Day 17
Saving Grace: (2 minutes) Saint of the Week: St. Agnes
St. Agnes lived in the 3rd century under the reign of the emperor Diocletion, who was known for brutally executing Christians. At the age of 12, she was so beautiful men were coming to ask for her hand in marriage. She declined them all saying she had consecrated herself to Jesus Christ. One of the men was so angry with her he turned her into the emperor for being Christian, which was illegal at the time. She was brought before the haughty Diocletion, who provoked the men to seduce her by proposing marriage. They offered her freedom to go off with any man she wanted if she would just renounce her Christianity and worship to their pagan gods. She looked at her executioner fearlessly and said, "My virginity belongs to Jesus Christ. You may stain your sword with my blood but you will never profane my body. So what are you waiting for?" Pretty impressive for a 12 year old little girl. St. Ambrose, the great Catholic bishop said of St. Agnes, "This is a new kind of martyr...most girls that age break down in tears over an angry glance from their mother. This young girl went to her execution with more joy than a bride goes to her wedding."
Athletics: (30 Minutes) We will use the acronym S.P.O.R.T.S to focus on 6 virtues that will keep you focused all 40 days.
Virtue of the day: Obedience....Often times coaches tell us things we don't want to hear and have us do things we don't feel like doing. A coach's job is to make you the best you can be, so you must obey. There is no better coach than Jesus Christ and his Church.
Exercise 30 minutes today. Offer it up for somebody else.
Instructor's Manual: (5 minutes) Get the memo http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/
Need to Know Him (5 Minutes) Questions of the Day
They say God plans everything for a reason, but how do you know God has your best interests at heart?/ Suffering still puzzles me why must we all suffer, even though we pray and pray?
God doesn't desire suffering, but he allows it. Suffering is part of life. You can not escape it in a fallen world. It is the result of sin, however that doesn't mean it necessarily comes from our own sin...as if the amount of suffering that comes your way is proportional to the amount of sin you've had. It doesn't work like that. Suffering can and does help us, and how we suffer matters. I think the key is to remember the goal. Our mission is to be saints in heaven. Our kingdom is not here. The French writer Leon Bloy once said, "There is only one tragedy in life, not to have been a saint." Knowing that, nothing should take away our hope and peace (except separating ourselves from God). That is why Jesus asked his disciples, "Why are you afraid?" in the middle of a storm at sea in which the boat was being tossed about and they were in peril of death. I would rather be going down in the boat with Jesus than on any sunny beach in the world without him. It is difficult for us here on earth to understand suffering, but it is so temporary and brief compared to eternity, and it is NOTHING compared to the glory of heaven. The enemy wants us to focus on ourselves and self loathe. But if we can focus on helping others, everything changes. If my baby girl needed a kidney to survive, I would gladly give her one of mine if I could. I wouldn't think twice about the pain of surgery, or recovery, or living without a kidney, I would only care about making my baby girl well and saving her body....and so would you. In the same sense, and even more, I would rather be crucified 100 times then see her damned to hell. The ultimate goal is to get her to heaven, whatever the cost. When suffering comes your way, remember it can be the price of souls, and we should want to help get souls to heaven, we should thirst for souls. When the enemy comes along and tries to convince us that suffering means God doesn't love us, or he isn't listening, or he doesn't care...all we have to do is look at a crucifix. The crucifix proves God's love, and it proves the saving power of suffering when used for good.
The following is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to my dad after learning his cancer was terminal....
I told God I was afraid, and he said, "I've been there, in the agony of the garden."
I told God the pain was more than I could bear, and he said, "I've been there. I felt the scourge of the whip and crown of thorns pierce my skull."
I told God it wasn't fair, and he said, "I've been there. I came to save the world from sin and they crucified me on a tree."
I asked God "why?", and he said, "To you who have lost the meaning of birth, life, suffering, and death, turn to the one who was born, lived, suffered, died....and rose again."
