Men and Faith... Do You Stand Out?

Men are not known for our willingness to stop and ask for directions when we are lost. Neither are men known for our willingness to ask for help when a task is simply to big to handle on our own. So, it is not surprising that so many of us men wander blindly along in our faith. We think we know all we need.

But how many of us can say that we are on fire for our faith? When we hear these words, images of religious extremists come quickly to mind. Yet this is not what the Lord means when he asks us to know Him in our daily lives, not just on Sundays. Remember those who came and said, “’Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But He said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’” (Matthew 25:11-12)

The question we must ask ourselves is this: Do we truly know our Lord on a first name basis, or are we just another face in the crowd?

A short prayer attributed to Thomas Aquinas goes as follows: "God, grant me to desire ardently, to investigate prudently, to recognize truly, and to fulfill perfectly what it is that pleases you." For Thomas, to fulfill this prayer is to find one's truest self, one's happiness and fulfillment. In a time and culture when so many are seeking to 'find their self," is this the message you are hearing?

Seek opportunities to explore your Catholic faith and to learn more about our Lord. Find ways to incorporate little activities into your daily routines where you can give a few minutes in prayer, thanks, or learning. Whether during commutes to and from work, in your morning preparation, or just before bed. Live your life so that our Lord will recognize you among the crowd.