To the Ends of the Earth: Action – Week 3, Day 3 – We Do Not Live According to the Flesh
To the Ends of the Earth: Legacy – Catholic Men's Devotionals, An Introduction
LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY
The world as we know it is passing away.
There is, however, an eternal inheritance for us in heaven. As we travel on the road of salvation, we follow in the footsteps of the saints who have gone before. Our place in the kingdom of God has been secured by the cross of Christ, a holy birthright that we are called to pass on to the generations of believers who will come after us. The legacy of our Catholic faith is a heavenly one, grounded in Christ and lived out in our daily lives as we move from faith to faith, with our eyes ever fixed on the prize that awaits us in the kingdom yet to come.
What blessings will we find in heaven? We must ask ourselves whether we have brought joy into sorrow, peace into struggle, and wisdom into uncertainty. Have our families, our friends, and our Church been made richer because they bear the imprint of our lives? Will our contributions to the Catholic Church, large and small, lead others closer to the One who came to set them free? Will the words we have spoken and the actions we have taken result in a more blessed family reunion around the banquet table at the heavenly wedding feast? These are questions each of us must be willing to ask as we live our lives.
We have power to share the blessings of our faith with this world, to live lives of honesty and integrity, casting off falsehood in favor of gospel truth. Committing to the cause of Christ puts us in the thick of the battle, where our faith is tested time and time again. Jesus never promised an easy life to those who believed. In fact, he told us we would face trouble, division, persecution, and even death for the sake of the kingdom. Yet God also assures us that he will never leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5), and that he has wonderful, prosperous plans for our lives (Jer 29:11). We who believe can rest assured that when the world around us is shaking to its very foundations, God remains the unshakable, all-powerful Lord of the glad city of heaven.
A New Life in Christ Passed On
This is what leaving a legacy is all about. In Christ, we are born into a new life from above, gifted and empowered to carry out our purpose for the kingdom of God, and joined to a community of faith so that we may support one another and build up the body of believers. We are called to draw the lost into the family of faith, to grow as individuals, and to become all that we have been called to become. Everything we do should reveal to the world that we are but pilgrims on this earth, walking in faith straight into the heavenly places. And when we have left this world for the world to come, our greatest joy should be that when people looked at us, they saw Jesus and him alone.
During this ten-week study, we will consider the challenge of the Gospel to place our mark upon the world and to shape the Church that has so beautifully shaped each of us. Every aspect of our lives as Christians is meant to carry out the Great Commission of making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them as Jesus has taught us, and resting on the final promise that Jesus will be with us to the end of the age (Mt 28:16–20). Let all you read and consider and pray over in the days to come lead you to a greater awareness of how you are helping to ready the Bride of Christ for the day when the Bridegroom comes again to call her to the wedding feast.
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.