Jesus is the answer. As Fr. Michael Gaitley points out in his highly recommended book, Consoling the Heart of Jesus, the sin that hurts Jesus the most is distrust. We can console his heart by simply being with him in his suffering and trusting him no matter what. Using the analogy of a the child needing a life saving surgery (the suffering is part of our transformation necessary to save us and others), it is already difficult for him to have see us go through the suffering, but it breaks his heart when we accuse him of trying to harm us or kick and scream because he brings us to the "physician" to have the "surgery". Accept your crosses with courage and trust, and you will console his heart. Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you.
When suffering comes....use it to save souls....and console the heart of Jesus by accepting it with courage and trusting him.
(We will learn more about Redemptive suffering on Day 35 and Holy Week)
Theology of the Body: (20 seconds) In her own little way, St. Agnes echoed the words of her savior, "This is my body given up for you." The same witness every martyr has given us....a witness desperately needed in a culture where the prevailing attitude seems to be "This is my body...don't tell me what to do with my body." Remember that you were purchased for a price. Glorify God with your body in all that you do.
SACRIFICE AND SERVICE: Make a difference Monday:
"To lay your head on the pillow at night and know that somebody else breathes easier because you live today. That is where the fulfillment comes." -Matthew Kelly
You were created to serve, and you will never be happy as long as you are focused on yourself. Your potential to make a difference in another person's life is unfathomable. Today, FIND A WAY TO MAKE SOMEBODY'S DAY. The possibilities are endless, here are a few ideas...Write a short note of encouragement, send a handwritten letter, send an email to old friend, call your Mom just to check in, go to a restaurant and pay somebody's bill, google an address from anywhere and anonymously send them some money and a note of encouragement, smile at a stranger, let somebody go ahead of you in line, tell somebody you appreciate them, compliment a co-worker, encourage a child, encourage a flustered parent, spend time with a child, send flowers, visit an elderly person, open a door, do more than you are asked at work, offer a prayer....
If you want your life to flood with passion and joy. Do this challenge. It doesn't take that much.
Saving Grace: (2 minutes) Saint of the Week: St. Agnes
St. Agnes lived in the 3rd century under the reign of the emperor Diocletion, who was known for brutally executing Christians. At the age of 12, she was so beautiful men were coming to ask for her hand in marriage. She declined them all saying she had consecrated herself to Jesus Christ. One of the men was so angry with her he turned her into the emperor for being Christian, which was illegal at the time. She was brought before the haughty Diocletion, who provoked the men to seduce her by proposing marriage. They offered her freedom to go off with any man she wanted if she would just renounce her Christianity and worship to their pagan gods. She looked at her executioner fearlessly and said, "My virginity belongs to Jesus Christ. You may stain your sword with my blood but you will never profane my body. So what are you waiting for?" Pretty impressive for a 12 year old little girl. St. Ambrose, the great Catholic bishop said of St. Agnes, "This is a new kind of martyr...most girls that age break down in tears over an angry glance from their mother. This young girl went to her execution with more joy than a bride goes to her wedding."
Athletics: (30 Minutes) We will use the acronym S.P.O.R.T.S to focus on 6 virtues that will keep you focused all 40 days.
Virtue of the day: Obedience....Often times coaches tell us things we don't want to hear and have us do things we don't feel like doing. A coach's job is to make you the best you can be, so you must obey. There is no better coach than Jesus Christ and his Church.
Exercise 30 minutes today. Offer it up for somebody else.
Instructor's Manual: (5 minutes) Get the memo http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/
Need to Know Him (5 Minutes) Questions of the Day
They say God plans everything for a reason, but how do you know God has your best interests at heart?/ Suffering still puzzles me why must we all suffer, even though we pray and pray?
