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Mettle Maker #399
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.”
Heritage Self-Defense: 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: Shoulders, knees, and lower back are the three most common trouble spots for aches and pains. When injured or in pain, always seek the advice of a qualified health professional. But if you’re just starting to get a twinge, and you’d like to reign it in before it gets out of hand, check out the home remedy exercises in the the video on the left. 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: A huge part of learning outdoor skills generally — and Heritage Wildwood in particular — is developing independence and self-reliance. Last week I sent with friends to attend the 249th re-enactment of Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me Liberty, or give me Death!” speech. Talk about independence and self-reliance! Be bold. Be brave. Take control of your life and destiny, and sign up for our free adult outdoor skills program! Click here to sign up!
Holy Communion 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 communion, CLICK HERE.
Homily for Easter Sunday, 3/31/24 – Father Mitch
Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43, Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23, Col 3:1-4, Victimae paschali laudes, Jn 20:1-9
John 20:1-9 (World English Bible, Catholic Edition)
1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”
3 Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
If we sacrifice some luxuries today in order to put some money into savings, we may have enough resources to experience a rebirth in our retirement. If we put in a little extra effort at work, we could breathe new life into our careers, or perhaps save a dying business. Recognizing the power of sacrifice and rebirth can have a profound effect on the health of our economic affairs.
And what about your personal health? If you sacrifice junk food, excessive fried foods, rich sweets, and delicious treats, and you could create for yourself a whole new you, couldn’t you? Sacrificing what we want revitalizes relationships too. What if you went on a road trip with a friend or a spouse. And, instead of being in the driver’s seat, you handed her the keys. What if you only ate at the restaurants where she likes to eat and only stopped at the roadside attractions that interest him? What if you let the other person control the radio station or the music rotation? Isn’t it possible the two of you could turn a new page? Yes, seeing the power of sacrifice and rebirth can also bring dying relationships back from the dead.
Imagine, if you will, what would happen if our politicians embraced sacrifice and rebirth in how they governed. What would happen if, instead of focusing on “getting’-while-the-getting’s-good” they embraced self-sacrifice? What if we, as citizens, did the same? Might it be possible for us to save our nation from bitterness and polarization? Yes, it’s also true in the political realm: sacrifice contains within itself the power to mend and to save.
The reason why sacrifice and has such a marvelous restorative power is that it is the axis around which the universe turns. What is true economically, physically, personally, and politically, is true because beneath all of existence there is a metaphysical truth that is truer than them all. And this metaphysical truth underpins all of reality.
Just as a volcano throws up dust and fire into the stratosphere, Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection sends up great saints, martyrs, and heroes to remake the world. Just as the plates of the earth’s crust smash together across eons to create great mountain ranges and impossible peaks, Christ’s sacrifice and rebirth inspires charities, organizations, and groups that revive neighborhoods and nations.
But you must see that, although majestic and beautiful as that may be, that’s just the tip of the mountaintop peaking through the dim fog. Beneath all the truths laid out before you, there is a deeper and more foundational truth. What our glorious God planned from the foundations of the world is fulfilled in the sacrifice and resurrection of his Blessed Son. What was cast down is raised up, what had become old is made new, and all things are restored to integrity through Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.