I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. (Galatians 2:19-20)

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)

We all know that flipping burgers at the church picnic, singing in the choir, or serving at the soup kitchen does not make us Christian. But what about our Lenten practices like praying more, reading our Bible, or attending Mass more regularly? As helpful as they are in growing in our faith, they do not, in and of themselves, make us Christians. You are a Christian when Jesus plants his divine life into you through Baptism and you receive it through faith. Nothing else can replace this combined act of divine grace and human response! It is a gracious gift, not an earned right like a military rank or an academic degree.

Now, having been crucified with Christ and having received this gift of new life in Christ (Galatians 2:19-20), what are we to do with it? A royal baby has done nothing to merit his future crown, and yet from the day of his birth he is expected to learn the ways of the king and embrace his duties. In a similar way, our new life in Christ also brings certain responsibilities. We must learn the way of the Gospel by embracing Jesus’ teaching in our hearts and in our actions.

If we want the spiritual empowerment of the crucified and risen Christ to have any effect on us at all, then we must become “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). That means that we must step out and do what God says! This is the only way the new life in Christ will move from being a planted seed at baptism to becoming a majestic tree that bears fruit in our lives and out in the world.

The saints are holy not because they spoke eloquently about God but because they committed their lives to Jesus Christ and to doing God’s will. Are we willing to do the same? If we are, each of us can be a “saint” in our own way. Each of us has the awesome privilege of participating in our own salvation through surrender, trust, and obedience to Christ. Of course we can’t save ourselves through works like singing in the choir or reading good spiritual books. But through Christ in us, we can do the works of God and receive eternal life.

“Lord Jesus, I want to please you in every way. I surrender my life to you. By your Spirit, empower me to live a new life worthy of the calling I have received—a life worthy of the grace you have poured into me through your Cross and resurrection.”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The Scriptures from Galatians 2:19-20 states that we have been “crucified with Christ.” What does that mean to you?

2. The reading from James 1:22-25 tells us that we need to keep ourselves from sin and “to care” for others. What are some steps we can take in our spiritual growth to open ourselves more deeply to God’s transforming love, so that as Catholic men we will “be doers of the word and not hearers only?” If you are in a men’s group, what steps can take together to reach out to others, especially “orphans,” “widows,” and others less fortunate than you?

3. In what way is our obedience to Christ and his commandments in our daily lives a witness to others that he is truly the Lord? How are you doing? What steps can you take to do better; knowing that “doing better” is not just a matter of trying harder but a greater reliance on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit? Why is our interior peace so dependent on living as godly and holy men?

4. What can we do in our prayer life, and in our celebration of the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, that will allow us to experience greater renewal in our inner selves and begin to manifest the love, power, and compassion of Christ to others?

5. In the meditation, we are challenged to become “doers of the word, and not merely hearers” (James 1:22). The meditation goes on to say: “That means that we must step out and do what God says! This is the only way the new life in Christ will move from being a planted seed at baptism to becoming a majestic tree that bears fruit in our lives and out in the world.”  Is your faith and new life in Christ still just a planted seed or is it blooming and bearing much fruit? What can you do to deepen the new life in Christ that dwells in you?

6. In the meditation, we also hear these challenging words, “The saints are holy not because they spoke eloquently about God but because they committed their lives to Jesus Christ and to doing God’s will. Are you willing to do the same?” If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another that each of you would commit your life more deeply to Jesus Christ. Use the prayer at the end of the mediation as the starting point. Share the fruits of these prayers, and your “ongoing” prayers, at future men’s group meetings.

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through (the) eye of (a) needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” (Mark 10:17-27)

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish (me) to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”

Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.

Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.

And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:46-52)

Jesus’ call to each of us as Catholic men is to follow him in a life of service in a spirit of humility and love. Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man (Mark 10:17-27) and James and John’s request (10:35-45), emphasize both the impossibility of following the Lord on our own strength and God’s abundant generosity in enabling us to do things that are beyond our natural ability. In these stories, we meet people whose responses fell short of what Jesus was looking for. But in the story of blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52), we are introduced to someone who understood.

