To the Ends of the Earth: Witness – Catholic Men's Devotionals, Week 2 – Invest in the Future
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You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
2 Timothy 2:1–6
God’s comfort is filtered through the gentle hand of his loving discipline. God longs for us to be reconciled with him and with one another. Like soldiers under the command of a trusted officer, we are called to put aside our worldliness, accept God’s discipline as we work through our daily struggles, and press on to win the victory and claim the prize that is ours in Christ.
But for this to take place, we must become strong. It can happen in the circumstances God allows in our lives, and through sufferings we accept. But often it also comes through people God places in our lives to help form us. We become strong when other godly men come alongside us and speak God’s truth into our hearts. You may already have such men in your life. If not, pray for the strength to seek them out and submit to their direction and even correction. God works in us through other people, just as he works through us for the good of others.
The great joy in belonging to the Church is that we can receive instruction and training from the many giants of the Faith who have gone before us. We have the teachings and traditions of the Church to guide us and the sacraments to strengthen us for the journey to heaven. Such grace and strength show us the better way of love.
Questions for Reflection
Do you seek instruction and comfort from trusted and wise men of good character? If yes, who are those men? If not, why not?
Do you think that comfort can come from discipline? Have you ever experienced this yourself?
How can staying focused on the goal help you to be a comfort to another man this week?
Praying with Scripture
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights. (Prov 3:11–12)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
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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.
