christian life. Like Paul, we too need a community of believers to help us become more and more like Jesus (Acts 4:32). We need friends with whom we can share our ups and downs, just as Paul did with Timothy and Barnabas. We need brothers in Christ to hold us accountable for living authentic Christian lives as Catholic men. And we need the grace that comes from giving of ourselves to help our brothers as well.

In your prayers, take an inventory of your relationships. Do you have a close Christian brother who you can rely on for spiritual encouragement? Are there men you can give more time to in order to help them? Are their friendships that fill you with the peace and confidence of Jesus? Is there a group of men you can meet with to support and pray for one another? If so, they are the relationships to cultivate. If not, why not talk to your pastor about forming a men’s group in your parish.

As a trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM), I encourage all Catholic men to seek other men who share their faith and who have some common interests. They may be fellow parishioners, co-workers, or neighbors. Begin meeting together regularly. You’ll be surprised at what God will do within your group, especially a group of men who love Him and one another. By standing shoulder to shoulder with other Catholic men, you can accomplish so much more than on your own.

All over the country, the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM) is supporting the formation of Catholic men’s fellowships groups where Catholic men build relationships with one another, share their faith, and support one another through prayer. The NFCM website (www.nfcmusa.org ) currently offers many different resources for small Catholic men’s groups. A good description of each of these resources is provided on the website. The website also offers resources for forming and leading men’s groups.

I believe Catholic men standing together in Christ can change our families, our culture, and the whole world.

“Father, thank you for calling me to build relationships and community with other Catholic men. Help me to set aside my fears, my timidity, and my selfishness so that I can be more united with those you have joined to me in fellowship with your Son. Lord, open us all up to the grace of community and fellowship!”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/ ), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism , (http://www2.wau.org/partners/ ), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us .

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. Prayerfully reflect on the Scripture passages at the beginning of this article. In what way do they reflect God’s desire that we as Catholic men need to be in fellowship and community with other men?

2. In what way do you agree or disagree with the following statement from the article? “I do not believe that God intended for Catholic men to live out their faith on their own. We too need brothers in Christ for strength and encouragement as we face the challenges of the Christian life.”

3. In what way has your understanding of authentic Christian manhood increased by your relationship with other men or by being part of a Catholic men’s group?

4. How is the love between brothers in the Lord different from the love of your wife or the love between men and women?

5. Whether or not you are part of a men’s group, do you believe that “By standing shoulder to shoulder with other Catholic men, you can accomplish so much more than on your own”? Why or why not?

6. In what way do you agree or disagree with the concluding statement, “I believe Catholic men standing together in Christ can change our families, our culture, and the whole world”? If you agree, what steps can you take to make this a greater reality in your life?

Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at PO Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org.

Wednesday

What Sin is About?

What Sin is About?  

Check out this great video excerpt from Fr. Larry Richards' talk. And get a handle on what it really means to sin.

A Daily Plan for Being a Man of the Spirit

A Daily Plan for Being a Man of the Spirit
By
Maurice Blumberg In Catholic Man
Shared by Ed Vasquez


Brothers, God is infinitely more powerful than sin, Satan, and the world. We also know that through faith and Baptism, this same powerful God has taken up residence in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. If this is so, then why shouldn’t we as Catholic men expect to be victorious in our battle against these same forces? Are you experiencing the Holy Spirit’s power and love at work within you? Would you like to experience this work in a deeper way?

As men, we may think the answer to these questions is to just try harder or strive more. But this approach will fall short, unless we strengthen our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and open ourselves more to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This, of course, requires God’s grace, but we still have a role to play. Below are some steps we can take each day in this New Year to open ourselves to this work of God. They are not intended to be a daily “To Do” list to just check off each day. They are intended to be daily spiritual habits that allow us to grow and mature as a men of the Spirit and lead Spirit-filled and Spirit-led lives.

As you read and reflect on these steps, you may want to pick just a few to implement now and, perhaps, implement others at a future time during the year.

1. Every day when you first wake up, give your life to the Lord and ask him to fill you afresh with his Holy Spirit. Whether you wake up full of zeal, or half-hearted or heavy-laden, dedicate yourself and your day to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let Jesus know how dependent you are on the work of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Ask him to give you that love, peace, and joy – fruits of the Spirit that can only come from knowing Jesus Christ as Lord, and knowing and experiencing his great love for you.

2. Every day, spend ten minutes or more in personal prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you. Pursue the Holy Spirit every day in prayer. Ask the Lord to enlighten you with his Holy Spirit so that you might know him in your heart and that you might embrace his glorious plan for your life more fully. St. Paul told the Corinthians that God wanted to reveal to them his secret wisdom, things that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). St. Paul also prayed for the Ephesians that God would enlighten the eyes of their hearts so that they could perceive his call and the inheritance that is theirs in Christ (Ephesians 1:18). This prayer of St. Paul is for us as well.

