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One Week with Jesus
Understanding Your Role as a Godly Catholic Man

7 Days of Daily Devotions to help men grow in their faith based on the series

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
by

Mark C. McCann

Introduction
Welcome to this short journey into what it means to be a godly Catholic man. Over the next seven days, you will take a look at 4 key concepts of what real manhood for a follower of Jesus is all about. These daily devotions are based on the series, TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH published by Our Sunday Visitor. This brief study will introduce you to the series and give you a taste of what the books are all about.
To grow in Catholic manhood, we will look at four areas:
Character. Developing godly character involves following the sacrificial example of Christ, the warrior poet.
Action. Character means nothing if it isn’t put into practice. Men of action accept that in Christ they must lose in order to gain.
Witness. To be a Catholic witness is to live out with your life the constancy of God’s plan to reach the whole world for Jesus.
Legacy. In order to leave a lasting mark upon the world, godly men must overcome sorrow and allow Jesus to transform it into hope.
This devotional begins on Sunday, with a call to examine these four concepts within the celebration of the Eucharist as you consider your “Call to Action” for the week. On Monday through Thursday, you will look at four devotions based on the individual books in the series. Friday will present a special reflection on commission and manhood, and Saturday will offer a summary devotion to tie the concepts all together.
I hope this brief study will help to raise awareness of what it means to be a Catholic man and give you a hunger to go deeper in your devotion to the man who laid down his life for you. May God bless you as you spend this time with him.
The Scripture texts used in this work are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible — Second Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition), copyright © 1965, 1966, 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Garden of Gethsemane is perhaps the perfect picture of Jesus living precisely in the moment. All of time had led to this one hour of agony where Jesus truly handed himself over to the will of his Father. So intense and powerful was this moment that it caused him to sweat drops of blood as he surrendered to the cross and accepted the sins of the whole world. Here was the moment of his greatest temptation—to walk away from the cross and avoid the immeasurable agony of his death and his separation from his Father. And yet, the Son of God willingly, faithfully, and joyfully accepted the chalice of suffering and went to Golgotha to die so that we could be set free from our sin and gain heaven once more.
So many men are living in the moment, taking life as it comes and giving their all in pursuit of happiness and fulfillment; but it only leads to the fading glory of a selfish and sad reality, with no real connection to eternity or the Father’s perfect plan. To be a real man is to live fully sold out to the moment of salvation, to accept the love that bled and died on the cross so that we could be set free from our sin. Living in the moment means taking up our cross daily and walking the path that leads to our dying to self so that we may truly rise up in Christ.
This Sunday, as you celebrate the Eucharist, become caught up in the moment where heaven and earth were reconciled as you hear salvation’s story and come trembling before the cross. Consider how, in Christ, you are transformed from sinner to saint, from lost to found, and from outcast to welcomed son at the banquet table of the Lord. Meditate on what it means to have been loved so much that God put on skin, walked the dusty roads of this world, taught, healed, confronted sin, and ultimately bled and died, for YOU! Rejoice in the resurrection that will one day be yours in Christ and thank him for all he did to obtain your salvation.
Questions for Consideration…
Why did Jesus go to the cross in joy, despite the shame and agony of the suffering he endured (See Hebrews 12:2)?
How can you become more caught up in the moment of salvation every moment of your life?
Praying with Scripture: Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:8a)
Your Call to Action
Throughout this week of study, you will be considering what it means to be a godly man of character, action, witness, and legacy. Each day, as you grow in your knowledge of God’s call on your life and your journey to Catholic manhood, take time to thank God for all he has done for you. Take time also to live out the four key areas in how you relate to those around you: your family, friends, fellow students or co-workers, and especially your brothers in Christ. Pray for these people and find ways to share the love of Christ with them. Be a Christ-like example in all you say and do, witnessing to the love that has set you free to serve others in his name.
Make a commitment to pray specifically for three other men in your life and come up with at least one concrete and practical way you can honor and serve each one. Send a card of encouragement, offer to help with a task, or take a brother out for coffee so you can spend time talking about your faith and what it means to be followers of Jesus Christ.

Sunday—Man of the Moment
And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this chalice from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
(Luke 22:39-46)

Monday—Character
Warrior-Poet
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.
(John 17:1-5)

