Men's Rosary

The world would have us make it and all its trappings the very center of our lives.  We easily becomes slaves of secularism and fall prey to the devil.  Take time to think about the erosion of the family and lack of concern for others, especially the elderly and the unborn.  Then ask yourself, “how can I make a difference”?  We all have the ability to be effective in the world and bring others to Christ and the Church and free them from the grip of the world.  We simply need to trust in God and persevere. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;  he knows those who take refuge in him.”  (Nahum 1:7)

The place to start is with us.  We must make our faith the center of our lives.  We must be students of the Faith.  Prayerful reading of scripture, the documents and teachings of the Church, the lives of the saints and their stories and teachings are the place to gain knowledge of how to live a devout life.  All that we learn here will be contradictory to the teachings and trappings of the world, but here is where we find truth and a path to holiness and right living.  “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)  Then live your life in accordance with these teachings, aligning your life with that of Christ’s life.  Boldly live the gospel truth.  Make all your decisions in life based upon them.  Align your actions in every area of your life with what Christ calls us to do in the gospel.  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel:  it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

If you do not have a copy, I recommend “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas Kempis.  It clearly gives a path to walk as Christ walked.  To live as he lived and to love and he Loved.  This is the best way to evangelize the world.  It is not by our words that others will be brought to Christ and saved, but rather by our deeds and how we live our life, how we respond to things in a way that is centered on our belief in God and his goodness.  “He who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”  (1 John 2:6)  To live any other way is to be a hypocrite and still remain a slave to the world. 

As we live this way, be assured of the resistance that will be received.  The world with all its empty promises will fight hard against us.  At times we may even wonder if we are doing the right thing.  But the more pushback we get the better we are doing.  This resistance is actually a barometer of how well we are doing!  And the resistance does not matter because God is on our side.  He is protecting us.  “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent, he will set me high upon a rock.” (Psalms 27:5) 

Living a life according to the gospel and Church teaching and in imitation of Christ will bring about great peace in our life.  Through prayer we will continually nourish this peace and address all things in the light of Christ knowing that in him we can put all our trust.  This peace will be reflected in how we live and react.  It will be an example to others and can bring them to the realization that a life in Christ, a life entrusted to God, a life seeking to conform to God’s will, acceptance, and obedience, gives peace.  It gives what the world can never give.  It gives all that we need!  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:19)

By our lives let us draw others to prayer.  By our lives let us give example of how to work through the challenges of life.  By our lives let us show others how to carry our crosses.  By our lives let us show others how to love as Christ loved.  By our lives let us be an example of walking in submission and obedience to The Father’s will as Christ did.  Let us never lose the peace of Christ and always show others a path to it.

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.  What is anything in life compared to peace of soul?”  (St. Fracis de Sales)