East vs. West? Mettle Maker #301

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

East vs. West?: Mettle Maker #301

Self-defense: Work on your breakfalls. Don’t ask me why, but breakfalls seem to figure much more prominently in Eastern martial arts than in Western. But it doesn’t matter whether you live in Katmandu or Kansas, you gotta be able to fall down without getting hurt. Watch the video on the left and then put in a few rounds of practice, and make sure you practice falling regularly. Beginners, start on thick mats or on soft outdoor surfaces like mulch. Intermediates, graduate to grass. Advanced players, start gently experimenting on harder surfaces like wood floors and concrete. And if you need some basic instruction on how to fall properly, consider training with us either in person here in Richmond, VA or via our free distance learning program.

Fitness : Try “Very Bad Karma” from my bestselling ebook The Calisthenics Codex. Select three or four exercises (in the video I picked Squats, Knuckle Push-ups, Lunges, and Crunches). Decide on your rep count of each exercise by dividing your single set max by 4. Complete as many sets as you can in 15 minutes. Interested in a fitness program? Check out our completely free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?

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Wildwood: Learn to tell direction by the stars. Sit down and marking a star against a distant landmark. If it moves up, as it does in the picture on the left, you're facing east. If it moves down, you're facing west. Interested in a free earn at home program that will encourage you to practice, keep you on track, and reward you with rank bandanas? Click here to sign up for the totally-free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: East or West, wisdom is wisdom. Consider the two quotes below, one by the Buddhist teacher Dogen, the other by Jesus. We must always remember, however, that Jesus is not just a great teacher among many. He is the Son of God, the Logos, the creator of the spiritual path who makes the discovery of wisdom possible. All who speak wisdom are standing on the divine ground of the true master, Jesus Christ, whether they realize it or not. For true wisdom that delivers from the death that lasts forever, follow him.

“Just practice good, do good for others, without thinking of making yourself known so that you may gain reward. Really bring benefit to others, gaining nothing for yourself. This is the primary requisite for breaking free of attachments to the Self.” Dogen, Zen Master (Shobogenzo Zuimonki, III, 3)

2 “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Jesus Christ (Matthew 6 2-4)

CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.

Holy Communion 3/27/22: We Are All Born Blind

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the fourth Sunday of Lent, 3/27/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent -- Sunday 3/27/22

Readings: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a, Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, Eph 5:8-14, Jn 9:1-41

John 9 : 1-41 American Standard Version

9 And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 When I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, [a]and anointed his eyes with the clay, 7 and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went away therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 8 The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9 Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am he. 10 They said therefore unto him, How then were thine eyes opened? 11 He answered, The man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to Siloam, and wash: so I went away and washed, and I received sight. 12 And they said unto him, Where is he? He saith, I know not.

13 They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 14 Now it was the sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see. 16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them. 17 They say therefore unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet. 18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, 19 and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself. 22 These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24 So they called a second time the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give glory to God: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He therefore answered, Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26 They said therefore unto him, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I told you even now, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? would ye also become his disciples? 28 And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God hath spoken unto Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why, herein is the marvel, that ye know not whence he is, and yet he opened mine eyes. 31 We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on [b]the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he [c]worshipped him. 39 And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind. 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth.

Friends, we are all born blind.  As babies the world is a riddle.  We don’t what things are, so we stick them in our mouths.  We can’t feed ourselves, sleep the whole night through, or control our bodily functions.  Our parents and educators teach us.  At work we learn from bosses and mentors.  We learn how to pay bills, follow laws, protect ourselves from bullies, thieves, and con artists.  We graduate from the school of hard knocks.  We thicken our skins.  We become blind to the innocent love and wonder of childhood.

Humanity itself was born blind.  We had to learn how to make fire, how to make clothes and shelter, how to grow crops, how to form social groups and governments.  Eventually we learned how to see microscopic bacteria and into the heart of the atom.  But every riddle we unlock reveals another.  In many ways we are still as blind as we ever were.

The blind man in today’s Gospel is nameless because he is all of us.  He is a stand-in for each of us and for humanity itself.  Like us, he isn’t blind by any fault of his own, or even because of his parent’s faults.  Like us, he takes his blindness for granted.  It’s part of life.  He doesn’t even ask to be healed.  Often, we don’t either.

But God pursues us.  That’s the story of the Bible, isn’t it?  God breaking into the human narrative trying to get us to open our eyes and see?  And so, Jesus spat on the ground and made clay, which he put on the blind man’s eyes.  This is the story in Genesis 2.  It says, “no plant of the field was yet on the earth” for “God had not caused it to rain” because “there was no a man to till the ground.”  God sends rain upon the earth at the same time he makes man in his own image.  And what are we, brothers and sisters, but a mix of dirt and water?

By spitting on the earth to make a bit of healing clay, Jesus offers us a perfect symbol.  He is remaking man and remaking the world!  God, who sent his rains on the earth when he made it, and when he washed it clean in the time of Noah, has now sent his Son who is the living water.  The flood waters which receded in the time of Noah have returned as the healing waters of baptism. This is why, after placing clay on the blind man’s eyes, Jesus sends him to bathe in the pool of Siloam, which means “sent.”  If the blind man is going to remake himself, he must baptize himself in the waters of the Son sent by God.

Jesus says, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”  What a strange, peculiar riddle this is!  The answer is that Jesus came into the world to teach us to use a new form of judgement – a new way of seeing!  We, as individuals and as a species, think we can see.  Like the Pharisees, we think we have all the answers.  Jesus wants us to remake ourselves in his image and see the world in a new way.  He wants us to become blind to the ways of the world – to the allure of power, pride, money, consumerism, lust, intoxication, gluttony, and all of that.  He wants you to see with eyes of empathy, humility, patience, self-restraint – and most importantly – with the eyes of love.

