To the Ends of the Earth: Witness – Week 2, Day 2 – We Must Be Solid Witnesses of the Faith for Our Children
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Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:12–17
We need spiritual brothers to be involved in our lives, other men who will hold us accountable, confront us about our sin, walk with us on our faith journeys, and lift us up so that we can live fully sold-out for Christ. Left on our own we run the risk of falling into self-reliant, self-centered behavior, and struggling with temptation and sins of anger, lust, or pride. We neglect the word, our worship, the sacraments, and Church involvement. But when brothers can come alongside us, we find the strength to jump back into the game and take our place in the Mystical Body as capable men of integrity and honor.
Developing intimate friendships with other Catholic men is not always easy. Sitting down with the guys to watch sports or have a few beers is one thing; but asking a brother to keep us on the narrow path of salvation is quite another. Catholic men often find it hard to make it to Mass on Sundays, let alone dig more deeply into their personal issues or share their feelings with other men. We need to step up. There are men all around us who need a Catholic brother to speak truth and hope into their lives.
While men may have trouble being relational, it is not impossible if we are willing to let down our guard and reach out to others. Believe it or not, most men are looking for other men who will listen and offer support. We who have committed to growing in the truths of our faith can bond with them in many simple ways. Offering help with a home improvement project can get things rolling. Having some “guy time” when we get together with couples is another. And joining together in prayer and study groups opens the door for honest sharing. The more we are willing to be there for them, the more our brothers will want to be there for us.
The calling to live in true communion with our brothers involves some effort. This week we will consider a few ideas on fellowship from the reading from Colossians, quoted at the beginning of this chapter:
1. True manly living requires committed brotherhood.
We cannot simply play the part of a brother. It must be something that is so much a part of our lives that it is as natural as breathing and as powerful as each beat of our hearts. We are called to reach into the brokenness of others’ lives in a way that honors their dignity and gives glory to God. Walking with our brothers is a lifelong journey that requires a commitment grounded in the Body of Christ.
2. Our strength lies in meekness.
Words such as “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col 3:12) are not “manly” words in the accepted, worldly sense. Yet these are truly powerful virtues that allow us to be strong models of faith to our fellow men.
3. Forgiveness is a foundational blessing.
Men fall, and sometimes we fall hard. Our willingness to forgive one another is so crucial to fellowship. We need to confront one another with our grievances so that we may be reconciled to one another and find healing.
4. Love is the bonding agent of our fellowship.
Love is the glue that holds all the other virtues together. Without the sacrificial love of Christ, our actions are overrun by our selfishness and fear. Love leads us toward perfection, giving grace to all our interactions with our brothers.
5. Christ is the focus, power, and goal of our lives.
Jesus must control our lives, energize our actions, and bring richness to our relationship with our brothers and stability to their lives. When we surrender to the headship of Christ, allowing him to direct our plans, we are able to join with our brothers in joyful, meaningful, and thankful fellowship as we serve the One who came to serve and give his life as a ransom for the many.
A Call to Action
The more we live this life of fellowship with the Lord and one another, the more we will align ourselves with God’s will and lighten the burden each of us bears, as we walk the road of salvation together. Christians talk about “leading others to Christ.” Catholic men not only lead other men to Christ; they equip them, stand by them, and support them every step of the way on their journey toward our heavenly home. True brotherhood is a lifelong process of personal growth, accountability and support, and joyful fellowship shared within the community of the Church.
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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.
