Click here to sign up for daily motivational text messages!
...
Click here to sign up for daily motivational text messages! ...
What’s the weekly mettle maker?
Training tips and educational information in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? According the American Heritage Dictionary, mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”
Announcements!
You may have noticed some name changes. First, Heritage Self-Defense is now Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble. We feel like this more accurately reflects what we do. Second, our Sunday worship Service is now called Holy Eucharist instead of Holy Communion. Why? Because back when Fr. Mitch was a deacon, he was only able to present Holy Communion of the Reserved Sacrament (using pre-consecrated hosts provided by his bishop). But now that he’s been elevated to the priesthood, Fr. Mitch is able to perform a more traditional Holy Eucharist service.
Apologies from Fr. Mitch for the livestream crash of Holy Eucharist this morning — technical difficulties — we’ll do better next Sunday.
Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble: There’s no such thing as advanced martial arts techniques. Advanced martial arts techniques are basic martial arts techniques done flawlessly. And that takes practice. See the video on the left for a constitutional that will build and preserve foundational skills — video premieres tomorrow at 4:45 PM. Looking for a 100% free mind-body-spirit martial arts program? Join the martial arts club in Richmond, VA or click here to sign up for the Heritage self-defense distance learning program!
Heritage Fitness: Light dumbbells for shoulder health. When injured or in pain, always seek the advice of a qualified health professional. But if you’re just starting to get a twinge in your shoulders, and you’d like to reign it in before it gets out of hand, check out the dumbbell exercises in the video on the right. Want more old-school training tips, or a free fitness coach to help develop an old-school fitness program that suits your specific needs and goals? Click here to sign up for one of our free programs!
Heritage Wildwood Outdoor Skills: You don’t have to aspire to being the next Les Stroud, Creek Stewart, or Tim MacWelch. I mean, you can if you want to, of course. But the goal of Heritage Wildwood is to get you comfortable outdoors in any weather, to help you develop a deep appreciation for outdoor life, and instill in your good basic survival skills. One way to do that is to go camping — lots. Not every trip needs to be a Bear Grylls drama-palooza. This past weekend I camped at Occoneechee State Park (see video above). No, I didn’t go primitive camping in some backwoods location. But I still learned a lot about fishing and tides from my camping buddy. Every minute outdoors with your eyes and ears open is a learning opportunity. Go out there and , have a good time, and never miss an opportunity to learn. Interested in a free outdoor skill training program? Click here to sign up!
Holy Eucharist is LIVE on YouTube every Sunday at 10 am EASTERn. Click HERE to watch live. To view and print a copy of the program for holy Eucharist, CLICK HERE.
Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday, 4/7/24 – Father Mitch
Readings: Acts 4:32-35, Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24, 1 Jn 5:1-6, Jn 20:19-31
John 20: 19-31 World English Bible Catholic Edition
When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus,§ wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 After eight days, again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,† you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
30 Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Today's gospel reading it's often referred to as the basis of the sacrament of confession. The church has long believed that confession and forgiveness are central to the faith. As we see in the interlude concerning the doubts of Thomas, confession seems to be somehow related to belief. But how?
Perhaps the continuity would be more clear if we looked at it this way: if you are Thomas and you don't believe, then you're not bound by Christ's commandments. That is to say, if you have not accepted the yoke of Christ, which is to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself, then no matter how much you sin, in your mind at least, you have no sin. If you don’t believe Jesus has risen, he just another teacher, no better and no worse than any other. You cannot be faulted by anyone, and certainly not by yourself, for straying from his path.
But as soon you accept the reality of the risen Christ, your sin emerges. Because although his joke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30), that is to say, his yoke is simple and uncomplicated, it is extremely difficult to put God and our neighbor's needs before our own. We are going to fail often, and the weight of failure and transgression can be unbearably heavy.
As someone who has spent long hours and sleepless nights replaying again and again many decades of mistakes, errors, sins, and transgressions, I can testify that it can be very hard to discern when and if it's okay to lay down one’s guilt and move on. We may know that Jesus Christ loves us so much that he suffered for us death on a cross. We may know that he is just and forgiving beyond measure. But have we been truly contrite? Have we made adequate restitution? If someone we have wronged doesn't accept our apology, what does that mean? You may be left saying to yourself, “Have I been forgiven or not?”
Jesus is presenting to us a way to be freed from the crushing debt of sin. He is telling us that we can trust our priests and bishops to hear our confessions and give rest to our souls.
As C. S. Lewis said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." At Easter he conquered death and showed us the way toward eternal life. Today, on the Sunday of Divine Mercy, he shows us his heart and delivers us from the bondage of sin.
† 20:29 TR adds “Thomas,”