What does being a sacramental man mean for you in terms of how you live out your future hope in the here and now?
How do the graces of the sacraments empower you to shape the lives of others, particularly other men?
Praying with Scripture
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3–4).
Friday
A cultivator turns his gaze toward heaven.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1–2
Those who keep their eyes fixed on heaven will find the strength they need to climb every mountain and walk through every valley along the way to heaven. Rather than focusing on the temporary trappings of this life, we allow the One who is our helper and our protector to lift us up from the stagnation of this world and transform us as we walk the journey toward heaven. This single-minded vision enables us to see our lives from eternity’s perspective and shapes how we grow as believers and, in turn, speak and move in the lives of others.
Psalm 121 is one of a number of the “Songs of Ascents” — holy hymns sung by pilgrims as they made their way to Jerusalem for the great Jewish feasts. Just as these sacred words spurred on the people of God, they can motivate us to live lives filled with hope as we await the harvest that is to come. We will cherish our reading of the word of God, celebrate our rich heritage as members of the Church, and go out into the world to harvest the souls of the lost. We are on a holy pilgrimage toward the eternal city, calling others to join us as we give praise to the One who transforms us and leads us home.
Questions for Reflection
How would you describe your pilgrimage toward heaven at this time in your life?
What things in your life are keeping you from fixing your gaze on heaven and God’s love for you?
What can you do to cultivate a greater intimacy with Christ and recognize his care for you?
Praying with Scripture
“To you I lift up my eyes, / O you who are enthroned in the heavens!” (Ps 123:1).
Saturday
Go Deeper
How is God calling me to be a cultivator? Where in my life do I live out this calling well? Where do I think I could be a better cultivator?
Did I make time for prayer and Scripture reading this week? If yes, how can I commit to doing the same next week? If no, what concrete steps can I take to make time next week?
Do I participate actively in the sacraments of the Church? What are two or three steps I can take to become a sacramental man?
Do I look forward to blessings? What blessings came my way this week?
Week 2
Lover of the Word
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
The Bible is God’s love letter to humanity — his inerrant, perfect, and powerful revelation of himself to his children. Scripture is our guide, our strength, our power, and our peace. Together with Tradition, it forms the great foundation of our faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that in the Scriptures God reveals himself to us, and because God is the true author of the words, we can trust that the Bible teaches us God’s truth without error.
As Catholic men, we are called to grow in our knowledge of God’s word. The Scriptures have the power to shape our hearts, renew our minds, feed our spiritual hungers, and sharpen our souls as we walk the road to perfection. When we allow the word of God to break up the fertile soil of our lives, plant the seeds of hope, and harvest the fruit of the Spirit, we become productive and profitable cultivators of other lives. This week, we will consider five essential truths of God’s word and the power it has for our lives.
1. God’s word is our hope.
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that