Baptize yourselves in the living water of the one God sent to you.  Become blind to the ways of the world, step into the light, and see!

Steps and Stairs: Mettle Maker #300

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

Steps and Stairs: Mettle Maker #300

Self-defense: Work on your footwork. Watch the video on the left and then put in a few rounds practicing the maneuvers with which you are least familiar, experimenting with them to discover which are best under which circumstances, armed or unarmed, etc. Try them out while hitting your heavy bag empty-handed and with your mock weapons and see what works. I could tell you, but self-discovery is the best way to learn.

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Click here to view the original article courtesy of Hathi Trust (digitized by Google)

Fitness : Are you as fit as a 13-year-old boy in 1945? Today we’re calling back mettle maker #146. It’s an adorable little fitness drill called the “Army’s Daily Dozen” from the Boy’s Fun Book of Things to Make an Do (Grosset & Dunlap, New York 1945) pages 142-143. Beginners, do perhaps 10 of each. Intermediate, do half. Advanced players, try ripping out the whole enchilada. If you get it all in under 25:56 you got me beat.

• 40 Burpees (no hop, no Push-up)

• 25 High Jumpers (a.k.a Standing Broad Jump)

• 25 Squat Benders (Squat, then touch toes)

• 25 Rowing Exercise (a.k.a. Jackknifes)

• 25 Sit-ups with Plough (dead stop after each Plough)

• 25 Push-ups (narrow)

• 30 Banks Twists (a.k.a. Windshield Wipers, over-back = 1)

• 25 Side Benders (look at the drawing and good luck!)

• 25 8-Count Push-ups (Burpee with 2 Push-ups and no hop)

• 25 Squat Jumps (Split Jump Squats w/ hands on head)

• Stationary Run (100 taps of each foot)

• 25 Trunk Twisters (Windmills, elbow to knee, 25/side)Regardless of which program you’re in, be it Heritage Self-Defense or Heritage Fitness, watch the video on the right and get ‘er done. If you’re new around here, we call these things constitutionals. Interested in one of our free programs? Click here to sign up for Heritage Self-defense, or check out the also-free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention they’re free?

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The creaky stairs leading to and from my office. I love trying to go up and down them silently.

Wildwood: Practice your skulking. Maybe you don’t go hunting every day (or at all!). Maybe when you do hunt, you do so from a blind or from a tree stand. Whatever your reasons for lack of regular skulking practice, don’t take your skills for granted. Moving as slowly and as silently as possible for 100 yards is, in it’s own unique way, every bit as strenuous as running a mile. Practice makes perfect. Build practice into everyday life so that you practice daily. Make it a habit to move as slowly and as quietly as possible whenever you go the kitchen for a snack, every time you go upstairs in your home, every time you take out the trash, etc. That way you’ll have be prepared to execute the skill when needed. Interested in a free earn at home program that will encourage you to practice, keep you on track, and reward you with rank bandanas? Click here to sign up for the totally-free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: What does this mean? In the the Gospel of John 9:39 we read, “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’” Sit with these words for 10 minutes. Breathe deeply as you repeat them over and over. See if you can get to the bottom of what they are saying. If you get stuck, look to the bottom of this post for a hint † — but don’t cheat unless you really must.

You don’t need to go on a pilgrimage to India to sit with gurus, to go on a Zen retreat, to trek the snows of Tibet, or take ayahuasca. The Master’s words hold the deepest and most penetrating philosophical insights humanity has discovered, and they are within arm’s reach — they are in the top drawer of every nightstand in every hotel room in America, on your bookshelf, at the thrift store, and online — in the Holy Bible.

All you have to do is take the first step, and a new way of seeing will begin becoming available to you.

CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.

† Hint: How do determine what’s important in our lives and what’s not? If that’s not enough of a hint for you, read the entire discourse here.

Holy Communion 3/20/22: Time is Short

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the third Sunday of Lent, 3/20/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent -- Sunday 3/20/22

Readings: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15, Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11, 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12, Lk 13:1-9

Luke 13:1-9  American Standard Version

13 Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were [a]offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

6 And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. 7 And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground? 8 And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.

Friends, my great-grandmother Evelyn Koch was a very Christian woman who read her Bible daily, lived each day as it came, and never lost her childlike faith or sense of wonder.  But she wasn’t very educated.  She was prone to misspelling and mispronouncing words.  And so, when she wanted to convey the idea that someone was stuck on a small detail but missing the larger issue, she would say they were “heaving at gnats and swallowing camels.”  She had misread the word strain in Matthew 23:24 as meaning choke or heave instead of as sift or sieve.  But her homespun phrase still makes sense, and I use it myself to this day, warts and all. Thanks Nanny!

“Heaving at gnats and swallowing camels” sums up exactly what’s going on in and around today’s Gospel reading.  The people of Jesus’ time asked him to comment on the Galilean people Pilate executed while performing sacrifices and the eighteen people who were killed when the Tower of Siloam fell upon them.  Their presumption was that these victims of tragedy must have been very sinful indeed to have been struck down during sacred rites or killed in the Holy City.

But Jesus says no, bad things happen to good people.  These victims are no more or less sinful than anyone else.  He tells them to take instead another lesson from these events, which is that time is short – repent and start bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit now, before it’s too late, lest they perish in the final judgement.

The people standing before Jesus, you see, are choking on the gnat of random misfortune – the things they can’t control – and swallowing the camels of their own sins which are completely within their power to change.  And too often, despite being separated from those folks by two thousand years of history, people of today focus on the repentance and the judgement part and walk right by the larger lesson.