God doesn't desire suffering, but he allows it. Suffering is part of life. You can not escape it in a fallen world. It is the result of sin, however that doesn't mean it necessarily comes from our own sin...as if the amount of suffering that comes your way is proportional to the amount of sin you've had. It doesn't work like that. Suffering can and does help us, and how we suffer matters. I think the key is to remember the goal. Our mission is to be saints in heaven. Our kingdom is not here. The French writer Leon Bloy once said, "There is only one tragedy in life, not to have been a saint." Knowing that, nothing should take away our hope and peace (except separating ourselves from God). That is why Jesus asked his disciples, "Why are you afraid?" in the middle of a storm at sea in which the boat was being tossed about and they were in peril of death. I would rather be going down in the boat with Jesus than on any sunny beach in the world without him. It is difficult for us here on earth to understand suffering, but it is so temporary and brief compared to eternity, and it is NOTHING compared to the glory of heaven. The enemy wants us to focus on ourselves and self loathe. But if we can focus on helping others, everything changes. If my baby girl needed a kidney to survive, I would gladly give her one of mine if I could. I wouldn't think twice about the pain of surgery, or recovery, or living without a kidney, I would only care about making my baby girl well and saving her body....and so would you. In the same sense, and even more, I would rather be crucified 100 times then see her damned to hell. The ultimate goal is to get her to heaven, whatever the cost. When suffering comes your way, remember it can be the price of souls, and we should want to help get souls to heaven, we should thirst for souls. When the enemy comes along and tries to convince us that suffering means God doesn't love us, or he isn't listening, or he doesn't care...all we have to do is look at a crucifix. The crucifix proves God's love, and it proves the saving power of suffering when used for good.
The following is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to my dad after learning his cancer was terminal....
I told God I was afraid, and he said, "I've been there, in the agony of the garden."
I told God the pain was more than I could bear, and he said, "I've been there. I felt the scourge of the whip and crown of thorns pierce my skull."
I told God it wasn't fair, and he said, "I've been there. I came to save the world from sin and they crucified me on a tree."
I asked God "why?", and he said, "To you who have lost the meaning of birth, life, suffering, and death, turn to the one who was born, lived, suffered, died....and rose again."
Jesus is the answer. As Fr. Michael Gaitley points out in his highly recommended book, Consoling the Heart of Jesus, the sin that hurts Jesus the most is distrust. We can console his heart by simply being with him in his suffering and trusting him no matter what. Using the analogy of a the child needing a life saving surgery (the suffering is part of our transformation necessary to save us and others), it is already difficult for him to have see us go through the suffering, but it breaks his heart when we accuse him of trying to harm us or kick and scream because he brings us to the "physician" to have the "surgery". Accept your crosses with courage and trust, and you will console his heart. Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you.
When suffering comes....use it to save souls....and console the heart of Jesus by accepting it with courage and trusting him.
(We will learn more about Redemptive suffering on Day 35 and Holy Week)
Theology of the Body: (20 seconds) In her own little way, St. Agnes echoed the words of her savior, "This is my body given up for you." The same witness every martyr has given us....a witness desperately needed in a culture where the prevailing attitude seems to be "This is my body...don't tell me what to do with my body." Remember that you were purchased for a price. Glorify God with your body in all that you do.
SACRIFICE AND SERVICE: Make a difference Monday:
"To lay your head on the pillow at night and know that somebody else breathes easier because you live today. That is where the fulfillment comes." -Matthew Kelly
You were created to serve, and you will never be happy as long as you are focused on yourself. Your potential to make a difference in another person's life is unfathomable. Today, FIND A WAY TO MAKE SOMEBODY'S DAY. The possibilities are endless, here are a few ideas...Write a short note of encouragement, send a handwritten letter, send an email to old friend, call your Mom just to check in, go to a restaurant and pay somebody's bill, google an address from anywhere and anonymously send them some money and a note of encouragement, smile at a stranger, let somebody go ahead of you in line, tell somebody you appreciate them, compliment a co-worker, encourage a child, encourage a flustered parent, spend time with a child, send flowers, visit an elderly person, open a door, do more than you are asked at work, offer a prayer....
If you want your life to flood with passion and joy. Do this challenge. It doesn't take that much.