3. Every day, spend ten minutes or more prayerfully pondering Scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the Scripture for you. Ask him to show you the Father’s love (Romans 5:5). Ask him to fill your heart and your mind with the truths of the Gospel. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how these truths can be applied more fully to your life.

4. Every day, offer the Lord all the gifts he has given you and ask him to deepen in you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God has blessed each of you with gifts of the Holy Spirit. Don’t let these gifts grow dormant and be powerless in your life. Consider the seven-fold gifts of the Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and awe (Isaiah 11:2). Consider the various charisms that God bestows for serving and building up the body of Christ: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and many more (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; see also Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:8-13). Every day, seek these gifts and be open to receiving them. Every day, surrender these gifts to the Lordship of Christ. These gifts, so generously given by God, will enable you to follow God’s will for your life, better serve Him and others, build up his Church, and further his kingdom (1 Corinthians 14:3-5).

5. Throughout the day, turn to the Holy Spirit. Be attentive and sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Also, be alert to the battle between spirit and flesh. Whether you are facing a difficulty or temptation, or you are about to embark on a new effort, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint your words and actions in accordance with God’s will. Keep a cross or crucifix in your pocket to remind you that God loves you, and that your position is secure as a favored child of God, because of Jesus death and resurrection. When you are bombarded in your mind with negative thoughts or images, ask yourself where they are coming from and whether this is the way the Holy Spirit communicates with you. Try to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit, not the “world, the flesh, and the devil.”

6. Examine your conscience daily. Ask the Spirit to help you repent and ask forgiveness for the things that separate you from God. Try to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. As you experience the cleansing work of God’s forgiveness, you will be set free of shame, guilt, and self-condemnation. But more than that, through the work of his Spirit, you will receive grace and power to overcome sin patterns in your life.

In addition to the above steps, try to open yourself to the Spirit each time you attend Mass. Since you have so generous a Father, be eager to seek his Holy Spirit at Mass. At each Mass, ask Jesus to immerse you in his Spirit. Ask him to give you a new experience of the Spirit and a deep confidence in his love for you. In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest asks the Father to send his Spirit upon the bread and wine “so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But it’s not only the bread and wine God wants to transform. As you receive Communion, you too can be transformed by the Spirit as well. You too can come to share in the “love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Spirit he has given us” (Romans 5:5). Believe that your life can be changed each time you receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One last step I recommend is to design a plan for your ongoing spiritual growth. Your plan should include those things that will develop your faith, including spiritual reading, fellowship with other Catholic men, and active participation in the life of the church

As you implement and try to be faithful to the steps you have chosen, you will experience the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit as he transforms you into a “man of the Spirit.”

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones (Ephesians 1:18).

Come, Holy Spirit and enlighten our hearts and give us the power to be faithful to your call. Fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit and give us all the gifts we need to serve you.

Mau

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The article says that “God is infinitely more powerful than sin, Satan, and the world.” If this is so, why do we as Catholic men struggle so much to overcome sin, Satan, and the world?

2. Why is living more godly lives not just a matter of trying harder or striving more to be holy.

3. Of the steps listed above, which ones do you believe can be implemented right now in your life? Which ones cannot? Share the reasons why. Are there any additional steps you would add or delete from the list?

4. Are you willing to be accountable for implementing at least two or three of the above steps over the next few weeks? Use the steps you have identified as most applicable to your life right now to develop a personalized daily plan for yourself. Pray for one another for the grace to be faithful to your plans. If you are in a men’s group, share the impact at your next meeting these steps are having on living each day as a “man of the Spirit.”

5. What additional steps can you implement in the future (over and above those previously identified)? What impact do you expect these additional steps to have on strengthening your walk as a man of the Spirit? At a future men’s group meeting, share the impact these additional steps have had on you.

6. Pray for one another for the grace to be faithful to the steps you believe the Lord wants you to take to be a man of the Spirit.

Tuesday

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference (BE A MAN)

LAST CALL: 5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference
(BE A MAN) Feb. 20, 2010


PLEASE PASS THIS ON.

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference (BE A MAN) with Fr. Larry Richards, Dr. Ray Guarendi, Patrick Coffin and Tom Wilson (AKA Biff from Back to the Future), will take place this Saturday, February 20th at St. Kieran Church in El Cajon.

Online Registration ends this Wednesday. If you haven't already registered, then be sure to register by Wednesday to avoid the higher registration fee. For more information or to register go to :

http://www.SharingTheTreasures.org/mensconf2010/mensconf2010.html.

Don't make up an excuse to miss this event. We have two of the foremost Mens Conference speakers (Fr. Larry and Dr. Ray) speaking at this event. The MC will be Patrick Coffin from Catholic Answers Live Radio and as a special guest we have Actor/Comedian Tom Wilson. Tom is famously remembered as the character Biff in the movie trilogy BACK TO THE FUTURE.

If you haven't stepped outside the box of the normal Sunday obligation, then it is time for a change. Do it for Lent! Do it for yourself! Most importantly, do it for your family and friends!