Jesus asked Bartimaeus the same question he asked James and John: “What do you want me to do for you?” (See Mark 10:51; 10:36.). He knew that they would only ask of him the things they believed he could accomplish, and that this would reveal who they really thought he was. Was Jesus just a good and wise teacher (10:17)? Was he a king who promoted his loyal followers (10:37)? Or was he the Son of David who could perform the miraculous with a word of command (10:51-52)?

Bartimaeus asked for something that he could not accomplish on his own, while James and John asked for something they felt they could live up to. To petition in our weakness and need is harder for us, because it requires humility as well as faith. Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus despite the crowd’s rebuke. He saw his helplessness, but he also trusted that Jesus would answer him.

We all have different needs: physical, financial, relational, and spiritual. No matter what our need, however, Jesus can help us if we cry out to him in prayer. The world often rebukes simple faith in God, but God never does. So cry out to Jesus in prayer as Bartimaeus did. Let God’s love, which has been poured out in the person of Jesus Christ, transform you. Be humble but confident. Trust that what the Angel Gabriel said to Mary is also true for you, “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37).

Right now, during this grace-filled season, Jesus is asking each of us: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Lord Jesus, during this Lenten Season, prepare my heart to receive more of your love and deepen my faith in you, so I can serve you in humility and love. I cry out to you believing that you will answer my prayer for healing, for peace, and for salvation – not only for me but for all my loved ones. Son of David, have mercy on me.

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. How would you characterize your response to Jesus’ call to “follow him in a life of service in a spirit of humility and love?”

2. The article speaks of the “impossibility of following the Lord on our own strength.” Why is this true? Why does it require “God’s abundant generosity in enabling us to do things that are beyond our natural ability?”

3. The article also contrasts the behavior of the rich young man, James and John, and the blind Bartimaeus. Which of these do you relate to the most? What steps can you take to build that faith and humility that Bartimaeus had?

4.  The article ends with these words, “Right now, during this grace-filled season, Jesus is asking each of us: “What do you want me to do for you?” Take some time to prayerfully reflect on how you would respond to this question. What are the two or three most important needs in your life right now?

5. Do you believe that Jesus can answer your prayers in these areas? Do you believe that what the Angel Gabriel said to Mary is true for you? “Nothing is impossible for God.” If you are in a men’s group, end your meeting by praying to Jesus for one another’s needs, using the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.

We are in the second week of Lent, and if you are like me, you are trying to be faithful to your Lenten promises with varying amounts of success. The Lord offers us a unique opportunity in our prayers during Lent to ask, seek, and knock in accordance with Matthew 7:7-11. As we do this, let’s expect our Heavenly Father to touch us deeply as we come to him with humble, contrite, and grateful hearts. Let’s expect a deeper outpouring of his love and healing upon us. Let’s expect to be transformed more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus.

Ask, seek, and knock. These are action verbs that Jesus used to describe how he wants us to relate to our Heavenly Father. Notice, too, that Jesus didn’t put any limits or qualifiers on these words. He didn’t say to ask the Father for something only when we are in trouble or distress. He didn’t say to seek the Father only when we feel that we have lost our way. He didn’t say to knock only when we feel that all other doors have been closed to us! We can ask, seek, and knock at any time, even when things are going just fine!

The promise of the gospel is that we can be in touch with our Father throughout the day, no matter how bad—or good—a day we are having. Are things going great? Terrific! Thank God and ask him to be with you even more. He wants to do so much for us, not just help us out of a jam. Wouldn’t a good father want to encourage his children, provide for them, and form them at all times, not just during the tough times? So why should we think any less of—or expect any less from—our Heavenly Father?

Lent is a good time to open up our whole lives to the Father, not just those areas that may need healing or those paths that need redirection. It can be so hard to accept the fact that God loves us and wants the absolute best for us, but it is true nonetheless!

So turn to your Father today and ask him to shine his light in all areas of your life. Ask him to give you even more growth in your talents and abilities or for new insight into those areas that are going well and those that are not. Knock on the doors of new opportunities for witnessing to him at work. Seek even more unity and peace in your family and within your parish, even if everyone is getting along already. He is a generous Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children.