That larger lesson is the so-called “problem of evil.” You hear it expressed many ways, but usually it goes something like, “In a universe created by a good God, why is there evil?” or, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Entire books have been written on this topic, such as Alvin Plantinga’s God, Freedom and Evil and Jung’s Answer to Job.  Many people get stuck on this problem and lose their faith, or can’t come to faith because of it.  I know because I assisted a young man named Brandon in his return to faith in part by helping answer this question. 

Brothers and sisters, God wants us to love, trust and obey him voluntarily, therefore he gave us free will.  Wicked and misguided people, the Pontius Pilates of the world, have the freedom to commit acts of evil on both the evil and the good.  Wind, rain, deterioration and decay affect all material things, animate and inanimate, the evil and the good.  Storms, fires, earthquakes, and building collapses like the falling Tower of Siloam, can claim the lives of anyone at any time. 

What philosophers have taken books to debate, Jesus has fully answered in a paragraph.  Don’t blame God for human frailty or the physical realities of meteorology and physics.  Folly and superstition of this kind could cost you your faith. 

Focus instead on what you can control – cultivating the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  In Galatians 5, St. Paul lists those fruits as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – but rest assured that those are the tip of iceberg.  Time is short.  Repent and believe in the Gospel!

Autodidactic: Mettle Maker #299

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

Autodidactic: Mettle Maker #299

Self-defense and Fitness combo: Do some calisthenics. Regardless of which program you’re in, be it Heritage Self-Defense or Heritage Fitness, watch the video on the right and get ‘er done. If you’re new around here, we call these things constitutionals. Interested in one of our free programs? Click here to sign up for Heritage Self-defense, or check out the also-free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention they’re free?

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Some of my favorite outdoor skills resources.

Wildwood: Read a good book and then go practice what you learned. I am, for the most part, a self-taught outdoorsman. I’ve only taken a handful of classes, mostly through my membership in MAPS Group (Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills Group). The best ones were taught by the very powerful Tim MacWelch. Mostly what I’ve done is read books and then I’ve gone out, gotten dirty, and tried out the stuff in the books. Why don’t you give that a try? On the left is a photo of some of my favorite outdoor skills resources. All of them are books except for the DVD on the very top of the pile. That’s Wild Edibles and Medicinals of Appalachia by the incredible Ila Hatter, a renowned naturalist and descendant of Pocahontas. The one on the left is The Wildwood Workbook by yours truly. Interested in a free earn at home program that will encourage you to practice, keep you on track, and reward you with rank bandanas? Click here to sign up for the totally-free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: Why do bad things happen to good people? This is called the problem of evil. If you don’t have an answer to this question, it will likely prove fatal to your happiness, your health, and your spirit. I suggest getting started today. Blaming God for tragedy and evil causes loss of faith, emptiness, hopelessness, and nihilism. In times past, folks would’ve arrived at a satisfactory position on the problem of evil during grade school, and would’ve made it more robust into adulthood. Nowadays, the state of philosophical and theological teaching is so poor, that the average adult — Christian or otherwise — is unlikely to have adequately contended with it. Have you? I prefer the free will defense, which I think Jesus makes in Luke 13:1-9. which is the gospel reading for tomorrow, and on which I will be homilizing. Stay tuned! CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with archdeacon Mitch.

Luke 13:1-9 New International Version

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Screens (a short film)

Holy Communion 3/13/22: The Perfect Teacher

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the second Sunday of Lent, 3/13/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. Please click here to schedule a chat with archdeacon Mitch if you are in need of pastoral counseling. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent -- Sunday 3/13/22

Readings: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18, Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14, Phil 3:17—4:1, Lk 9:28b-36

Luke 9:28-36  American Standard Version

28 And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and dazzling. 30 And behold, there talked with him two men, who were Moses and Elijah; 31 who appeared in glory, and spake of his [a]decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: but [b]when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they were parting from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three [c]tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said. 34 And while he said these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is [d]my Son, my chosen: hear ye him. 36 And when the voice [e]came, Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no man in those days any of the things which they had seen.

Brothers and sisters, it’s important for us to realize that the episode we read about in the Gospel of Luke today, which we call the Transfiguration, is a miracle, sign and wonder unlike anything else we see in the Bible.  It is completely unique in its content and character.

What sets it apart is that it is not a performance or a demonstration that was orchestrated solely for the benefit of the apostles or for us.  The apostles present were sleeping.  They awoke to find the event already in progress.  They, and by extension we, are only intended to see the end of the interaction between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  The question is, “What did they miss? What did we miss?”

We are told that Jesus has been praying.  To pray is to ask, and it appears that the answer to Jesus’ prayers was the appearance of Moses and Elijah, and that the three of them were discussing Jesus’ coming exodus.  We can only assume that Jesus, who was preparing himself to make his miraculous exodus out of death into life through the Resurrection, is drawing on the knowledge and experience of his predecessors.  If you want to know how to lead foolish and ignorant people through a desert into a land of promise, who better to ask than Moses?  If you want to know how to turn the hearts and minds of sinful idolators back toward God, who better to ask then Elijah?  If you want to know how performing signs and wonders will affect you personally as well as those who witness them, who’s better to ask than Moses and Elijah?

In the Transfiguration we see our great teacher being taught by the greatest teachers and prophets of the Old Testament. We see him reconciling, elevating, and indeed perfecting all that came before.  All great teachers stand on the shoulders of the great teachers from whom they learned.  What we see in the Transfiguration is not a self-contained incident but the culmination of the life’s work of the world’s greatest teacher.

Jesus has achieved his perfection as a teacher, leader, and prophet.  This intellectual accomplishment is so incredible, so earth-shattering, and so profound that it brings with it a transfiguration of his countenance.  The light of Glory is made to pervade and surround him.  God himself appears and from a cloud proclaims the identity of his son. 

