The Pharisees and scribes, sensing that Christ is a threat, have begun to attack Him because He does not conform to the Pharisee’s rigid rules. They confront Jesus, asserting that John the Baptist’s disciples and the Pharisees both fast, while Jesus and His disciples do not; implying that Jesus is a false teacher. The Pharisees’ duplicitous use of John the Baptist as an example telegraphs their evil intent: they hated the Baptist because he called them a “brood of vipers” (Matt 3:7).

Christ’s response to the Pharisees’ question about fasting is stunning; He responds by justifying His disciples lack of fasting because He is God. Christ’s mysterious referral to the Bridegroom certainly shocked the learned Pharisees and scribes (experts in the Old Testament) who would have immediately realized that Christ was comparing Himself to God and His spousal relationship with Israel (Is 54:5-8). Jesus also instructs His disciples to enjoy His presence without fasting until His Passion and to fast and mourn afterwards; the Church preserves Christ’s instructions for men to regularly fast (CCC 538,1434, 2043).

Jesus uses veiled metaphors to describe the complete break from the Pharisee’s views of the Old Covenant necessary to become disciples of Christ’s New Covenant; those who do not give themselves completely to the New Covenant are warned of dire consequences (e.g. being torn or burst). The metaphor of new wine/old wineskins also mysteriously points to the outpouring of mercy in His Blood in Eucharistic wine.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Jesus confirms that He is the Son of God by revealing He is the Bridegroom.  Divine Teacher uses enduring metaphors (wineskins, patching an old cloak) to draw disciples into deeper reflection.  Divine Prophet, Jesus alludes to His Passion (Bridegroom will be taken away) and warns that half-measures have bad consequences.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Christ’s public ministry lasts for three years, during which the Jewish leaders continuously plot to kill Him. Marvel at how Christ uses mysterious references (like the Bridegroom) and tactics to thwart the Jewish leaders efforts to murder Him until the time and place of His choosing.

2) Many Catholic men are estranged from the Church, disgusted by priest scandals, confused about Church teachings or because they have been lured away by the world. Despite the travails, Christ loves His Church, like a bridegroom loves his bride. Pray for Christ to help you grow in your love and fidelity to the Church.

3) Christ’s own practice of fasting (He fasted for for 40 days! – Matt 4:2), underscores the importance of fasting/mortifying the body as a way to help men to remain aware of their dependence on God and to repent from sin. Renew your commitment to the ancient manly discipline of Friday fasts to build spiritual “muscle” and as a humble sacrifice to honor Our Almighty King.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Luminous Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Holy Eucharist

Virtue of the Day – Fortitude

Corporal Work of Mercy – To shelter the homeless

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To bear wrongs patiently

After preaching in Judea, Christ returns to Capernuam and a large crowd press upon Him by the lake of Gennesaret (a large freshwater lake; also called the Sea of Galilee). Simon, despite witnessing many miracles at his house, continues to ply his trade as a fisherman, not yet a disciple. Christ, knowing Simon will eventually be His chosen leader of the Catholic Church, climbs into Simon’s boat and directs Simon to go a short distance from shore so that Christ can more effectively be heard by the crowd. Taking the seated posture of a rabbi, Christ teaches the crowd as Simon and other men (including future apostles James and John) stand in the the boat and listen.

When He finishing teaching, Christ moves forward with His plan to call Simon to discipleship by directing Simon to go out into the deep to fish. Simon, a seasoned fisherman, politely calls Jesus “Master”, gently resists, explaining that they fished all night with no luck; from many years of experience, Simon knows that the fish are not running and attempting to fish during the heat of the day will be fruitless. Nevertheless, Simon agrees.

The catch astonishes (literally, “thunderstruck”) the seasoned fishermen, threatening to burst the nets and requiring an additional boat; both boats are filled to the point of swamping. Peter, now convicted beyond doubt about Christ’s miraculous divinity and calling Him “Lord”,  falls at Jesus’ knees, with humility and fear, admits his sinfulness and unworthiness.  Christ calms Peter, telling him not to fear and that he will become an evangelist (fisher of men) for Christ. Despite the massive catch and economic windfall, Peter, James and John leave everything (fish, boats, nets, families, homes) and follow Christ.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ has omniscience, knowing the location and activity of fish, and omnipotence, the power to influence large numbers of fish to be caught. Divine King, Christ has an innate ability to evaluate men and can persuasively recruit them to do His work.  Divine Orator, Christ understands acoustics and has a robust and manly strength that allows Him to speak to large outdoor crowds.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) To grasp a fuller impact of Gospel events, men need to go beyond simple reading of Gospels and dig deep into the details. Reflect on the details of Christ’s miracle of the huge catch of fish; how did He do it?