“Father, thank you for your love and care. I open my life fully to you, Lord. Fill me with more of your presence, and help me to grow in ways pleasing to you.”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. Share the ways you have tried to open your life more fully to our Heavenly Father and Jesus during Lent. What steps can you take to open yourself even more deeply to their love and healing during the remaining weeks of Lent and Holy Week?

2. The article says that, “We can ask, seek, and knock at any time, even when things are going just fine!” How well do you do this? How can you improve in doing this?

3. The image of God the Father in Matthew 7:7-11 is one of a loving father who delights in giving good gifts to his children. Is that your image of your Heavenly Father? Or is it one of a stern taskmaster, a cop in the sky, or of an indifferent father? If any of these latter images ring true to you, and you are in a men’s group, have the men in your group pray for you to be healed of them, especially if they come from your relationship to your earthly father.

4. We hear these words in Matthew 7:11: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” What good gifts would you like to ask your Heavenly Father for during this season of grace? With expectant faith, add these to your times of prayer during Lent. If you are in a men’s group, share any answers to your prayers at future meetings.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. (But) these you should have done, without neglecting the others (Matthew 23:1-4, 23).

Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles (and beds).) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”

He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”‘ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile” (Mark 7:1-15).

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy”  (1 Peter 1:13-16).

The Pharisees were one of the many religious groups that made up Judaism in Jesus’ day. As we read the various Gospel, it is very easy to look at them as villains, based on their interactions with Jesus. However, the Pharisees were actually a well-respected lay renewal movement that had begun about 150 b.c. As successors of the pious Jews who actively resisted paganism during the Greek occupation of Palestine in the fourth century B.C., the Pharisees sought to preserve Jewish identity by rigorously following practices that distinguished Jews from foreign peoples—practices such as circumcision, dietary laws, and purity rituals. In fact, the name “Pharisee” was derived from the Hebrew word perusim, meaning “the separated ones.”

The motive behind the Pharisees’ strict observance of Jewish rituals was very commendable. They wanted to live holy lives. However, as time went on, they tried to make the whole Jewish populace observe practices that only the priests were required to keep. Moreover, Pharisees shunned contact with those Jews who didn’t fulfill the priestly requirements, lest they contract ritual impurity from them. This, in fact, is one of the reasons why the Pharisees were scandalized when Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10-11). Their stringent application exceeded the tenets of the Law of Moses and inclined the Pharisees toward a concern for outward appearances. Jesus had great respect for the Law and for safeguarding Jewish tradition (5:17), but he rejected the legalistic strictures of the Pharisees that laid heavy burdens on people while overlooking justice, mercy, and fidelity (23:4,23). He saw how the Pharisees were practicing an outward form of false holiness, while inwardly their hearts were far from God.

If our hearts aren’t firmly fixed on the Lord, we can fall into the same trap as the Pharisees. How easy it is to criticize those who don’t live up to our standards or our definition of holiness! During this season of Lent, we can zealously put our favorite religious practices ahead of the very truths that these practices are meant to uphold. While we may speak pious words honoring the Lord with our lips, our hearts might actually be far from him (Mark 7:6). Let’s be careful that we don’t cling so tightly to our human traditions that we end up disregarding the commandments of God (7:8).

So what are some of the essentials of true holiness? First of all it is love for God and neighbor. It also includes mercy and forgiveness, as well as justice, faithfulness, and generosity.  I believe the Lord wants us to focus on these essentials and not get sidetracked. Remember: holiness is not just a matter of external observances, but of the interior disposition of the heart (Matthew 23:27-28).

“Lord Jesus, during this grace-filled Lenten Season, don’t let me get caught up just in outward observances, but allow them to transform my heart and mind and keep them set on you and your will for my life. I want to be holy as you are holy.”

(Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. As the article states, it is easy to consider the Pharisees the villains of the Gospels. Were you surprised to know that they were well-respected at the time of Jesus? Where do you think they went wrong in their zeal to be holy?

