The 2018 Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference: A Few Afterthoughts
To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 3, Day 5 - Discipline Makes Us Ready to Begin Again Every Time We Fall
Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11
The discipline of the Catholic Faith can sometimes feel like a heavy burden, something that stifles our pleasure and fun. Yet those who endure the correction of our heavenly Father come to see its true worth in time. The fruit of self-control and steadfast, uncompromising faith is a peace that surpasses all our understanding (Phil 4:7) and removes anxiety from our lives. It gives us perspective to see failures in light of the overall journey to heaven. When we have this peace, we can see our falls not as deal-breakers but as bumps along the road. This does not mean we make light of our sin, however. On the contrary, we put sin in its place by recognizing its danger to our souls while understanding that in Christ it no longer has the victory in our lives.
Salvation is more than just a declaration of righteousness. In Christ we are set free from the power of sin. We no longer have to submit to temptation because we have been transformed by the cross. Consider the words of Saint Paul: “Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17).
Jesus has remade us in his image. We are members of his Mystical Body, branches of the heavenly vine who draw our strength from him. He stumbled on his way to crucifixion and rose victorious from the dead so that we could have the power to overcome sin and begin anew each day in him.
Questions for Reflection
What victories over sin have you seen in your life? Have you given Christ the credit for those victories?
Where do you need help in overcoming sin so that you can begin again?
How can you connect with other Catholic men in order to walk in victory?
Praying with Scripture
Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. (Rev 3:19)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
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About the Author
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
