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.