2. Why do you think Jesus condemned the Pharisees so harshly?

3. Have you ever fallen into the same trap as the Pharisees in trying to be holy? In what ways?

4. How would you describe the difference between false holiness and true holiness?

5. What additional steps can you take, as you continue your Lenten practices, to grow in true holiness?

6. If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another at the end of your meeting that each of you would experience a growth in holiness during Lent (and after Lent). Use the prayer at the end of the article as a starting point.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour (1 John 2:18).

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).

Do the words of 1 John 2:18, “Children, it is the last hour,” make you feel a little uneasy? These words remind us that from the time of Jesus’ birth to today and beyond, we are all heading toward the end of time, when Jesus will come again in glory. Does that thought fill you with fear and trembling?

The truth is, our reactions are probably a little bit of both. But whenever we are fearful, it’s probably because we’ve lost sight of the truth that the light has come into the world, and the darkness cannot overcome it. At this point in the year, we don’t know what the remainder of 2010 will bring. We may very well face economic difficulties, trouble with our jobs, trouble in our marriage or with our children, illness, or death. But whatever the future holds, darkness will never overcome the light of Christ!

As we look forward this year, and in the future, let’s fix our eyes on this truth. It’s like riding a bicycle. If we look at our front wheel, we’ll probably veer off the road and fall. This is true of our lives as well, if we just fix our gaze on our problems. But if we lift our head and fix our eyes on our heavenly destination, we’ll get there much more smoothly.

Aim high as you approach the remainder of 2010. Ask the Lord for the grace to keep your heart and mind on your heavenly goal: “When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). Christ is with you, and his promise of eternal life can bring you hope (John 3:16). You can walk confidently through any type of turmoil because you belong to him. His Spirit dwells in you, so keep your head high. Jesus has overcome the darkness and has raised you above even your own anxieties and fears.

Aim high during this grace-filled Lenten season. Consider spending the next few days thinking about how you can draw closer to the Lord during Lent? Try to discern how you may need to change to become more like Jesus in how you think and act. Ask yourself this question: how can I make myself more open to seeing as God sees, loving as he loves, and acting as he desires me to?       .

Perhaps God is inviting you to spend more time in his presence in prayer or more time with Scripture, paying particular attention to Jesus’ attitudes toward people and the actions that flow from those attitudes. Maybe God would like you to talk less with those closest to you and love them in more practical ways. The possibilities for growing in God’s love are as limitless as his affection for you—and for all the people around you.

So Get going! Walk on in faith, looking toward Jesus enthroned in heaven. He is “seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). He is patiently unfolding his perfect plan. Who knows what blessings God will pour out on you, what opportunities you will have to proclaim his glory, what ways even your challenges might bring others into his kingdom! There is a lot that we don’t know. But we do know that Jesus the Lord reigns and one day we will reign with him!

“Lord Jesus, I want to keep my heart and mind fixed on you and your kingdom where you reign in glory. You are my heavenly goal, and with you is where I want to be! I will look ahead with hope. Come, Lord Jesus!”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. What is your response to the question posed at the beginning of the article: “Do the words of 1 John 2:18, ‘Children, it is the last hour,’ make you feel a little uneasy?

2. The article asks us to aim high as we approach the remainder of 2010 and to “Ask the Lord for the grace to keep your heart and mind on your heavenly goal.” How would you describe your heavenly goal? What new steps can you take to help keep your heart and mind on your heavenly goal?

3. The article also asks us to aim high during this grace-filled Lenten season. What Lenten practices can you implement to help to draw you closer to the Lord?

4. The article ends with these words: “There is a lot that we don’t know. But we do know that Jesus the Lord reigns and one day we will reign with him!” How can you make this truth a greater reality for your life, as you face challenging situations? If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another at the end of your meeting that each of you would take these words to heart. Use the prayer at the end of the article as a starting point.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. (Colossians 3:1-5)

What is the difference between having our hearts set on the world and having our hearts set on Jesus? To answer the question, we must first understand what John meant by the term “the world” (1 John 2:15-17). He was not speaking of the physical world, which is still very good (Genesis 1:31). Nor was he saying that everything in society is hopelessly sinful. Rather, he was speaking of society and culture to the extent that it is ruled by a mind-set focused only on the finite world that is opposed to God. For John, “the world” meant a way of thinking that forgets about God and puts self first.