But even this miracle pales in comparison to the Easter miracle.  For then, through the power of the Resurrection, Jesus becomes wholly perfect – not just perfect in his teaching and intellect, but in his physical body as well – and becomes the risen Christ.

Step Up: Mettle Maker #298

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

Step Up: Mettle Maker #298

Self-defense: Footwork drills. On paper this is as easy as puddin’ ‘n’ pie — but in real life it’s a whole other matter. Assume your dominant fighting stance. Complete 6 reps of each of the 8 essential foot maneuvers of Western martial arts: Front Lunge, Back Lunge, Rear Lunge, Surge (forward, then off-angle backward), Skip Step (forward then off-angle backward), Split Step, Switch Step, and Décollage. Switch to non-dominant fighting stance and repeat. If you don’t know what these foot maneuvers are, perhaps you’d benefit from the Heritage Self-Defense program. Click here to sign up — it’s free.

Fitness: A go-to fitness routine. When I’m asked to recommend a simple fitness routine, or I’m stuck in a hotel with no gym, or I need a training idea with zero prep time, this is my go-to. It even has a built-in warm-up and cool-down. Complete a pyramid of Push-ups, Jackknifes, and Squats. Do 1 of each, 2 of each, 3, 4, 5, etc. Beginners climb to 5, intermediate to 7, advanced to 10. Then go back down he pyramid to 1. A full pyramid to 5 = 25 reps of each, 7 = 49, and 10 = 100. Need help designing a fitness program that suits your specific needs? Enroll in the free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?

Wildwood: When was the last time you went for a hike? Stop fantasizing about it. Step up. Pick a route, set a date, text your friends, send out an evite or whatever, and go. If nobody shows up, go by yourself. Life’s too short to sit around waiting for things to happen! Actually go do the things you want to do. Maybe you always wanted to hike in the Swiss Alps, but you’re broke. Well, I bet there are some mountains within driving distance that you could go hike instead! If you want daily inspiration sent straight to your cell phone, and you want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival, click here to sign up for the 100% free Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: Where do you find God? At the end of your rope. In tomorrow’s readings we’re going to have to contend with a dark and frightening tale from Genesis 15 that ends in an important promise. See below for a sneak peak. There are a ton of adorable, witty, memorable quotes and aphorisms to remind us of how to deal with situations like this: it’s always darkest before dawn, things have to get worse before they get better, you have to make a mess before you clean one up, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, etc. But in real life, getting through a dark patch isn’t something you can navigate that easily. You need the support of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the company of brothers and sisters in Christ. CLICK HERE to join our email list and to begin participating in church activities. And if you need someone to talk to, CLICK HERE to set up a phone call with Archdeacon Mitch.

Genesis 15: 10-12, 17-18 American Standard Version

And God said unto Abram,

“Take me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other: but the birds divided he not. 11 And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.

17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces. 18 In that day Jehovah made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”

Holy Communion 3/6/22: Standing on Faith

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the first Sunday of Lent, 3/06/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent -- Sunday 3/6/22

Readings: Dt 26:4-10, Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, Rom 10:8-13, Lk 4:1-13

 Luke 4:1-13  American Standard Version

 4 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness 2 during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread. 4 And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone. 5 And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9 And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 for it is written,

 He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee: 11 and,  

On their hands they shall bear thee up,

Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

 12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, [g]Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. 13 And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a season.

 We, as baptized Christians, sometimes experience manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the form of apprehensions of the truth. We see the world in a new way.  Our vision clears and we start to see the lies, corruption and evil both large and small that permeate human kingdoms; and, like Jesus, we begin to turn our backs on the ways of the world.  That can feel like going into a desolate, lonely place.

When our friends are all out drinking, carousing, and partying, getting drunk and having a great time, we feel left out. When family members put rich foods and decadent treats on the table, we are invited to overindulge.  When our neighbors are driving fancy cars and wearing fine clothes, we’re enticed to do the same.  The devil makes us feel out of place, uncomfortable, like outcasts for being different. 

But Jesus has a message for us.  The less value we place on the needs of the body, the more we are able to happily do without during difficult times, and the more willingly and joyfully we can share with those less fortunate.  He tells us that one does not live by bread alone.  Food, wholesome entertainment, clean clothes, a safe bed – the simple pleasures of life – provide for the health and nourishment and of the body.  Denying the temptation toward excess provides nourishment of the spirit.

The temptations of the mind are every bit as potent as the temptations of the flesh.  We are surrounded by the petty kingdoms of humanity.  Every workplace has its little princes and every social group its princesses, the kings and queens of the TV shows and movies strut back and forth, emperors and empresses that rule the nations of the world are flex their muscles and flash their smiles.  And guess what?  We too can have a piece of the pie that is power.  All we have to do is suck up to our bosses, behave like our pop icons, or march in lock step with politicians and pundits, and compromise a little morality for expediency.  The devil says, “If you’re going to make an omelet you have to break a few eggs, am I right?”  Jesus says no, plain and simple. “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”

Denying the temptations of the flesh and of the mind are high aspirations and lofty goals.  As Christians we know that our God is merciful.  Jesus tells us, in Matt. 5:45, that our Heavenly Father “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  If we make a mistake or two, and we honestly repent, we can reasonably hope that we’ll be forgiven.  But what happens if we begin to think that resistance of these temptations is impossible?  What if we think ourselves around to the position that God’s expectations of us are exaggerated?

In today’s Gospel reading we get an answer.  Standing on faith alone and throwing ourselves off expecting God to catch us would be like doing what the devil tempted Jesus to do in our Gospel reading for today.   Jesus says to us, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”  Resisting the temptations of the world is almost impossible, but we have to fight the good fight!

