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What’s the weekly mettle maker?
Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”
Mettle maker #438: Improvised Weapons
Keep the training as close to the real thing as you can. This is a fundamental rule of martial arts. So, with that in mind, do you practice using weapons from the environment? Or do you just assume that you’ll be good at grabbing something to defend yourself with when the need arises?
The reality is, if you’re attacked by an armed person, you need to arm yourself. Unarmed vs. weapon? Sure, if you have to. But the odds favor weapon vs. weapon. Watch the video above for ideas, and make an effort to train this way at least twice a month.
And if you haven’t done so already, consider signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development — sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!
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 Feast of the Holy Family 12/29/24 – Father Mitch
Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14, Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17, Lk 2:41-52
Luke 2:41-52 World English Bible
Jesus’ parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”
49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Losing a child is a parent's greatest fear – either losing them physically, to abduction, accident or violence, or losing them in spirit, to crime, addiction, ideological or spiritual possession, or some other horror. Mary and Joseph's loss of young Jesus in today's gospel reading turns those fears inside out. Although Jesus is lost to them for three days, he isn't lost due to kidnapping, murder, drugs, a cult, or anything like that. They lost him to God's work in the temple, and their loss was transformed into what must've been a mix of joy and frustration, pride and relief.
What Jesus’ family did not know at the time was that their earthly, parental relief was destined to be elevated to the level of Salvation by a second, and even more terrifying disappearance: Jesus' crucifixion and death on a cross. As a youth, Jesus is lost for three days, busy discussing Torah with the scribes and Pharisees. As a man, Jesus is lost to the pit of death for three days, busy ministering to those bound up in hell. In the former, he is found by his immediate family; in the latter he is found by the family of all humanity to be the Savior. Jesus said in John 2:19 “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” So now we see that, as a child, after three days Jesus is found alive in a temple; but in the Resurrection, he his found after three days to be the temple.
Before Jesus, the bonds of family were solely genealogical. Now, in Christ, all men and women are brothers and sisters, and the blessings of family extend to all believers. As St. Paul said in Galatians 3:26-28, “You are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Through his Life and Word, Jesus takes the natural truths of nature and society and elevates them to a higher dimension. By the power of Christ, a cleansing bath which washes away dirt and cleanses the body is transformed into the sacrament of Baptism, the bath of regeneration which washes away sin and cleanses mind, body, and spirit. In Christ, the simple pleasure of sharing bread and wine with friends becomes the lifesaving sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. And the blessings of family, through Christ’s saving grace, extended to the blessed company of all faithful people.