Men's Rosary

As men we are under attack.  The real reason for this is that the family is under attack by the devil.  Destroy the family, destroy the Church.  The primary way to destroy the family is through the father.  So, we must be alert.  We must be diligent.  We must take our role very seriously and fight to rise above all things that would impede our efforts to support the family and the Church.

Growing up, I had a very solid father figure.  My father stressed hard work and dedication to family.  But as I reflect on it, he also strived for perfection and expected the same from me.  He would say, “if you are going to do something, do it right, or don’t do it at all”.  He lived by that, and I remember what people would say about him regarding his work as an asphalt paving contractor.  They would say, “his price will be the highest but if you want it done right use him”.  This example of one’s personal philosophy and the reputation it builds causes me to think about what we are to do spiritually as men.  “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;  a stranger, and not your own lips.”  (Proverbs 27:2)

To be a good man before God requires work.  There is no easy path.  One of my favorite scripture passages is from St. Paul, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this command:  If anyone will not work, let him not eat.”  (2 Thessalonians 3:10)  I don’t see this in the light of only food for the body, but also spiritual food.  How can we expect to feast on spiritual food and blessings if we have not worked for them.  I personally do not think that a spiritual life is a spectator sport.  In contrast, I see it as a full contact sport.  In all we do we must strive for perfection and know that we are a linchpin for our families, our parishes, our communities and the  Church universal.  We don’t want to be the weakest link!  “Whatever your task, work heartily, as for the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward;  you are serving the Lord Christ.”  (Colossians 3:23-24) 

Let us commit ourselves to keeping our Faith as the center of who we are.  Build our life around that and not our Faith around the world.  Let us stay grounded in regular prayer and seek guidance from Scripture, the Saints and the documents of the Church.  We can’t be a “little bit Catholic” or “a little bit faith-filled” or a “little bit anything”!  We must stand firm and strong and rise to the men God created us to be.  “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.”  (Revelation 3:15-16)

We need to be the best we can be. So let us strive for perfection.  “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  (Matthew 5:48) 

If we are going to do this, let’s do it RIGHT!  We have God on our side.  We simply need to do our part.  Embrace the work and persevere.  Do not be lazy.  Too many depend on us and our soul is too precious to lose.   “The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”  (Proverbs 13:4)