To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 10, Day 5 – Our Examination Helps Lead Us to a Deep Hatred of Sin
Sponsored
Catholic365 is sponsored by
Road to Purity
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure” —
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Revelation 19:6–9
On the day of his wedding, a groom waits at the altar as his bride walks down the aisle to join him in the sacrament of Matrimony. She wears a spotless white gown, a symbol of her purity as she gives herself forever to the one who will be her husband. Like a bride preparing for her wedding with a ceremonial bath and a white wedding gown, the Bride of Christ is being purified by her trials and putting on her garment of righteousness so she will be ready for the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
As members of the Church, we are called to prepare the Bride of Christ for her wedding. This is part of the legacy we leave behind. How we live as Catholic men helps to shape the Church for what is to come, including her trials. We need to ask ourselves how we are contributing to the Church’s growth and maturity. Are we devoted to Christ alone? Are we striving to live spotless lives, free from the stain of sin?
If we take our baptism seriously, we will accept our role within the Church and see how our legacy is inseparable from the legacy of the Church.
Questions for reflection
How can you work to devote yourself more fully to the Body of Christ?
What does the Church need to do right now to ready herself for the Bridegroom?
How ready do you feel today to be called to the wedding feast of the Lamb?
Praying with Scripture
“For your Maker is your husband, / the LORD of hosts is his name; / and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, / the God of the whole earth he is called.” (Is 54:5)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion 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.