John wrote that while this worldly way of life may appear attractive to us as Catholic men for a time, it is ultimately unsatisfying, fruitless, and passing away. Some of the fruits of this way of life are listed in Colossians 3:5: “immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” This is in stark contrast to those of us who love God and seek him with all our heart (Colossians 3:1-2).

However old we may be, we are young and vigorous in the Lord (1 John 2:12-14). We have experienced forgiveness of their sins. Our hearts are raised up to understand and taste heavenly realities. We have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ himself. We are forward-looking visionaries who are learning to see our lives and the world around us from a heavenly perspective. With joy and purpose, we dedicate ourselves to advancing the kingdom of God on earth even as we go about our everyday lives.

Christianity is not meant to turn us into dreamers filled with naïve idealism. It makes us into realists. We may see the darkness in the world, but we are also filled with confidence in Jesus’ power to overcome that darkness and establish God’s kingdom.

This is the life in store for anyone who sets out to follow Jesus. Does it sound too good to be true? Does it seem too hard? Do you still find yourself too attached to the things of “this world”? We really can come to know the vitality of the Christian life because Christ is in us. It is not based on our personalities but on the transforming power of his Spirit. It is the result of having a living friendship with Jesus. The more we spend time with the Lord in prayer, the more we say yes to the Lord each day, the more we say yes to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit – the less influence the negative forces of the world will have on how we live.

“Lord Jesus, I am far from perfect, but I want to live as St. John described. I give myself to you. Please fill me afresh with your Spirit. Enable and empower me to love you and serve you more, and to be that Catholic man of God you have called me to be!”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. How does your understanding of the term, “the world,” compare to the Biblical understanding described in 1 John 2:15-17 and in the article? How attractive and how influential are the things of the world in your life?

2. How well are you doing in putting to death “the parts of you that are earthly” that are listed in Colossians 3:5?  What steps can you take to do better? What role can other trusted Catholic brothers in Christ play in helping you?

3. Being a Christian does not mean we escape from the world. On the contrary, it enables us to live out our lives in the world more fully as Catholic men. As the article states, “We are forward-looking visionaries who are learning to see our lives and the world around us from a heavenly perspective. With joy and purpose, we dedicate ourselves to advancing the kingdom of God on earth even as we go about our everyday lives. Christianity is not meant to turn us into dreamers filled with naïve idealism. It makes us into realists. We may see the darkness in the world, but we are also filled with confidence in Jesus’ power to overcome that darkness and establish God’s kingdom.”  What do these words mean to you? How can you make them a greater reality in your life?

4. The article ends with these words: “The more we spend time with the Lord in prayer, the more we say yes to the Lord each day, the more we say yes to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit – the less influence the negative forces of the world will have on how we live.” If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another at the end of your meeting that each of you would take these words to heart. Use the prayer at the end of the article as a starting point.

In the previous article, we addressed ways in which God can speak to you in prayer. As the title of this article suggests, do you believe that God can speak to you in other ways besides prayer?  We are not talking about just hearing God speak to us in an audible voice. God is sovereign and can use any means he chooses to communicate with us.

After all, God created us with a spiritual soul capable of having a personal relationship with him. That’s something he gave to no other created being on earth. He fashioned us so that we can be intimately connected to him, sharing our hearts and minds with him, even as he gives us a share in his own heart and mind.

Now, most of us are pretty good at letting God know what we’re thinking and feeling, but how many of us hear from him in return? Remember, God is always working, always speaking-not in extraordinary ways like the loud voice heard at the transfiguration. No, more often his voice comes as a thought that rises up, unprompted, in our minds-perhaps a thought to pray for someone else or a sudden new insight about God’s love. Some people wake up in the morning with a hymn or praise song running though their minds. That too can be God’s voice.

God might even give you senses in your dreams, just as he gave St. Joseph. Joseph tested them, experimented with them, and learned from them. It was through a dream that Joseph was reassured about marrying Mary. It was also because of a dream that Joseph awoke in the night, took Mary and the infant Jesus, and fled to Egypt. He took the sense of that dream seriously and acted immediately. As a result, Jesus was protected from Herod’s murderous rage, and God’s plan could move forward.