Quickening Cut: Mettle Maker #297

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

Quickening Cut: Mettle Maker #297

Self-defense: Knife constitutional. Wrap up weapon week with a knife constitutional. Complete as many as you can in 2 minutes of each: Get-ups, Push-ups, Pikes, Shrimps, Prisoner Get-ups, Sprints, and Jackknifes (14 mins total). Complete a slash/hack/stab combo between each rep, and change hands and grips often. Weapons of opportunity have to be wielded however your hand falls on them. See video on the right for more info. If this material seems foreign, perhaps you’d benefit from the Heritage Self-Defense program. Click here to sign up — it’s free.

Each of these has 140 calories: 2 slices of whole wheat bread, 2 eggs, 3 oz of lean roast beef, 2 mandarin oranges, and .68 ounces of butter (just shy of 1 1/2 tbsp).

Fitness: Too many calories from fat? My definition of fitness is being fit to fight, but then, I’m a self-defense instructor. For lots people though, fitness means looking good with your shirt off. If that’s your definition, and your concern is that you’re overweight, the way forward is dietary. Eat less calories. And since fat has almost twice as many calories as protein and carbohydrates do by weight, being careful about fat intake is a great way to start. If you’re a Luddite like me, put a pad and pen in your purse or pocket, otherwise download an app on your phone to keep track of what you eat for a week. 9 out of 10 people who do this find that they eat too little protein and twice as much fat as they thought they ate. Need help designing a fitness program that suits your needs? Enroll in the free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?

Wildwood: Cut the crap, and take a stab at friction fire. “I could figure it out if I had to,” you say to yourself, or “I did that in the scouts when I was a kid. It’s like riding a bike.” Well, if you mean because it’s so easy to crash, you’re right. Actually go do it. And if you get stuck, or you want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival, click here to sign up for the 100% free Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: Put a knife to your own throat? In Proverbs 23 we read the passage below. The metaphor here is a powerful one. To “put a knife to someone’s throat” is to threaten death to get compliance. So, to put a knife to your own throat is to force yourself to act as though your life depends on your actions. In this case, the action in question is to quell your appetite for money and power in the presence of a powerful person. Why do you think the ancient Hebrews thought this was of life or death importance? Read the passage below and contemplate what this means to you in your life. When you sit down with your supervisor or boss, do you check your appetites, or do you bow, scrape, and fawn to get into his good graces? When you have a meeting with a powerful customer or client, are you honest and forthright, or do you like and schmooze to get a slice of his pie? Dig deep, self-analyze, and write a few words in your journal. And if you don’t journal, you should start today. If this sort of thing is appealing to you, CLICK HERE to join our email list and participate in church activities.

Proverbs 23:1-5 (Revised Standard Version)

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,

observe carefully what[a] is before you;

2 and put a knife to your throat

if you are a man given to appetite.

3 Do not desire his delicacies,

for they are deceptive food.

4 Do not toil to acquire wealth;

be wise enough to desist.

5 When your eyes light upon it, it is gone;

for suddenly it takes to itself wings,

flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Holy Communion 2/27/22: Speaking from the Heart

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time, 2/27/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time -- Sunday 2/27/22

Readings: Sir 27:4-7, Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16, 1 Cor 15:54-58, Lk 6:39-45

Luke 6:39-45  American Standard Version

39 And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit? 40 The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. 43 For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

 Actor and race car driver Steve McQueen, the so-called “King of Cool” who was the peak of his popularity during the ’60s and ‘70s, was famous for choosing the movie scripts with the least dialogue.  The iconic actor, known for popular movies like The Sand Pebbles, The Magnificent Seven, Papillon, and The Great Escape, understood that the less he said, the more his words would be heard.  Steve McQueen was right.  Many of you may have noticed that I limit my homilies to 500 words.  An unceasing drone, like the whirring of a fan, fades into the background.  But a single word uttered in silent theater echoes like a peal of thunder.

That’s how it is for a mortal actor. But God’s Word explodes into the darkness of non-existence in the book of Genesis.  When God speaks time, space, and all of reality into being, do we imagine he spoke literal words from material lips?  No.  Rather, we understand that his Word was so perfect, so pure and so simple – so singular! – that it contained no literal words at all.  A speech of infinite words has no meaning; a speech of infinite meaning has no words. 

This is why those who talk the most – politicians, pundits, publicists, and pitchmen – are often the ones we perceive as the least truthful.  The more someone talks, the more contradictions and lies appear, both intentional and unintentional.  And we hear this echoed in Sirach 27:4, “When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear.”  When nuts, seeds, and grain are crushed and placed in a sieve, the small, delicious kernels fall through out of sight, and the worthless outer covering remains caught in the screen for all to see.  The idea is that the most perfect speech is the most simple, pure and truthful – this is the origin of the phrase, “a kernel of truth.” 

 From this we take the lesson that, as evangelists of the Word, we should emulate God and be very precise and careful in our speech.  The more perfect, pure and truthful we are when we open our mouths, the more wonderful things we can speak into being – the more positive inspiration, the more motivation toward charity, the more beautiful ideas, the more words of love and encouragement toward goodness.

Now, returning to our Gospel reading for today, it should be obvious why Jesus brings together several seemingly dissimilar metaphors into a single parable.  If we all take the logs out of our own eyes before trying to help remove splinters from the eyes of others – that is, if we focus our attention first on perfecting our own thoughts, desires, actions, and beliefs – we are making ourselves into trees that can’t help but bear good fruit.  We’ll be people whose actions speak louder than words, and speakers of the Word whose words ring true.  We will cease to be the blind leading the blind, and all become teachers in the image of our teacher Jesus Christ. 