2) Christ’s urging in men’s life are sometimes overwhelmingly clear but are often gentle nudges to take some action. Sometimes, like Peter, men doubt the direction that Christ is giving them. Pray for Christ to help you hear him better and for the will and strength to always do His will.

3) Men often believe they are “self-made”, working hard to build skills and achieve success, believing that work and faith are two separate things. It is God who gives men talents for men to use for the building of the Kingdom.  Reflect on Christ’s deliberate plan to use Peter’s skills as a great fishermen to be a “fisher of men” for His Kingdom. Pray for Christ to reveal how your skills, experience and situation can be used by Him to build the Kingdom.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Luminous Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Holy Eucharist

Virtue of the Day – Fortitude

Corporal Work of Mercy – To shelter the homeless

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To bear wrongs patiently

After casting a demon out of a man in the synagogue of Capernaum on the Sabbath, Peter invites Jesus to his home to eat and spend the night. Peter’s mother-in-law’s  high fever caused her suffering and also presented a practical problems: her help was needed to feed a large number of people and her fever may have caused fear of contagion among the guests.

Simon asks Jesus to help his ill mother-in-law. Jesus stands over her and, just as He had rebuked the demon, He rebukes the fever; she is miraculously healed and immediately serves them. As the sun sets, large numbers of the desperately ill people crowd around Peter’s house; Christ lays His hands on every sick or demon-possessed person and heals them. Christ silences the demons who proclaim that He is the “Son of God”, further evidence of His supernatural power.

After working late into the night to heal all who came to Him, Christ departs early in the morning to a deserted place, perhaps to pray as was His practice. Though people follow Him and attempt to stop Him from leaving, Christ departs to continue His mission to preach in Judea.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God and Divine Physician, Christ has dominion over Creation with the knowledge and power to instantly heal every disease and to cast out demons. Son of Man, Christ is the most robust of men, able to work long hours with little sleep. Divine King, Christ is relentless in His effort to announce His Kingdom.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) High fevers can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, heat exhaustion or other serious causes (e.g. tumors, etc.) and take several days or weeks to subside with modern treatment.  Marvel at Christ’s ability to instantaneously heal a severe fever with a word and return Peter’s mother-in-law to robust health.

2) Consistent with Christ’s eventual pronouncement of Peter as the first leader (pope) of Christ’s Catholic Church, Christ honors Peter by residing at Peter’s house; Peter’s house will be Christ’s Galilean base for His ministry. Pray, asking for St. Peter’s intercession to help the Church evangelize the great number of suffering souls.

3) Most men put their exclusive trust in modern medicine for healing illnesses; while prudent, Catholic men should first and persistently seek Christ’s healing for all illnesses, routine and severe. Begin to practice spontaneous prayer when you encounter illness and keep a prayer list, asking for Christ to heal those, consistent with His Will for them.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Glorious Mysteries

Daily Devotion – Saint Joseph

Virtue of the Day – Temperance

Corporal Work of Mercy – To visit the imprisoned

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To comfort the sorrowful

After announcing that He is the Messiah in His hometown of Nazareth on the Sabbath and is attacked by a murderous mob, Christ walks 30 miles to Capernaum. In this fishing/agricultural town on the Sea of Galilee that has a population of several thousand, Jesus establishes a base for His Galilean ministry.

Christ teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath and, in contrast to the closed minds of Nazareth, He astounds men for His “word” has great authority and power. Sensing the Divine and filled with great fear, demons in a possessed man are the first to speak the name of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, proclaiming Jesus to be “the Holy One of God.”  The demons, with supernatural perception, realize the infinite power of Christ and His ability to destroy them with a word.  Instead, Christ commands them to be silent about His identity and casts them out of the man, who though tossed about, is made well.