Of course, there are other ways of hearing God: the promptings of your conscience, the guidance of the Scriptures or a spiritual book, a homily at Mass, and the advice of a trusted friend or priest. We also need to be open to less usual ways. The key is to ask God to speak to you. Give him the freedom to speak any way he chooses. Simply be open to the possibility of hearing from the Creator of the universe. It’s exciting, and if you ask, he will not refuse.

“Father, I believe you are always working and always speaking. Please help me to recognize your voice. Teach me how to open my heart and my mind to you. Speak, Lord, and I will listen.”

(Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The article states that “God created us with a spiritual soul capable of having a personal relationship with him. That’s something he gave to no other created being on earth.” What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God?

2. In the article, the following question is asked: “Now, most of us are pretty good at letting God know what we’re thinking and feeling, but how many of us hear from him in return?” How would you answer this question?

3. The article lists some ways God can speak to us, in addition to prayer. These include: a dream; a thought that rises up, unprompted, in our minds; the promptings of our conscience; the guidance of the Scriptures or a spiritual book; a homily at Mass; and the advice of a trusted friend or priest. Have you ever had God speak to you in any of these or other ways? If so, what  were the circumstances and what were the fruits of it?

4. The article ends with these words: “Give him the freedom to speak any way he chooses. Simply be open to the possibility of hearing from the Creator of the universe. It’s exciting, and if you ask, he will not refuse.” What steps can you take to be more “open to the possibility of hearing from the Creator of the universe”?

5. If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another for the grace to hear God speak to you in some way each day. Use the prayer at the end of the article as a starting point.

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD , for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD , but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. (1 Kings 19:9-16)

Can God really speak to us as he spoke to Elijah? All the evidence may tell us yes, but each of us still faces some challenges in hearing his still, small voice. The first challenge is one of faith: “Do I believe that God really can speak to me?” If the answer is, “yes,” then go on to the next paragraph. If it is “no,” then read Ephesians 1:17-21 over and over again until you feel the Holy Spirit giving you confidence and hope.

The second challenge is one of worthiness. I may believe that God can speak to me, but I am not very holy, so why would he want to? To answer this challenge, read the centurion’s words in Matthew 8:8-the same words we pray at Mass. True, we are not worthy, but Jesus has said the word, and in baptism we were healed.

The third challenge is, “How do I hear revelation from the Lord?” And that’s where the reading from 1 Kings comes in. Sometimes, God speaks to us with signs of wonder and power, almost hitting us over the head with a new insight, a calling, or a rebuke to our conscience. But for Elijah, God was not in the powerful wind, the earthquake, or the fire. He spoke to him in a “sound of sheer silence” (1 Kings 19:12).

This is why prayer is so critical. Day after day, we are barraged with voices and noises that can drown out the voice of God. How vital, then, that we quiet our minds in God’s presence and try to sense what he is saying to us. How vital that we gaze upon him, whether on the cross in our homes or in the tabernacle in church, and pour out our hearts so that he can pour his heart into us! How vital that we read Scriptures slowly and prayerfully, asking his Spirit to speak to us through them and write them on our hearts!

Every day, God is waiting for us to come to him. Every day, he has something new to tell us. Everyday let’s spend some time in God’s presence in prayer and see where his still, small voice leads us!

“Father, open my ears, my eyes, and my heart to you as I spend time with you in prayer.

(Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/ ), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism , (http://www2.wau.org/partners/ ), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us . Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org .)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/ ) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. Do you believe that God desires to speak to you in prayer? Why or why not? Share a time when you believe God spoke to you as you prayed. What was the result. 

2. What is your reaction to these words from the article? “Every day, God is waiting for us to come to him. Every day, he has something new to tell us.”

3. How important do you feel it is to pray every day?

4. What are the major obstacles that keep you from having a daily time of prayer? What steps can you take to overcome them?

5. If you are in a men’s group, consider making a commitment to one another to pray every day. Then pray together for the Lord’s grace to do it, and share the fruit of it at your next men’s meeting.