Reflections in Sweat and Dewdrops: Mettle Maker #296

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

Reflections in Sweat and Dewdrops: Mettle Maker #296

Self-defense: Wrestling Half-Pyramid. Wrap up wrestling week with a half-pyramid of Shrimp, Buck, Reverse, Circle and Shin Ride. A half-pyramid is 1 of each, 2 of each, 3, 4, 5, etc.. Beginners climb to 6 (21 reps of each), intermediate climb to 8 (36 reps of each) and advanced to 10 (55 reps of each). Take as few 12-count breaks as you must in order to finish. If this material seems foreign, perhaps you’d benefit from the Heritage Self-Defense program. Click here to sign up — it’s free.

Fitness: 4-minute Thruster Challenge. This one comes from the mind of the amazing Dan John. Set a Tabata timer — repeating rounds of :20/:10. Pick up either dumbbells or a barbell. Start the timer and complete 8 rounds of as many Thrusters as you can for 20 seconds and 10 seconds of rest. Beginners use total weight equal to about 20% of bodyweight (if you’re 150, use #15 dumbbells or a #30 barbell). Sound easy? It ain’t. Need help designing a fitness program that suits your needs? Enroll in the free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?

Wildwood: Are you making assumptions? Do you say things to yourself like, “Oh, that’s easy. If I didn’t have any water, I’d just…”? Maybe your mouth is writing a check that your stressed-out, stranded, less-than-ideal self can’t cash. Maybe your imaginary self is a lot more skilled than your for-real self. No excuses. You need to go to the back side of yonder to practice your survival skills. Go out your back door and train. The wide world is waiting. Go say “hi.” See the video on the left. Want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival? Click here to sign up for the 100% free Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: Are you trying to “win” at Christianity? As a person who’s always trying to promote, succeed and produce, I know how hard it is to get wrapped up on achievements and forget that being in Christ is the goal. Watch the video below, and join with me brothers and sisters in the is important reflection. If this sort of thing is appealing to you, CLICK HERE to join our email list and participate in church activities.

Holy Communion 2/20/22: Losing Gracefully

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, 2/20/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time -- Sunday 2/20/22

Readings: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23, Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13, 1 Cor 15:45-49, Lk 6:27-38

 Luke 6:27-38  American Standard Version

27 But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, 28 bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. 29 To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also. 30 Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

 32 And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. 35 But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, [h]never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36 Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

37 And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released: 38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

Brothers and sisters, the other day I went to my twelve-year-old nephew’s basketball game with family and friends.  It was at a Catholic school attached to Mary Mother of the Church Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Goochland, Virginia.  And on the wall of the gymnasium at the highest point, on the most prominent wall, there was a huge crucifix.  As we waited for the game to begin, a friend and a student of mine at the Heritage Self-Defense class that I teach, a young man in his twenties named Jack, wisecracked, “What’s with the giant Jesus on the wall?  Is that like ‘Jesus bless this game’ or something?”  And there were a few chuckles in the group.

And I didn’t say anything.  Because nobody likes a pompous windbag who can’t take a joke, timing is everything, and I knew that in the right circumstances, Jack would be open to a lesson on this. 

So I waited.  And the following week, after I wrapped up the spiritual training portion of the class, at the very end of the session, I sensed Jack was receptive.  I said, “Hey Jack, you made a joke about Jesus blessing the basketball game the other day, and I’ve been meaning to speak to that. 

“Your joke got a few laughs and that’s because, well, it was kind of funny.  Humor almost always diffuses tension.  The joke sets up a strange or awkward situation, like ‘A horse walks into a bar...’ and the punchline resolves it.  ‘…and the bartender says, “So, why the long face?”’ You perceived the tension – this happy game and above it all an image of torture and suffering – and you resolved it.

“But I just want to make sure you know that Jesus isn’t blessing the basketball game, and that’s not why an image of him was placed on the wall.  Jesus blesses the poor and hungry and leads them into triumph over the tyranny of earthly desires.  Jesus blesses those who weep in empathy and are despised by their fellow man for telling the truth.  He does this by leading them toward the joy and love that come from doing what’s right even when it it’s unpopular and by calling them to relieve the suffering of others.

“Jesus is on the wall of the gym to remind us to see through his eyes, not through ours.  He’s there to remind us that “in Christ we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).”  We should look at that crucifix and see the basketball game as an opportunity to be in Christ.  This is our chance to be patient and understanding with the referee, even if when his bad calls are stealing the game from our side.  It’s our chance to be noble and generous whether we win or lose, and even if the other team cheats.  It’s our opportunity to be at peace despite taunts and heckling.  If we can’t be Christlike for an hour in the gym, how are we going to be Christlike in the wider world?

“Jesus is on the wall of the gym to remind us that the greatest man who ever lived was betrayed, falsely convicted, slandered by lies, and executed.  He was perfect and look what he got.  So what can we, who are far, far from perfect, expect?  Even if we do our absolute best to be as Christlike as possible, there’s a good chance our reward is going to be pain, rejection, hatred and suffering.”

Brothers and sisters, our assignment isn’t to win.  It’s to lose with grace.   

Possibilities: Mettle Maker #295

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

Possibilities: METTLE MAKER #295

Self-defense: Wrap up grappling week by doing 50 Hip Throws — either with a partner (25 each person), or against a heavy bag or grappling dummy. The better your form, the less strength this takes. Watch the video on the right. If this material seems foreign, perhaps you’d benefit from the Heritage Self-Defense program. Click here to sign up — it’s free.

Fitness & Spirit Combo: Watch the documentary Challenging Impossibly (also embedded below) about the incredible Sri Chinmoy. Just make sure you have your gym bag and a box of tissues handy, because you’re going to cry and then go train. Need help designing a fitness program that suits your needs? Enroll in the free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?

Wildwood: Spring is right around the corner — in fact, some spring plants are already breaking ground and shooting green. Get out your wild plant books go scout for spring edibles! See the video on the left. Want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival? Click here to sign up for the 100% free Wildwood distance learning program.

