The Everyman

unbelieved

despite witness's testimony

everyman needed evidence

even as a Savior's Desire beckoned

seeing is believing his birthright

eyes must see

hands must touch

for death’s conquest

and faith’s fulfillment

tender Mercy responded when

weakness cried out 

eternal wounds bearing testimony

of the Anointed One’s Gift

so faith was born by senses filled

everyman seeks inspection still

when the invitation is given

seeing and touching the need

and as always Mercy responds

overcoming by Revelation in 

mind and heart touched by

a Presence making everything New

yet when the dark valley’s mist

veils the traveler’s vision

opportunities arise for Love’s 

testing everyman in everyway

devoted Trust

when feelings flee Grace abounds

held fast by Hands

scared by Love's Donation

a Sacrifice for everyman

in Faith’s Decision secured by

his Abiding Presence even

though Veiled in Mystery

Reflection / Discussion:

-How is Faith a Decision?

-What Evidence is there to Believe?

-What is your 'story' of Faith in Jesus?

-How is Faith tested in 'the dark valley'?

-What does it mean for Jesus to be your 

 Personal Lord and Savior?

-What would it take to 'Accept Jesus into your life'?

                                               

The Virtue of Chastity

in a hook-up culture-

Satan's favorite playground- 

moral relativism reigns where
right and wrong is
based on one's
subjective viewpoint and is
of course always correct-
feelings are enthroned
pleasure is worshiped
narcissism enshrined
desires deified and
freedom is transformed into
slavery as our whims
thrust sex into degradation-
used merely as a
recreational activity by

one's self-inflictions or
with willing actors
outdoing one another to
win the Oscar for
Best Performance in an
Erotic Fantasy...
bodies...even our own...
are there to be "used" to
satiate our
infinite cravings which are
viewed as "natural"...
"God-given" and "normal"
to be obsessed as objects
for our compulsions-
no longer as subjects
with inherent Dignity as a
Person created to
share in Divine Life and
treated with
Deference and Respect
so therefore instead of
being our servant-
ruled by our
intellect and will-
sex becomes our
overbearing taskmaster
an OCD-like tyrant who
commands compliance
even morphing into
our primary Identity and
purpose in life
which reaps what it sows
with STD's abounding and
HIV/AIDS destroying
even the innocent...yet
its gravest penalty is the
death of the soul
placing our own desires
above God's Word only to be
drowned in the self-centered mire of sin...
but as powerful a drive as sex is
Grace is more potent to
live a life of Chastity-
the freedom to live God's plan
for human sexuality-
an expression of the
gift of self to our spouse-
the embodied donation of
1 man and 1 woman in marriage-
nature's obvious fit-
which is ordered to the
fruit of children where
each is committed to
the good of the other-
not just an opinion but
an Objective Truth
not hateful and repressive
but loving and liberating-
a symbol of and participation in
Christ's Selfless Gift to His Bride-
the Church- as well as the
Mystical Union of the Trinity-
whether married or single
we are all called to be chaste-
to daily live out God's plan for
sexual love according to our
state-in-life
a fruitful sacrifice of Love to be
lived out day by day...
easy? no....
possible?...only by Grace
yet the power of sex drives
lustful temptation toward
its misuse seemingly
everywhere we turn
and though we may
struggle to be faithful
freedom begins in humility
repentance
surrendering our desires...
minds...hearts and wills to
our Savior and Lord
admitting our need for
His Power in daily prayer
living in the light by
seeking the support of our
brothers and sisters
in the Lord
virtue is gained through
prudent self-discipline
turning our attention
away from temptation's lure

as an Offering of our desire to
love the Lord above all and
whose Intimate Spirit is
within the Temple of our bodies
Chastity is a jewel in the
Crown of Glory
not resulting in a life
unfulfilled
unhappy and
frustrated
but of
Joy in the Beloved-
the Fulfillment of
All Desires

Reflection/Discussion:
-Is Chastity a valued virtue in your life? How?
-What is moral relativism?
-How does a "hook-up culture" degrade people?

-How is self-inflicted sex harmful?
-How do you guard your relationship with the Lord regarding Chastity?
-What does "prudent self-discipline" mean in this context?
-What are the "near occasions of sin" in your life?
-What support do you have for a chaste life?
-What is the "natural law" argument for one man, one woman marriage?