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly.

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

Picture yourself living in a rented house. The last day of your lease comes around, and you realize that you haven’t fixed all the things needing repair. “Oh, no!” you gasp as you picture the landlord walking through the door. Suddenly you start repairing things for all you’re worth, going over every square inch of the place to make sure nothing is broken. You breathe a sigh of relief when you’re done, and you hope the landlord won’t find any problems!

It’s probably not too far-fetched to say that many of us respond to Jesus’ parable in Luke 12 in the same way. We imagine Jesus as a divine landlord, carrying a big clipboard to check off all of our good and bad points. We realize that he could come back at any time, and we think, “I’d better be in good shape when he arrives, or else!” So, we start taking a spiritual inventory of ourselves, and we panic as we see how much junk we still have to fix.

But that’s not the kind of landlord Jesus is! Certainly, we have to be good stewards and take care of our souls by repenting of any wrongdoing we might be involved in. But Jesus does not want to come back to find us just sitting around saying, “Okay, Lord. Everything’s fixed now. You can come in!” He wants to find us busy, using the gifts he has given us to build his kingdom. If he were a landlord, he would be more likely to ask, “How much did you enjoy your home? How welcoming was for me and others?” before he asked, “How good does it look? How well-maintained is it?”

In fact, Jesus’ parable is meant to get us to look out at the world, not in on ourselves. As good stewards, God wants to see us touching others with the message of his love and power. Let this be a major goal for our lives in 2010. How can we live this out? It could be through a small men’s group at church, where we meet, pray, and have fellowship together. It could be through a ministry that reaches out to the poor and disadvantaged. It could simply be through our even, hopeful disposition at work. It could be how we relate to our children, how we form them, and how we share the good news of Jesus Christ with them. Whatever we do, let’s remember that we have been entrusted with no ordinary wealth. We have his love and mercy and “the riches of his glory” (Ephesians 3:16), and they are a treasure much too valuable to keep to ourselves!

Lord Jesus, you have called me to be a good steward of the many gifts you have bestowed on me. I want to use these gifts to build your kingdom and reach out to those who are in need of your love and mercy. I ask for the grace to say yes to this call for my life.

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. What has been your past reaction to Jesus’ parable in Luke 12? What new insights have you gained from this article?

2. What is your image of how God sees you? Do you believe he sees you as a beloved son? Why or why not?

3. What do you think it means to be good stewards of the gifts Jesus has given us? How would you assess your own stewardship of these gifts? What steps can you take to improve your stewardship?

4. What do you think these words from the article mean? “In fact, Jesus’ parable is meant to get us to look out at the world, not in on ourselves.”  Do you agree with these words? Why or why not?

5. If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another at the end of your meeting that each of you would be the stewards of God’s gifts that you were called to be. Use the prayer at the end of the article as a starting point.

As men, we may think the answer to these questions is to just try harder or strive more. But this approach will fall short, unless we strengthen our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and open ourselves more to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This, of course, requires God’s grace, but we still have a role to play. Below are some steps we can take each day in this New Year to open ourselves to this work of God. They are not intended to be a daily “To Do” list to just check off each day. They are intended to be daily spiritual habits that allow us to grow and mature as a men of the Spirit and lead Spirit-filled and Spirit-led lives.

As you read and reflect on these steps, you may want to pick just a few to implement now and, perhaps, implement others at a future time during the year.

1. Every day when you first wake up, give your life to the Lord and ask him to fill you afresh with his Holy Spirit. Whether you wake up full of zeal, or half-hearted or heavy-laden, dedicate yourself and your day to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let Jesus know how dependent you are on the work of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Ask him to give you that love, peace, and joy – fruits of the Spirit that can only come from knowing Jesus Christ as Lord, and knowing and experiencing his great love for you.

2. Every day, spend ten minutes or more in personal prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you. Pursue the Holy Spirit every day in prayer. Ask the Lord to enlighten you with his Holy Spirit so that you might know him in your heart and that you might embrace his glorious plan for your life more fully. St. Paul told the Corinthians that God wanted to reveal to them his secret wisdom, things that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).  St. Paul also prayed for the Ephesians that God would enlighten the eyes of their hearts so that they could perceive his call and the inheritance that is theirs in Christ (Ephesians 1:18). This prayer of St. Paul is for us as well.