Holy Communion 2/13/22: Heavenly vs. Material Goods

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, 2/13/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time -- Sunday 2/13/22

Readings: Jer 17:5-8, Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6, 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20, Lk 6:17, 20-26

Luke 6:17, 20-26   American Standard Version

And he [Jesus] came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judaea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets.

Brothers and sisters, if we’re to understand today’s Gospel reading, we need to first get clear on the definitions of some key words and phrases that can be very confusing to people like us who are immersed in a materialist culture. Quite literally, what “matters” in this culture are the things made of “matter” while the immaterial is of no worth at all.  To paraphrase the words of theologian David Bentley Hart in his book The Experience of God, our scripture is advertising, our piety is shopping, our highest devotion is choice, the only value at the center of this social universe is the price tag.

This materialist view can rub off on us.  And when we hear the word heaven we can conceive of it as a physical place, like Tahiti or the South of France, and dismiss it as a childish fiction, which it is.  Or, educated by comic books and sci-fi movies, it’s easy to conceptualize heaven as an alternate dimension where, if we only had the proper machine or the right magic spell, we could pop over and have an adventure.  But there is no evidence whatsoever for the existence of alternate universes and we have no need for childish fantasies.  Heaven is real, and for evidence we can rely solely on personal observation. 

What can be more real than love, truth, charity, peace, sacrifice?  These are the most profound realities in our lives!  And, like all things that are real, these “goods” must rest somewhere, in the same way that a cup rests on a table or a pan rests on a stove.  Heaven is then, quite simply, the location of goodness.  When we are in need of help, and help comes to us in the form of a helpful idea or a realization, a word of advice, a kind deed, or what-have-you, the goodness we receive is at once invisible, immaterial, inexplicable, and very, very real.  We can say that the goodness we received “came down to us from heaven.” Heaven is a great word, because it describes reality exactly as we experience it, despite the fact that we don’t understand how it works.    

Now, if heaven is the place of invisible goodness, then the kingdom of God is the invisible state – not a physical state like Florda or Kansas – but a state of being in which we are thinking, desiring, acting and believing in a way that is pleasing to God, our heavenly King.  Remember Luke 17:21 – “The kingdom of God is within you.”  Conversely, when you are behaving in a manner that’s in keeping with the wills and desires of the Satan, you are in a state of damnation.  Each of us moves into and out of these states quite readily – without the aid of U-Haul. So with these understandings, let us turn to today to the words of Jesus. 

Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God.  In the words of evangelist A. W. Tozer, “the blessed poor are no longer slaves to the tyranny of things” and are able to serve God as loyal subjects.  Fancy homes, finicky sports cars, and fancy stock portfolios demand constant maintenance and attention.  They own us as much as we own them.  And the hamster wheel of consumerism only distracts us from heavenly things.

Blessed are those who are now hungry, for they shall be satisfied.  Freed from the quest for ever more delicious food and pleasurable sensations, we can be ever more devoted to seeking spiritual sustenance.  Thirsting for righteousness and hungry for justice, we will find our satisfaction in the ways of God.

Blessed those who now weep, for they will laugh.  Weeping over the sadness of family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors, we will do the things that relieve their suffering and bring us together in celebration when difficulties have been overcome.  Liberated from the constant quest for fun and entertainment, flitting from one party to the next, from theme park to festival to concert, we are free to laugh and smile at genuine moments of connection.

Blessed are you when people hate, revile, and curse you for believing in Jesus.  What could be a greater compliment than to be at odds with this upside-down-materialist world?  When we cease our addiction to the drug of approval – the most powerful drug of all, delivered every day by means of likes and shares and friend requests via social media – we will receive heavenly rewards instead.  When we do good, not to receive awards and kudos, we gain entrance to the state of being in which God is truly our king.

Woe be unto us if we cling to the ways of this world, brothers and sisters – if we ignore the evidence of the heart, avoid sincere experiences within reach, deny belief in heaven, and rebel against the kingdom of God. For we will get everything we want, but none of what we need in the world to come.

ADVERSITY: METTLE MAKER #294

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

ADVERSITY: METTLE MAKER #294

The word adversity comes from the Latin adversitas which means “turned towards.” Adversity is the headwind at comes when you head in the right direction.

Self-defense: Oblique or Diagonal Kick is one of the most versatile kicks around. Watch the video on the right. Then put in a full round of pushing Oblique Kicks vs. your heavy bag. Then put in a round of striking Oblique Kicks vs. the heavy bag making contact using the heel. Then put in a third round of Oblique kicks vs. either the air or a soft target such as a double-end ball, driving your toes into the target. Note: In Savate Defense they call this by various names such as chassé frontal or chassé Italien.

If this material seems foreign, perhaps you’d benefit from the Heritage Self-Defense program. Click here to sign up — it’s free.

Zercher Squats — courtesy of Wikimedia

Fitness: What’s the safest kind of squat you can do without a spotter? Hip Belt Squats and Yoke Squats, but specialized equipment are required. All things considered, Zercher Squats are probably the way to go if you want to Squat lonesome. Put the bar on a couple of plyo-boxes or other sturdy props, get under it, and go. If the bar hurts your forearms, cut two 8” slices of a 99-cent pool noodle, slit them down the side, and pop them onto your barbell for padding. All gain, no pain! Need help designing a fitness program that suits your needs? Enroll in the free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?

