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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 #442: The Sword
"To North, South, East and West, to our higher powers and better selves, we ask and send our blessings; that we may train with sincerity, outside the influence of evil forces, and successfully embody the Five Virtues of Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble: Wonder, Sagacity, Frugality, Indomitability and Fraternity. Ex Gladio Scientia. Ruh!"
That’s the Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble student oath that we recite at the beginning of every meeting, right after the Pledge of Allegiance. Christians will note that the names God and Jesus don’t appear anywhere in it. That’s because we are a 501c3, federally recognized, public charity, and our programs are open to all everyone, regardless of their faith or non-faith. The reference to “higher powers” allows everyone to substitute his or her God name of choice, or for atheists to envision Truth or Justice.
That said, the student oath is biblically based — click here for the full breakdown. Rough 'n' Tumble is America's martial art, and Christianity is at the heart of our nation since it’s founding. Christianity has to be in the Heritage program. But the Christianity in the program has to be unifying, not dividing. There are over 40,000 Christian denominations. Few if them agree on much. We have to be okay with differences of opinion or all we'll do is argue.
And the last bit in Latin? That’s our motto. It translates to "From the sword comes knowledge." We're not fencers, so what's this business about a sword? For us the sword is symbolic martial arts and fighting skills. When we say, “Ex Gladio Scientia!” we are expressing our desire to learn something deeper from our martial studies than just how to fight and win. And we are calling forth the Sword of Discernment given to us by Christ in Hebrews 4:12 and Matthew 10:34-36:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Heb 4:12)
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ (Matt 10:34-36) [This quote, often misinterpreted, encourages us to put aside our clannish nature and put God’s morality, truth and justice ahead of everything else, even family ties. ~Fr. Mitch]
Hey — 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 the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time 1/26/25 – Father Mitch
Readings: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 World English Bible
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15 He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,†
to proclaim release to the captives,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are crushed,
19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”*
20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Today’s gospel reading is written to you. Not for people like you, but to you. Directly to you. Directly to each of us. He starts by saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” At his baptism by John the Baptist, the Holy Ghost descended upon him like a dove and God’s voice came from a cloud and said, “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22). And at the Transfiguration, God said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” So Jesus saying to you, “Hey, I’m the Son of God and I’m talking to you, so listen up!”
Then he goes on, saying, “he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” What does that mean? You’re thinking, “How could he possibly be speaking directly to me and everybody else at the same time? I could be flat broke, or I could be wealthy. Everybody’s not poor.” But every is poor spiritually. Because whether your bank account is overdrawn or you’ve got more money that you can spend in two lifetimes, either way you’re obsessed with money. If you don’t have any, and you’re in danger of being evicted or going hungry, it’s all you can think about. If you’re a multimillionaire, you’re hyper-focused on protecting your investments. If you’re jobless, you obsess on finding work so you can get by. If you have a job, you’re worried about what your boss expects of you.
Every weekend I have chores to do. I have a utility bill to pay or a home repair to make. The grass has to be mowed or the leaves have to be raked. The cars have to be washed and vacuumed. I don’t own the house; the house owns me! I don’t own the car; the car owns me! And so Jesus is saying that there’s more to life than money and possessions. Everyone who obsesses about them is poor. He’s offering a kind of wealth that replaces that all of that. Those who obsess on loving their neighbor and living righteously are truly rich. These are the riches that moths and rust cannot consume and thieves cannot steal (Matthew 6:19-21).
And Jesus goes on. He says that God has sent him, “to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed.” We are all held captive by work problems, personal difficulties, illnesses, family issues, floundering relationships, and all the difficulties of life. To one degree or another, we are all blind to the transcendent and oppressed by the day-to-day grind. Jesus has come to restore our sight so that we can see the fundamental beauty that surrounds us. Jesus has come to liberate us from the tyranny of our private worries so that we can walk freely in the joy of having life in our lungs and the soil under our feet. Jesus calls us to prayer and worship so that we can truly appreciate the good, true, and the beautiful and be set free from the bondage of sin and death.
Yes, today’s gospel reading is especially for you. Not people like you – but you. Directly for you, as an individual person. And for me. For each and every one of us. Jesus spoke to us in the synagogue 2,000 years ago, and he’s alive even now, speaking to us at this very moment – not just through this gospel passage in on page of paper in a book, but in his real presence.
Listen to him!
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† 4:18 NU omits “to heal the broken hearted”
* 4:19 Isaiah 61:1-2