Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. How important is it to you to be the man of valor that Jesus desires you to be?
2. Which of the steps listed above seem to be the most applicable to your life right now? Least applicable?
3. Which of the steps described in the “Daily Plan” are you willing to commit to over the next few weeks? If you are in a men’s group, share their impact on your day at the next meeting?
4. Continue to focus on additional steps each week until they are all in some measure a part of your everyday life. What impact are these having on how you live out your faith each day?
[Editor's Note: This article is the fourth in a series on the theme, ” Being Men of Valor in Our Everyday Lives.” Click here to find the first article, the second article, and the third article.]
Jesus Christ was the ultimate “Man of Valor.” He was loyal, faithful, and courageous. He was willing to suffer and lay down his life for you and I — to save us from sin and its eternal punishment. But more than that, Jesus desires to transform each of us into his image, and he wants to do it day by day as we follow him. How can we cooperate with this desire of Jesus’ heart? Below is a daily plan that can help us in living each day as a man of valor, beginning with the first moments after we wake up each morning.
1. Give Your Day to Jesus
Before you get out of bed each morning, dedicate your life to the Lord. Tell him about the challenges you will face today and invite him to be with you through them. Tell him you believe in the power of his cross to overcome sin in your heart. Tell him you want to be his witness today and ask him to pour out his Spirit upon you to lead and guide you. Ask the Lord for the courage to stand up for what you believe, no matter what the cost.
2. Deepen Your Relationship with God
Set aside time every day for prayer and Scripture reading. Make it your goal during this time to grow closer to Jesus and give him honor and glory. Don’t let problems or concerns intrude or distract you. Instead, experiment with ways to open yourself more to his love and presence, and ask him to give you a word as you pray and ponder the Scripture passages. At every Mass, give your life to Jesus and let his presence and love soften your heart and strengthen you as you receive him in the Eucharist.
3. Follow God’s Leading
As your day unfolds, keep on inviting Jesus to be with you and empower you by his Spirit. Ask him for guidance and direction. Listen for promptings from his Spirit. It could be as simple as a quick prayer for wisdom, or as detailed as an urging to forgive an old hurt or show some unexpected compassion to a friend or coworker. Don’t settle for the easy way out, especially when your faith is challenged.
4. Love Your Family and Friends
Let nothing get in the way of the call to treat all family and friends with the love of Christ. Practice kindness and generosity. Forgive grievances quickly. Take steps to mend wounded relationships. Let your friends and family know you love them and enjoy their presence. Let them experience Jesus’ love through your words and actions.
5. Reach Out to Others
Look for opportunities to share the love of Christ with those around you. It might mean offering to pray with or for someone who is sick or struggling with a problem. It might mean looking for ways to help the poor and needy in your community. It might mean serving in your parish or sharing about Jesus with a neighbor or a coworker. Ask for boldness. Don’t be afraid to take a few risks.
6. Examine Your Day
Each night, review your day. Here are some questions you can ask yourself. Were you faithful to what you believe? Did your words and action bring honor to Jesus? Were they a positive or negative reflection of Jesus’ love? Was there some new insight in prayer you need to write down or act upon? Are there any sins from the day that still need repentance? Did you turn to the Lord at all during the day? How did the Holy Spirit prompt you today? How did you respond to those promptings? Finally, pray for those you know who are suffering in any way.
(This article by Maurice Blumberg was part of the Catholic Men’s E-zine, “Being Men of Valor in Our Everyday Lives” (January – February 2002 issue), which is available on the NFCM website. You may e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to use material from their daily meditations. Used with permission.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
