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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 #425: Humility Sandwich
This week’s theme is humility, which is baked into both the mettle maker and the homily.
The mettle maker is Escape Plan Drill, which has been around since way back in 2016, making its original appearance in Mettle Maker #25. In the video I misspoke and said #145, but that’s just first appearance of the “humility sandwich” variant. Hey, nobody’s perfect.
Anyway, the drill is still as good now as it was then. What makes it good is that it shrinks to fit. You can use whatever calisthenics you like based on your needs and/or fitness level. And, since it’s an “as-many-as-you-can” type of drill, its difficulty increases with the fitness of the user.
Why do we call it “Humility Sandwich?” Because folks who think they’re super fit to fight are humbled by this seemingly innocent little drill.
Here’s how it works: Set timer for 1:00 intervals. Sprint for 1:00, Shadowbox or hit Heavy Bag for 1:00 then complete as many calisthenics reps as you can for 1:00. Repeat 4 more times for a total of 15 mins, taking as few 12-count breaks as you must in order to finish. Your 5 calisthenics are: Push-ups, Sprawls, Back Bridges, Get-ups, and Bear Walks. Try a bite and tell me if I’m wrong about the recipe. See the video above if you need clarification.
Does a totally free program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development sound like your cup of tea? 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 Twenty-sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, 9/29/24 – Father Mitch
Readings: Nm 11:25-29, Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14, Jas 5:1-6, Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 World English Bible
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
42 “Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, † into the unquenchable fire. 45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, § into the fire that will never be quenched. 47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna‡ of fire, 48 ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ *
How often have you heard someone say something like, "Real Christians don't believe in that" or "No Christian should vote for so-and-so"? Just yesterday online, someone said to me, "Who are you to speak for God and all believers?" I patiently explained, of course, that I am just a believer attempting to be a lantern for God's Pentecostal fire. I don't speak for God or all believers. In fact, even when I read the Gospel aloud, I first beg for strength and purity of heart so that I can do so properly.
But for some people, unfortunately, Christianity is a team sport. This, I think, is what our reading from Numbers, and the beginning of our Gospel reading, are trying to denounce. Who are we to criticize a believer who is doing his best to chase evil out the door and is bearing fruit? And this leads right into the second part of Jesus' message in today's reading.
In everyday life, competition is the norm. In fact we often refer to our workaday existence as a "rat race." The race to win is everywhere. We are always trying to get the best job, the best pay, the best prices on food, necessities, and luxury goods. Our recreation is about winning -- cheering on our favorite team -- and so is our politics -- cheering our favorite parties.
But James' epistle preaches stridently against this, telling us that these competitions are all a waste of time. He says, "Your gold and your silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be for a testimony against you and will eat your flesh like fire." (Jas 5:2) Certainly there's nothing wrong with trying to provide for our families or enjoying a sporting event. But we must guard against letting these things take over our lives. We must not let them consume us, as James says, "eating our flesh like fire."
Jesus uses the analogy of the hand, the foot, and the eye. If the things we are chasing, and the races we are running with our feet, are consuming us, we should give them up. If the things we are attempting to do with our hands, and the brass rings we are reaching for with our hands, are taking over our existence, we should cut them out of our lives. If the things we are following with our eyes -- that is, the things we are giving our attention -- are leading us astray, we should blind ourselves to them.
This can feel like being maimed. I sometimes miss the video games I haven't played in about ten years, but I know my spiritual life is better for having sworn them off. My wife and I sometimes reminisce about the days when we used to go to the movie theater every week, but we know we're better off inside and out for having given them up. And I have to continually remind myself that my contact with social media, television, and news outlets must be limited in order to keep myself sane and focused on doing God’s work to the best of my ability. It's hard, but it must be attempted.
Because I think what Jesus is saying here, by putting these two ideas back-to-back, is that we shouldn't focus on cutting off everyone who doesn't completely agree with us. We should instead be looking to sever our relationship with the pointless races we are running. We should be cutting ties with vain activities and disassociating with selfish pursuits.
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†9:43 or, Hell
§9:45 or, Hell
Note on verses 44 & 46: These are omitted because they do not appear in the most reliable version of the Greek New Testament, the Nestle-Aland/UBS critical text, which is used as a basis for many Bible translations.