Men's Rosary

Are you a Christian, a Catholic man, or just like the idea of being one?  Or are you simply a God-fearing man in your own mind?  I suppose this could be seen as a blunt or mean line of questioning, but it is definitely one worth pondering.  Are you living for God or just pretending?

This becomes dangerous in the spiritual life.  We can wear the shirts and jerseys of the Christian life outwardly looking like we are part of something.  But are we?  We wear across or crucifix, but do we have the means to own the cross?  We must be true to our faith and be an example to others.  We have been set apart, and we are to behave differently.  This is the very means by which others will now that we are Godly men.  Christ challenges us, as he did his disciples to bear witness to the world.  “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.””  (Mark 16:15-16) 

Actions do speak louder than words, but words are needed.  The idea of living a life according to the Gospel is not a personal and inward affair.  It should reach out to all around us.  We should boldly speak about our Faith and God’s blessings.  Many attribute successes to their own efforts, luck, help from others.  But all good things come from God and to him belongs the credit.  Do we give him the credit and thanks in public?  Here I do not mean around our like-minded friends.  But in the world.  In the places where people need to hear of God and his graces.  “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.”  (Psalm 96:3)  The world is full of rhetoric, and most of it is utterly useless and detrimental to that which is good.  The world has its own agenda, and it is not one that is based on God or the movement of the Hoy Spirit!  It is self-serving and phony.  We should guard against this conversation and not let our speech be a product of the world but an announcement of the virtues of living a life centered on Christ.  “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.”  (2 Timothy 2:16)  There will be many opportunities to turn these conversations into an opportunity to share our Faith and God’s word.  It will be a challenge and there will be push back, but we are called to act, although prudently, in this way at these times.  “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”  (1 Peter 3:15-17)  In our words we should also be ambassadors of those who do not have a strong voice, for those who are often forgotten and passed over.  The world, in all its pursuits, does not have much time for anything or any person that stands in the way of its progress (or should I say destruction).  “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”  (Proverbs 31:8-9) 

Along with our words are our actions.  Would we be known as Godly men by the way we act and conduct ourselves?  This is in all areas of life.  Our work and businesses, our hobbies and past times, our social interactions (including social media), our behavior in our parishes, our actions in church, our disposition toward others; especially those who have differing beliefs and views, and every other situation you can think of.  Sometimes I wonder, if God were to give me a grade on my actions and level of sanctity, what would it be?  I have a strong feeling I would be sadly disappointed!  We have the Beatitudes and the Commandments as a roadmap to Godly living, and we are called to live by them.  If we do not, and call ourselves Christian, Catholic, Godly men; we deceive ourselves.  “Whoever says, “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.  By this we may know that we are in him:  whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”  (1 John:4-6)

Whenever we do not speak when there is an opportunity to speak, we fail to love and deny Christ.  When we have an opportunity to act and do not act, we fail to love and deny Christ.  Speaking or not speaking, and acting or not acting; all are an action and a movement toward or away from Christ, of acknowledging him or denying him.  I hope we can honestly look at our speech and acts and determine if we are serving Christ or denying him and take the steps to either stop denying and serving him or serving him more!  I pray none of us is found wanting in this regard.  “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 30:32-33)

We are in the midst of a spiritual battle, the flesh against the spirit.  The devil is the ruler of the world (John 12:31) and all its disappointment and discord.  It is the world we must conquer.  Christ is the ruler of heaven! (Matthew 28:18) It is through him and in imitation of him we will be able to be victorious and find everlasting peace!

“You must either conquer the world, or the world will conquer you.  You must be either master or slave.”  (St. John Henry Cardinal Newman)