To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 5, Day 2 - Warrior Poets Walk in the Sanctuary of God
To the Ends of the Earth: Action – Catholic Men’s Devotionals, An Introduction
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We are on the path to perfection. Who we are in Christ forms the foundation for right living and sets us on the path toward a glorious eternity in the presence of our heavenly Father. If we want to reach our destination, each of us must make a commitment. We must put on the virtues God has given to us in Christ.
Are we strong in our faith, standing on the rock-solid foundation of the word and the Church, or are we double-minded men, tossed to and fro on the waves of our own indecisiveness (cf. Eph 4:14)? Are we troubled by a painful past, locked in a prison of sin from which we cannot break free, or do we listen to the still, small voice of the One who breaks our bonds and sets our feet on the right path? We must turn our worlds upside down, being willing to lose in order to gain. We must strive with single-minded purpose to win, empowered by God alone, forgetting our past and allowing him to change us radically into the men he created us to be.
Character Lived Out Within the World
Being a man of action is something that flows from your godly character. Hopefully you have examined your inner man by reading the devotions featured here from Book I of the To the Ends of the Earth series, Character. Now it’s time to put that knowledge into practice by considering how to will and to act according to the will of God. We need to be men who draw our strength from the table of the Lord, who seek the nourishment of the word and the Eucharist, who unburden ourselves in the confessional and march boldly into the arena of life carrying the truth of the Gospel.
In order to act on God’s behalf, we need to yield our self-centered ways to the sacrificial love of Christ. It is his voice alone that we must follow. That voice speaks to us in subtle ways, leading us to daily victories, great and small. It helps us to band together with our Catholic brothers and to act according to the great paradox of Christianity: to lose everything we hold dear to gain eternity in heaven. Every word we speak and every deed we do will leave a lasting legacy upon this earth. As Catholic men of action, we must draw our strength from the God who forgives our faults and draws us ever homeward, one faithful step at a time.
The Gospel of Action – Upcoming Devotions
In subsequent articles, we will be looking at the simple truths of our faith — the no-nonsense, straightforward Gospel message that shows us how we should act if we want to stay on the straight and narrow path toward heaven. These devotions come from the To the Ends of the Earth series: Book 2, Action. Through our study of Character lived out through action, we will focus on the virtues we need to be strong men of God. At the same time, we should be growing in fellowship with our brothers and fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (cf. Heb 12:2).
As you pore over the selected passages from Scripture and the accompanying commentary throughout the devotions, remember that all of our actions should be rooted in love. Love is the glue that holds all other virtues together; the beautiful gift that completes our faith and moves us along the path of salvation (cf. Col 3:14). Be sure to spend quality time with other men, sharing openly about what it means to be given a second chance in Christ, to carry through our trials in his strength, and to love others as he has loved us.
Each day, you are encouraged to read through the day’s devotion, pray and meditate on the message from God’s word, and reflect on the questions provided, always remembering the theme for the week and seeking to apply it to your life. Take fifteen to thirty minutes in the morning to read the day’s devotion, and then let your prayerful experience with the Lord guide you throughout your day.
On Saturday, look back on your week of study, reflecting on the progress you’ve made, thanking God for the work he has done in your life, throwing any mistakes into the ocean of God’s mercy, and committing to personal goals in areas where you’d like to see improvement in the coming week.
Further Action
Those who want to take things a step further are encouraged to keep a journal where you write your reflections, track your progress in Christian living, and dialogue with the God who is leading you on this journey of manhood. You can then use your journal to help you share your insights and discoveries with other men.
The key to growing with this study involves two things: taking time to read and learn each day, and then living out the message through practical acts of love. This means taking the reflection questions and turning them into action steps that you can do as you love your family, serve your church and community, and lift up your brothers in the Faith.
Once a week you can come together with other Catholic men to share your thoughts on the devotions, the insights you have gained in prayer, and the ways you have put these principles into practice in everyday life. The leader of your study group will facilitate a discussion, focusing on those passages, reflections, and actions that have meant the most to the men in the group. After a general sharing of thoughts about the daily devotions, the leader can focus on the Saturday “Go Deeper” questions. As each man shares ideas, the leader will encourage the other men to build on the ideas raised and add their own unique voices to the discussion.
As you make this journey, determine to spend more time in prayer, study, and worship to grow in your faith. Look for opportunities to interact with your brothers as you build one another up, carry one another’s burdens, and hold one another accountable before God. Love your families and your communities with the same uncompromising love that Christ has poured out on you. Look for ways to make this world a better place by being a man who represents Christ and his Church well. And look forward to all the blessings that are to come in God’s good time!
I invite you to read this study and to activate it daily by all you say and do. Be a loud, proud, bold Catholic man of action, unashamed of his faith, and always ready to build the kingdom, to raise up your brothers, and to live a sold-out life for the glory of God!
Be sure to check out the links at the end of each article to see these devotions online.
You can learn more about the devotional series 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.