King David was the ultimate warrior poet. He was a man acquainted with battle; and yet, he composed some of the most beautiful psalms in the Bible. He was both strong and meek. He knew that God was his strength and his song, his deliverance and his provision. He accepted his call to fight against the enemies of the faith, and he poured out his heart to God when he was alone in the wilderness. Though he sinned greatly, he found forgiveness in the One who blotted out his transgressions. His character was God’s character; his calling and the strength of his soul drawn from the wellspring of God’s great love.
David’s character was such that he sought the way of peace, but was ready to fight the battles that came his way. He walked in the sanctuary of God, clinging to the One who was the source of all he was. He felt the fire of God’s love in his heart and so was able to speak the poetry of God’s love to all within his kingdom. He was always a man of hope, who looked to his Maker for his salvation. He was the man after God’s own heart, sold out to the Father. He was imperfect but found his perfect rest in God alone.
To be a man of true Catholic character, we must be willing to fight the good fight, trusting in God and resting in his grace as we walk through the trials and tribulations of life and reach the prize that awaits us in heaven. When we find ourselves in the wilderness of doubt and despair, we must continue to work to be the best man we can be, loving our families, striving for integrity, and wrestling with what it means to be a man. When we are tempted, tired, and torn we must turn to the One who speaks his poetry of love into our wounded hearts so that we may heal. Through Christ, we can experience joy and satisfaction in the journey, contentment and clarity in our view of the future, and determination and daring faith as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. That is the mark of a man of character, a man after Christ’s own heart.
Questions for Consideration…
How can you be a warrior poet, strong and loving, bold and kind, decisive and dependent on God?
What songs of joy has God spoken into your heart through his Word and the people in your life?
Praying with Scripture: I can do all things in him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Tuesday —Action
Losing to Gain
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:7-11

It seems like a contradiction to say that a man of action is a man who loses his life. But there is no other way for a man to carry out the will of God than to surrender his life plans and his ego to the Father’s loving care. Saint Paul was a man who had an extraordinary resume. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, a scholar in the Jewish traditions who had studied under the greatest teachers of the day. His zeal for the law was unmatched and his desire to advance the cause of his faith unwavering—that is, until he encountered the risen Christ!
When we experience the love of Christ, nothing else matters. Our plans, our position, and our possessions seem like nothing compared to the riches Jesus offers us. And once we yield to Jesus, we are equipped to carry on the fight of faith, strengthened to stay the course, and driven by a desire to become a servant who surrenders all for the cause of Christ. Our every action is determined and guided by the Spirit of Christ living within us, directing our steps and motivating our hearts as they beat with fervor until we have accomplished our goals.
Being men of action means that we must accept the sword of division that will come into our lives, separating us from the world and from those who reject Jesus and all he has to offer. We must be unwilling to settle for a mediocre existence or accept the petty trophies life hands us for simply being in the game. As we commit to running the race, to bringing in the harvest of souls, and to winning every battle for our King, we will discover a strength that goes beyond anything we could ever do on our own. All the character traits of Christ that are ours by faith empower us to become men of action who lead the way in our homes, our Church, and our world.
Questions for Consideration…
What have you been unwilling to give up in order to gain the power of Christ that will enable you to be a true man of action?
How can you take those Christ-like character traits and turn them into concrete steps of action that serve God and reach the world?
Praying with Scripture: Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18)

Wednesday —Witness
The Constancy of God’s Plan
“You, Lord, founded the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all grow old like a garment, like a cloak you will roll them up, and they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.”
Hebrews 1:10-12

To be a witness to the Gospel is to share the story of salvation with the world. God’s plan for the redemption of humanity was from eternity. It never changed. As a witness, we reveal this wonderful, constant, unchanging plan to the lost. The world as we know it is passing away. Nothing is truly certain or lasting. Friends may fail us and circumstances often turn out differently than we had thought they would. Only the Good News of Jesus Christ remains the same from the beginning of creation until our Lord comes again in glory.
To be a witness means to invest in the lives of others, to care about their place in salvation history and their future before Christ. As witnesses of the Gospel we offer the Living Water of Jesus to those who are thirsting for what will last. We are there to stand strong in the storms of life and walk with our family of faith through the trials that come. Only if we believe in the constancy of heaven’s eternal plan, the plan that was carried out by the perfect Son of God, can we find the strength and the determination to lead others to where they too can find perfect freedom in Christ.
All that God gives us will last. All those things that we fight to keep will turn to dust. This is the power and presence that we witness to others. The unchanging God of the universe has called us to reject the passing world and bear witness to his perfect plan of salvation, lived out in the life of Christ and carried out now in his people, the Church.
Questions for Consideration…
How does knowing that God’s plan is constant help to make you a better witness to those who rely on this world?
What are the most meaningful aspects of the salvation story that you can share through your life today?
Praying with Scripture: ...but you are the same, and your years have no end (Psalms 102:27).

Thursday —Legacy
Sorrow and Hope
In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me, rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me
a strong fortress to save me! Yes, you are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net which is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
Psalms 30:1-5