The men of the synagogue, who likely had known the torture of the demon-possessed man, are amazed (overwhelming wonder) at the miracle they have witnessed; they see an exorcism up close and the return of the possessed man to health and sanity. Those who witness Christ’s power are so awed by the miracle that they immediately spread the news about Jesus to all the surrounding region.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ has absolute power over Creation, including the demons who fell with Satan and roam the earth. Divine Prophet, Christ is recognized as a teacher who has an amazing ability to authoritatively interpret Scripture. Divine Physician, Christ heals supernatural demon possession with simple commands. Divine King, Christ controls when, where and how His mission will be fulfilled.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1)  There are many who view Christ as simply a very good teacher or wise man. Reflect on the truth that Christ publicly confirms the reality of demons and demonstrates His supernatural power and dominion to cast out demons; in this, He demonstrates His Divinity.

2) Many moderns scoff at demons, believing that demonic possession is in reality, simply mental or physical illness. Consider that Christ confirms that demons are real and pray for Christ to protect you against the many demons seeking to tempt and possess you.

3) Few Catholic men have a rigorous habit of daily Scripture reading. Pray for Christ to help you to be “amazed”at His Word like those who heard Him teach and commit to study His teachings in Scripture on a daily basis.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Sorrowful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Guardian Angels

Virtue of the Day – Justice

Corporal Work of Mercy – To clothe the naked

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To counsel the doubtful

After His Baptism and Temptation in the Judaean desert, Christ begins His public ministry by working His way west, preaching in synagogues and healing the sick; His reputation begins to grow.  Christ returns to His hometown of Nazareth and goes to the synagogue on the Sabbath, as was His custom. With His people Israel and fellow villagers, many of whom He was related to through Mary, Christ will announce that He is the Messiah.

Standing to read Scripture, Christ selects and reads Isaiah’s 700 year-old prophecy of the Messiah who will bring miraculous healing and freedom to those in bondage. Stunned, the crowd watches as Jesus says “this Scripture has been fulfilled”, a declaration that He is the long-awaited Messiah. His people first react well, but skepticism grows as they realize Jesus is Joseph’s son; mysteriously, despite having the Son of God, the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph in their midsts for years, the people have failed to recognize Divinity and holiness.

Knowing that His own people will reject Him, Christ rebukes them for their inability to recognize a prophet in their midst. Their anger grows, for by calling Himself a prophet, He has compared Himself to the revered Isaiah. Rebuking them again, Christ reveals that Israel (them!), as in the time of Elijah and Elisha, will not be receive miraculous blessings. The people’s anger explodes into murderous intent, for Christ has rebuked them, compared Himself to two additional heroic prophets and proclaims the hated Gentiles will receive blessings and Israel will not. Christ allows the mob to take Him up on a brow of a hill to throw Him off; in this preview of the violence and murder of Passion Week, Christ’s prophecy of Israel’s rejection and loss of blessing is fulfilled.  As always, Christ is in complete control and mysteriously walks through the vicious mob and leaves.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ speaks with power and authority, announcing His coming as the long-awaited Messiah. He possesses both supernatural and physical power that allows Him to pass through the angry, bloodthirsty crowd. Divine Prophet, Christ has an intimate knowledge of Scripture He inspired His prophets to write and teaches with authority. He rebukes the people of Nazareth for their unbelief.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) As men turn from God and chaos grows in the world, images of frenzied “protest” mobs and violence is routinely broadcast. Marvel at Christ’s mysterious power to “pass through the midst” of a violent mob that is seeking to kill Him.

2) Only a small minority of Catholic men have a habit of prayerfully reading Scripture. Christ, raised by Joseph and Mary to read and memorize Scripture in the synagogue, desires that all Catholic men read and become intimately familiar with Him in Scripture. Pray for Christ to help you imitate His example and heed His call to know the Word made flesh in Scripture.

3) Men, full of testosterone, are prone to verbal and physical violence if they lack a deep inner life centered on Christ.  Commit to a habit of daily prayer, asking Christ to take a “chair” in your heart, to help you constantly seek to do His Will and help you to turn from anger and build the virtue of meekness.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Souls in Purgatory

Virtue of the Day – Prudence

Corporal Work of Mercy – To give drink to the thirsty

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To instruct the ignorant