3. Every day, spend ten minutes or more prayerfully pondering Scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the Scripture for you. Ask him to show you the Father’s love (Romans 5:5). Ask him to fill your heart and your mind with the truths of the Gospel. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how these truths can be applied more fully to your life.

4. Every day, offer the Lord all the gifts he has given you and ask him to deepen in you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God has blessed each of you with gifts of the Holy Spirit. Don’t let these gifts grow dormant and be powerless in your life. Consider the seven-fold gifts of the Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and awe (Isaiah 11:2). Consider the various charisms that God bestows for serving and building up the body of Christ: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and many more (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; see also Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:8-13). Every day, seek these gifts and be open to receiving them. Every day, surrender these gifts to the Lordship of Christ. These gifts, so generously given by God, will enable you to follow God’s will for your life, better serve Him and others, build up his Church, and further his kingdom (1 Corinthians 14:3-5).

5. Throughout the day, turn to the Holy Spirit. Be attentive and sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Also, be alert to the battle between spirit and flesh. Whether you are facing a difficulty or temptation, or you are about to embark on a new effort, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint your words and actions in accordance with God’s will. Keep a cross or crucifix in your pocket to remind you that God loves you, and that your position is secure as a favored child of God, because of Jesus death and resurrection. When you are bombarded in your mind with negative thoughts or images, ask yourself where they are coming from and whether this is the way the Holy Spirit communicates with you. Try to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit, not the “world, the flesh, and the devil.”

6. Examine your conscience daily. Ask the Spirit to help you repent and ask forgiveness for the things that separate you from God. Try to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. As you experience the cleansing work of God’s forgiveness, you will be set free of shame, guilt, and self-condemnation.   But more than that, through the work of his Spirit, you will receive grace and power to overcome sin patterns in your life.

In addition to the above steps, try to open yourself to the Spirit each time you attend Mass. Since you have so generous a Father, be eager to seek his Holy Spirit at Mass. At each Mass, ask Jesus to immerse you in his Spirit. Ask him to give you a new experience of the Spirit and a deep confidence in his love for you. In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest asks the Father to send his Spirit upon the bread and wine “so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But it’s not only the bread and wine God wants to transform. As you receive Communion, you too can be transformed by the Spirit as well. You too can come to share in the “love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Spirit he has given us” (Romans 5:5). Believe that your life can be changed each time you receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One last step I recommend is to design a plan for your ongoing spiritual growth. Your plan should include those things that will develop your faith, including spiritual reading, fellowship with other Catholic men, and active participation in the life of the church

As you implement and try to be faithful to the steps you have chosen, you will experience the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit as he transforms you into a “man of the Spirit.”

“May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones“ (Ephesians 1:18).

Come, Holy Spirit and enlighten our hearts and give us the power to be faithful to your call. Fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit and give us all the gifts we need to serve you.

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Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The article says that “God is infinitely more powerful than sin, Satan, and the world.” If this is so, why do we as Catholic men struggle so much to overcome sin, Satan, and the world?

2. Why is living more godly lives not just a matter of trying harder or striving more to be holy.

3. Of the steps listed above, which ones do you believe can be implemented right now in your life? Which ones cannot? Share the reasons why.  Are there any additional steps you would add or delete from the list?

4. Are you willing to be accountable for implementing at least two or three of the above steps over the next few weeks? Use the steps you have identified as most applicable to your life right now to develop a personalized daily plan for yourself. Pray for one another for the grace to be faithful to your plans. If you are in a men’s group, share the impact at your next meeting these steps are having on living each day as a “man of the Spirit.”

5. What additional steps can you implement in the future (over and above those previously identified)? What impact do you expect these additional steps to have on strengthening your walk as a man of the Spirit? At a future men’s group meeting, share the impact these additional steps have had on you.

6. Pray for one another for the grace to be faithful to the steps you believe the Lord wants you to take to be a man of the Spirit.