Share the Faith,
Kurt

Kurt Redlinger
Kurt@SharingTheTreasures.org
619-583-3810
www.SharingTheTreasures.org

Thursday

Feeling Bad About Confession

Feeling Bad About Confession
By Fr. Dwight Longenecker from
Standing on my Head

Emotions run pretty high in the sacrament of confession. Not a week goes by that either I or a penitent doesn't end up getting a bit misty. It's because hearts are open to God in the confessional and the Holy Spirit doesn't miss a chance to touch hearts and reconcile the lost sheep.

However, while I don't mind emotion in the confessional itself, it's not much good during the actual examination of conscience. Too often the sins we feel most guilty about or most ashamed of are not the most serious sins, while the ones we may overlook altogether or think are not so serious may well be the ones that are most serious.

So, for example, most people feel ashamed and guilty about sins of the flesh. Sins of the flesh are certainly sins, but the amount of shame and guilt one feels may be disproportionate to the seriousness of the sin. On the other hand, forgetting prayers or missing Mass may be a continual sin against God himself which we overlook and under-rate. Furthermore, if we had prayed more and got closer to God we may not have fallen into the sin of the flesh in the first place.

It is good to remember that a mortal sin is not necessarily the sin we feel terribly ashamed of and guilty about. It is just as easy to commit a mortal sin and not feel guilty or ashamed at all. Just because the emotions are high as we remember a sin or commit a sin does not mean it is the most serious sin in the book. We may lose our temper, have a terrible fight with our spouse or kids and our heart may be beating and the tears may be running and the voices may be raised, but despite the high emotion it may not be a mortal sin. It might just be a fight.

On the other hand, to gossip and talk badly about others, to complain and grumble all the time and to be bitter and negative habitually may be far more serious because we ignore it and pretend we're not doing anyone any harm. At least with the big fight we feel bad and know it is a sin. With the casual gossip, back biting, nasty comments and negativity we often come away actually feeling better about ourselves.

So a very objective and clear approach to the examination of conscience is what we need. Pray for guidance and a clear vision. Go through the questions. Make a list and leave emotions for when you actually get into the box.

Eucharist: The Breaking of Bread

Eucharist: The Breaking of Bread

Luke puts bookends on his gospel. There is both a prologue and an afterword to his gospel that are meant to refer us to the source and summit of our worship: Jesus Christ fully present in the Eucharist. The front bookend is the story of the Nativity, where Luke bothers to give us a very significant detail:

And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger. (Luke 2:7)

Why does Luke pause to tell us Jesus was laid in a manger? Not because he was anticipating the needs of millions of greeting card manufacturers centuries hence and their requirements for a picturesque Christmas scene. No, the reason he mentions this detail is because of what a manger is: it is feed box—a grain container. And not just any grain container. This particular feed box is located in “Bethlehem”, which means “House of Bread”. In other words, Luke is reminding us that Jesus is the Bread of Life: the Eucharist and sees in these circumstance of Jesus’ birth a prophetic foreshadowing of the deepest truth about us.

Similarly, in the bookend at the end of his gospel, Luke likewise uses language that is pregnant with significance for the Eucharistic-minded ancient Christ Church. After Jesus meet the dejected disciples on the Emmaus Road he leads them in the very first Christian Bible Study, explaining to them that the message of Moses and the Prophets is that the Son of Man had to suffer and enter into his glory. (I might note here that, as an Evangelical, I would have supposed that this would be the moment that the disciples would experience the thunderbolt epiphany and realize what was going on.) However, the disciples remain clueless even after this divinely led walk through the Bible. So they invite the Risen Christ to stay with them, still not realizing who he is. He agrees, setting the scene for this moment:

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him. (Luke 24:30-31)

It is in the Eucharistic gesture—the breaking of the bread—that the disciples finally have their eyes opened and see him for who he truly is. Not surprisingly then, Luke (and the early Church) see the Eucharist at the heart of their worship. That is why Luke tells us:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)

One of the earliest titles given to the Eucharistic banquet is “the breaking of bread”. It is such an unobtrusive title that many non-eucharistic Christians never notice it when they read Acts 2.

“The breaking of bread and the prayers” refers not to little informal holy potlucks by believers who just like to get together to share lunch but to the liturgy of the Eucharist. To be sure, the Church met in informal surroundings like the houses of believers (since there were no church buildings back then) but it was always liturgical.

This makes sense really, since liturgy was the only form of communal prayer known to the Jews of antiquity. And liturgy is not a thing imposed on freedom-loving “simple Christians” by hierarchs, bureaucrats and priestcraft. It is a thing that springs up naturally (and supernaturally) from the Jewish soil of the Church, since Judaism is itself a rich liturgical tradition.

That is why the word “liturgy” means “the work of the people.” Worship is the work of the people and Jesus—the Bread of Life who was broken for our sake—is the object of our worship, the sacrifice we offer and the food we receive from God.

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