The Power of a Passion Play: Bringing the Crucifixion to Life
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Road to Purity
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have laid up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
Psalm 119:9–12
We know that living a morally pure life is difficult. Yet as Catholic men, we are called to keep ourselves spiritually clean in the wasteland of this modern world. Sexual temptation and greed in all its forms are all around us; and anything we desire is only a short drive or mouse click away. We are fed a daily dose of violence, consumerism, and sex on our phones and computer screens. Whatever feels good is acceptable and consequence-free. We hide our secret sins of lust, greed, and selfishness from our spouses, our pastors, and our friends, and we think we can escape the notice of the Lord as well.
Those who live lives of moral purity give witness to the power of Christ to cleanse us from sin. There are so many men who are trapped in immoral lifestyles, who need the stability of a steady Catholic man to hold them accountable and walk with them in the light.
The Scriptures have much to teach us about what it means to live a pure life, free from the sins that tear at the fabric of our faith. This week, we will consider the following ideas:
1. Purity requires total commitment.
We cannot walk as faultless followers of Christ unless we are totally committed to God’s word, his commandments, and his Church. We must give over our prideful and selfish hearts to God, holding nothing back. Any object that stands in the way of our relationship with Christ must give way to an absolute focus on his law of love. Only then can we be effective witnesses of his love in the world.
2. We must desire God’s teachings over our desires.
When we seek God with all our hearts, we hunger for his teachings and call out for him to fulfill his promises in our lives. When we are sold out and satisfied by God alone, we become beacons of pure light in a darkened world. God’s Law of Love must mean more to us than any earthly trapping or fading pleasure we can discover in this life.
3. Purity is a delight that overshadows anything this world offers us.
When we truly connect with the power and presence of God, the result is a joy that goes beyond any temporary high. Ultimately, succumbing to sin always leaves us empty. Living in moral purity, on the other hand, will only fill us up, empty us of selfishness and pride, and allow us to be living witnesses of that fullness to all we meet.
4. We must transform our lives rather than conform to the world.
Paul tells us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice and to renew our minds so we can discern the will of God (see Rom 12:1–2). Conforming to the world leads to death; being transformed by the love of Christ leads to peace and eternal life. Our lives, offered freely on the altar of our faith, become a sweet and fragrant gift that spreads out to all the world, transforming the lives of all who are touched by it.
5. Purity of heart shines in the light of Christ’s pure, sacrificial love.
The light of Christ exposes our fleshly desires for what they are. His pure sacrifice of love on the cross shines upon our lives, opening up the narrow way and calling us to follow him. It also joins us more closely to those who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb (see 1 Jn 1:7). As we stand in this light, cleansed by its grace, we become beacons of light to others as well.
A Call to Action
Living in purity is not a burden, but a delight. When we are set free from pride, anger, lust, and selfishness, we are transformed to shine as witnesses to the world. It can be difficult to recognize the power of a pure, sold-out life for Christ when life offers us so many temptations, but focusing on the light of Jesus can and will lead us to perfection. This week, seek to live your life in the light of Christ. Ask him to help you see that living a pure and transformed life helps to give power to the purpose God has for you. Commit to going to Confession this week and submitting to the guidance of God’s word and the Church. Resist the devil and draw near to the One who calls us to humble ourselves so he can exalt us (Jas 4:7–10). A life of spiritual and moral purity is not always easy to achieve, but it is always more meaningful and more delightful than anything else this broken world can offer.
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
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.