As Catholics we share in a legacy of hope that has come down to us from the very beginning. As men we have been given a calling to leave our own unique imprint upon the world, as we pass on the truth that turns all our sorrows into unwavering hope. That can only happen when we turn in total surrender to the One who is our solid rock of refuge, the One who delivers us from all our troubles and the snares of our enemies. God is our faithful Father, who will not abandon his children or allow them to face the future alone.
We who mourn are blessed by our Savior. We who are comforted by his love, empowered by his grace, and directed by his Holy Spirit are enabled to take the trials and tribulations of our lives and transform them through Christ into a blessed testimony that will lead others into the Kingdom of God. As we seek to live out what it means to be saved by Jesus, we join with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ and add our names and our own unique contribution to the Church, helping to shape the thing that has so wonderfully shaped us.
Catholic men are not immune from sorrow or pain; yet, we can speak to this broken world from the solid position of our salvation. As we work out what it means to believe in Jesus, walking the narrow way, fighting the good fight, staying steadfast until the end, we write ourselves into the sacred story of redemption and show those who will come after us the way to heaven’s shining shores. That is what leaving a legacy is all about. We surrender our selfish goals and our need for recognition, power, praise, and position to the God who gives us the riches of the universe. In doing so, we reflect his love to a world that is so desperately searching for rest and a future filled with hope.
Questions for Consideration…
How does your own journey from sorrow to hope help you to leave a lasting legacy on the lives of those looking for salvation?
What is the greatest example of hope that flows from your life as you follow Jesus to the finish line of this righteous race?
Praying with Scripture: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever (Psalm 23:6).

Friday—Where Do We Go from Here
To the Ends of the Earth
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samar'ia and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

To be a Catholic man is to be a man of godly character who puts his faith into action, who witnesses the truth and joy of salvation to a weary world, and who leaves his mark upon the Church. The first believers didn’t stay in Jerusalem. Nor did they keep the Good News of Jesus confined to their small circle of friends. No, they took that message of hope and shouted it out to all humanity. They faced persecution, prison, and death—willingly and joyfully—so that the Gospel could be spread to the ends of the earth. That is what being a follower of Jesus is all about. As we grow into all we are in Christ, we are compelled by love to take that great truth into the world so that others may know the One who sets them free.
Our calling as men of faith is to follow Jesus with integrity, faithfulness, zeal, and conviction. We are not merely out to save souls; we are commissioned to live obedient, grace-filled lives, building up the Body and readying the Bride of Christ for the day of her wedding, when the Bridegroom will come to take her to be with him forever. We are to live abundant, joy-filled lives, growing in the knowledge and grace that we receive through our membership in the Church, and sharing our holy words, our godly deeds, and our whole selves with a world that has lost sight of its need for a Savior.
As you have taken this brief journey with Jesus, hopefully you have meditated on what it means to belong to his Body, and what being a Catholic man is all about. Knowing who you are in Christ, where you are going in his name, and how you can get there in his Spirit, should shape all you say and do. It should lead you to live your life in such a way that you carry the Good News from the inner chamber of your heart to the very ends of the earth!
Questions for Consideration…
Where have you seen the effects of your relationship with Jesus spilling over into the world around you?
Where do you see Jesus leading you in the future as you take his message to the ends of the earth?
Praying with Scripture: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are (1 John 3:1a).

Saturday—Real Men
Spiritual Training
If you put these instructions before the brethren, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths. Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:6-8

Being a godly Catholic man is not an easy task. In fact, it is often a difficult, thankless job that brings no recognition and often leads to sorrow and pain. So why would any man want to be a part of walking with Jesus on this path to manhood? The answer is simple. Like Jesus, we can scorn the shame of the cross because of the joy that is before us. Being a man of Christ is a blessing that brings us grace, peace, and a vision of heaven that is pure and complete in its perfection. In Jesus, life makes sense. In Jesus, we have the strength to weather the storms, stay the course, and fight the good fight of faith. In Jesus, we have all we need to be real men.
It takes some serious spiritual training on our part to become the men we are called to be. We are competing in the most important competition, running the greatest race, seeking the perfect prize that awaits those who endure to the end. This is a prize that will never fade in glory and never wear out. It is the prize of truly knowing the God who has saved us and brought us to himself through Jesus Christ and the cross. Like an athlete who trains his body to win, and discovers that all the struggle to become a champion was worth the effort, we who commit to the spiritual training it takes to become godly Catholic men will one day see the eternal glories that have come through all our hard work.
And yet, we must never forget that every good gift in our lives comes only from the grace of God. This is the great mystery of Christianity: that we work as if everything depended upon us, but surrender to the truth that our salvation comes from Jesus Christ, and him alone.
Questions for Consideration…
What forms of spiritual training (Bible reading, fellowship with other men, prayer, fasting, etc.) can you commit to today?
Which men in your life stand out as godly examples of those who have trained themselves in Christ well?
Praying with Scripture: He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8)?

Closing Thoughts
I hope this week of meditations has given you a glimpse of the fullness of life that can be yours as you commit to Christ and all that he has in store for you. The Lord is calling men to stand up and accept the challenge that following him entails. Only as you develop your godly character, take decisive action to carry out the Gospel in your life, give witness to the glory of salvation by all you say and do, and shape the Church and this broken world by leaving a lasting legacy upon the earth, can you experience the joy that Jesus offers you as Catholic men.
I encourage you to continue your journey of faith by reading the entire To the Ends of the Earth series and committing to spending time in fellowship with other men, going over the studies and growing in your faith. I promise you the rewards will be great.
God bless you for your desire to be the man Christ is calling you to be.
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