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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.”

Kylie (L), Fr. Mitch (C) and the Immortal Mark Hatmaker (R)

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for Kylie Hatmaker and her husband Mark (see pic on right). The brain tumor Kylie dealt with a few years back is growing again. Kylie is Mark’s primary co-conspirator, best friend, power animal, goddess, gourmet chef, pistol-packing bodyguard, and hoochie-coochie dancer in residence. A finer lady you’ll never meet. God give her strength, we pray thee, Amen.

Mettle maker #450: Bent Arm Lock a.k.a. Master Lock

In the wrestling context, the terms hold and lock are mostly used interchangeably. I’m guilty of that transgression too. Just keep in mind that holds and locks, as a technical matter, are much different. A hold is just that. It’s a way to hold somebody (or a part of somebody) where you want it. Examples would be Collar and Elbow Tie, Overhook Clinch, Gunfighter Clinch, Bottom Scissors, etc. A lock causes pain and damage, like Top Wristlock, Double Wristlock, Short Arm Scissors, etc.

Bent Arm Lock from GET TOUGH! by W. E. Fairbairn

Last week we put up a video illustrating Bent Armlock, a.k.a. Master Lock. This move comes straight out of Fairbairn’s Get Tough! as well as Len Lanius’s American Jiu Jitsu. Our Chin Jab video got thousands of views. This one, which draws on similar source material, got a couple hundred.

This lock also popped up in a video Ivanka Trump made to promote the BJJ studio where she trains. I made a short about that too (see below). It hasn’t gotten many views either. Sigh. Who can plumb the dark depths of YouTube algorithms or comprehend the vicissitudes of viewers?

Fairbairn, interestingly, makes the mistake of interchanging hold and lock. He calls it “Bent-Arm Hold.” Why does he call it a hold and not a lock? Why are bent and arm hyphenated? Editor’s errors? Who knows.

Anyway, whatever you call it, the thing works. Just make sure you understand that it puts considerable tension on the shoulder, and to a lesser extent on the elbow. When practicing with friends, apply it with slowly-ascending pressure to allow time to tap — and the defender should not relax his shoulder muscles. Keep all of the structures engaged and tight, and tap early.

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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 Lent 3/23/25 – Father Mitch

Readings: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15, Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11., 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12, Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:1-9 World English Bible

Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

6 He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down! Why does it waste the soil?’ 8 He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’ ”

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus says that the Galileans who were slaughtered while offering sacrifices to the Lord were no greater sinners than anyone else. Nor were the people who were crushed by the tower of Siloam. Twice Jesus says that, instead of trying to figure out who is the most guilty or the most righteous, we should look to our own salvation. He says, “unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.” By this he means that all those who do not repent will all suffer the same fate – that is, utter destruction at the final judgement.

Then Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree. Assuming the role of gardener and putting God in the landowner’s place, Jesus pleads that the fig tree get one more chance to bear fruit before it is cut down. We are the tree. Jesus wants our Heavenly Father to give us a final chance to be saved before we are destroyed.

The Harrowing of Hell

Nowhere is the Lord’s desire for our salvation more evident than in the Harrowing of Hell, which is celebrated during the Easter Vigil service on the Saturday night before Easter Sunday. A harrow is a tool for breaking up soil for planting. After the plow is run through the field, the harrow (a rack of spikes, disks, or chains) is pulled or dragged over the soil to break up the clods before planting. The Harrowing of Hell is the process by which Hell is punished, dragged over, broken up, and made ready for planting.

Jesus, after his death, descends to hell, smashes the doors of hell, and ministers to all who are trapped inside. Orthodox religious icons – paintings used to illustrate and teach church doctrine – depict the doors of hell broken and Jesus dragging Adam and Eve out of Hell by their wrists. Behind them, the rest of the repentant damned clamor to escape. All of the sacramental churches – Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed, and so on – hold belief in the Harrowing of Hell to one degree or another. Thus Christians are justified in believing that before the final destruction, every soul in hell has an opportunity to meet Christ face-to-face, hear the gospel, repent, and be liberated. Believers are encouraged celebrate Christ’s total defeat of sin, evil, and death – and to pray his victory will extend into the hearts of all sinners, even to the degree that all might be saved.

The Harrowing of Hell is referenced in the Apostles' Creed phrase, "He descended into hell," and in the following Bible passages:

1 Peter 3:18–19: "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,"
1 Peter 4:6: "For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does."
Matthew 16:18 "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."

There are dozens more, but the following passages are some of the most frequently cited:

• Matthew 12:40

• Matthew 27:50–54

• Mark 3:24

• Luke 13:6-9

• Acts 2:24

• Ephesians 4:9

• Colossians 1:18

For 1,500 years, the Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom has been read aloud in the Eastern Orthodox Church during midnight services on Easter eve, the night of Holy Saturday. As the homily is read, laurel leaves are sprinkled through the church to symbolize the broken pieces of the gates of hell. As his homily makes clear in the most beautiful language, no matter how late a sinner repents, destruction may be avoided. He says,

O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is risen, and thou art cast down.

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.

Christ is risen, and life flourisheth.

Christ is risen, and there is none dead in the tombs.