Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional – 29th Week in Ordinary time – Friday – Luke 12:54-59

After rebuking men about hypocrisy and worldliness and warning about the need for resolute watchfulness in the continuing spiritual battle, Christ urges men to be prepared for Judgment by coming to grips with their own sins and to reconcile with God while there is still time.

Christ, as a Person of the Trinity, created men, giving them the mandate and ability to oversee Creation (Gen 1-2 ). Christ acknowledges the systematic thinking skills He has given men and confirms men’s ability to look at signs and to deduce outcomes (i.e. clouds predict rain, wind from the south predicts heat). Christ rebukes men (hypocrites) for not using their analytical skills to recognize the spiritual realities that are readily apparent (e.g., Christ’s own presence and works; goodness and evil in the world, etc.).

Christ exhorts men to come to terms with their own sin and to reconcile with Him while there is still time. Christ directs each man to examine his own conscience, judge what is right and admit his guilt.  Using an analogy of the familiar human legal system, Christ warns each man that he has an accuser (a men’s own record of sinfulness) who will drag the man before a judge (Christ); the judge will sentence the guilty to prison (Hell or Purgatory) where the guilty man will must stay until he pays the last copper (has been purified of sin). Despite the ominous warning of their coming judgment, Christ gives men hope that there is still time to reconcile with Him.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ has created men with a conscience and the ability to recognize good and evil. Divine Mercy, Christ warns men of their apathy and of the coming Judgment.  Divine Teacher, Christ teaches men through earthly realities (weather, legal system) to help them understand, repent and strive for holiness.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1)  Men wish to avoid facing the reality of sin and death and avoid coming to grips with the eternal consequences of the Judgment.  Give thanks to Christ’s great mercy in warning men in clear terms of their own unavoidable judgment and the consequences of sin.

2) Men use their God-given systematic thinking skills to figure out how things work; men gravitate towards analyzing, designing, building and fixing things. Consider Christ’s admonition that men need apply their natural problem-solving skills to discern spiritual realities and ask Him to help you to seek sainthood each day of your life.

3) Christ in His mercy has inscribed on the heart of every man a conscience which directs him to do good and avoid evil (CCC 1776-1802).  Commit to make a brief examination of conscience each day before going to sleep, to ask Christ for forgiveness for your sins and for the grace to grow in holiness. Go to Confession.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Sorrowful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ

Virtue of the Day – Faith

Corporal Work of Mercy – To visit the sick

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To forgive all injuries