To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 4, Day 1 - We Don't Sweat the Little Things
To the Ends of the Earth: Action – Week 4, Day 1 – We Cannot Go Back, But We Can Have a Fresh Start
Photo by David Beale on Unsplash
Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, and I showed myself their Master, says the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Jeremiah 31:31–34
Each of us has a painful past. We all regret things we did out of ignorance and arrogance, a lustful eye, or a prideful heart. Many Catholic men live with these regrets hidden deep inside. We lock them away for fear that exposing our sins will lead to humiliation, rejection, and personal ruin. But in Christ, God offers us a new covenant, in which our past sins are remembered no more and we can grow in a profound and intimate relationship with him. God chooses to write his law directly on our hearts, to call us his own, and to make us grow in our faith.
While it can be hard to let go of the past, Jesus has given us the sacrament of Confession to cleanse us and the Eucharist to nourish us. We have the living word of God and the teachings of the Church to guide us, and brothers and sisters who will walk beside us as we journey together toward our heavenly home. In Christ we have the joy of making a fresh start as we wave goodbye to the past and behold the new that is to come.
Questions for Reflection
What parts of your painful past are you withholding from God? Why is it hard for you to surrender?
How can you open yourself to God’s new covenant and allow his law to be written on your heart?
How can you help other Catholic men let go of their pasts and embrace God’s forgiveness?
Praying with Scripture
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” (Is 65:17)
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.