Wildwood: Track yourself. So that you don’t get lost doing this exercise, pick a small, tame area that you can extricate yourself from with eases even if you get a little bewildered. Aimlessly meander your way through your selected piece of ground or patch of woods without any regard for where you’re going or where you’ve been. Beginning trackers should deliberately tromp about a bit. Advanced folks should skulk the whole way. Then turn around and track yourself back. Want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival? Click here to sign up for the 100% free Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: Those who are truly attempting to walk the path of righteousness should always expect difficult times and malicious enemies. To be clear, we are not talking about performative righteousness: trying to look good while being self-serving in one’s heart, deliberately courting controversy, starting fights and arguments to prove points, or any of that. Even if you are being completely meek — keeping your head down, staying in your lane, and humbly working at living your life in imitation of Christ — you can expect difficulties. The people of the world and its systems are very often possessed by greed, selfishness, materialism, depravity, corruption, malice, and so on. The actions of a righteous man, even if his mouth is completely silent, will make him a target. Expect adversity. Being righteous gives you a strong back with which to carry your personal cross. For more on this topic, come back to this blog tomorrow and listen to the homily in tomorrow’s Holy Communion.

Holy Communion 2/06/22: We Too Are Fishers of Men

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, 2/6/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time -- Sunday 2/6/22

Readings: Is 6:1-2a, 3-8, Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8, 1 Cor 15:1-11, Lk 5:1-11

 Luke 5:1-11   American Standard Version

 Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat. And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets. And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking; and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken; and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.

Nowadays we’re so removed from the cattlemen, farmers and fishermen who produce and gather our food supply that we don’t think about them at all, much less consider the importance of the people who make our food available to us.  My family and friends tease me about making acquaintance with the cashiers, baggers, and stockers at the local chain grocery store.  To my way of thinking though, if I had lived in the time of Christ, I would’ve known well the men and women who fed my village.  These days we just complain about the high price of groceries.  But back then, if Peter got no catch, he and the entire village went hungry.  And when his nets were filled, all rejoiced and happily paid a fair price for his haul.  So the least I can do is remember the names of the nice folks who work at my grocery store, ask how their families are doing, and take a genuine interest in them.

So, in this context, we enter into this Gospel reading and see that after a failed night of fishing, Peter has stepped out of his boat and is cleaning his nets.  He is not working or toiling. He is taking a moment to re-evaluate how he has been approaching his life.  Isn’t that what a smart person does after a bad day at work?  Don’t you take some time to think about what went wrong and how to do better tomorrow?  Peter is washing his nets.  He’s washing away his preconceived notions, opening himself to a new way of seeing and being in the world to the benefit of himself and his village, and he’s ready to receive a new method of gathering physical and spiritual sustenance into the community.

And so, with crowds hungry for teaching pressing in, Jesus takes over Peter’s boat.  That boat is Peter’s life and livelihood, it’s the way Peter feeds himself, his family, and his neighborhood.  He allows Jesus to step into it that boat and take it over completely.  His boat is now Christ’s boat.  Despite having caught nothing all night, Peter has faith.  He goes out into deeper water, casts his net, and lands a net-breaking catch – a foreshadowing of his evangelization’s future success.

Friends, our boats can be dangerous and scary places, tossed by waves, raised and lowered by tides, blown off course by winds, capsized by storms, and attacked by pirates.  Our nets can become dirty.  They can be ripped by sharp-toothed fish, shredded on the rocks, and stolen by thieves.  But if in good faith we cleanse, mend, and protect our nets and if we let Christ take command of our boats, it is possible for us to sail through this life in a new way.  That doesn’t mean it will be smooth sailing.  It just means that we’ll be able to go out into deep water, reach down into the darkened depths, and bring up the good, the true, and the beautiful.  We can gather up the Holy Spirit and share it with those in want. 

We too can be fishers of men.

DANCE AND BREATHE: METTLE MAKER #293

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

DANCE AND BREATHE: METTLE MAKER #293

Self-defense: First, watch the video on the right. Then, for extra credit, conduct a footwork self-review. Although it comes to the fore of the tongue when fighting unarmed, footwork techniques are central to the conversation of fighting in general. All footwork techniques should be on display all the time when fighting. Set a timer to beep on 1 minute intervals and get this done, shadowboxing as you do:

• Lunge (assorted front, side, and rear) - 1 min.

• Surge (forward, side, back) - 1 min.

• Skip (forward and back) - 1 min.

• Cross (front and rear) - 1 min.

• Décollage - 1 min.

• All mixed - 3 min..

• Extra time on maneuvers requiring greater fluency - 2 mins.

  ——————————————

  Total: 10 minutes

  Is this material seems foreign, perhaps you’d benefit from the Heritage Self-Defense program. Click here to sign up — it’s free. And then watch the video on the right.

Fitness: Knock out the following constitutional, 25 of each: MCL, PUP, SQT, NCR (25 @ way), GUP, SPR, PKS. If these abbreviations don’t make sense, consider that you should be familiar enough with calisthenics in general that the abbreviations are obvious. Want to learn more? Enroll in the free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?

Wildwood: If your vehicle broke down in the middle of nowhere, could you hike yourself to safety? Cell phones are not magic wands — they get out of range, they break, and they lose charge. Remember, you might not have a proper backpack, which means you might have to walk a considerable distance while carrying your essentials in a shopping bag. Test out your survival mettle by picking up an awkward object and carrying a considerable distance. Adjust the weight of the object and distance of the walk such that the exercise is difficult but within safe limits based on your personal capabilities. Want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival? Click here to sign up for the 100% free Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: Watch the 3-minute video below. Then actually sit down on your back porch or on a bench at the park and meditate on this topic.

Holy Communion 1/30/22: Elijah, Elisha and the Serpent

Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, 1/30/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.

CLICK HERE TO GET AN EMAIL OF EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE IN YOUR EMAIL BOX and to receive email updates about the mission of St. Barachiel Chapel.

If you would like to have prayers offered for you, a loved one, a friend, for someone who is suffering, ill or who has departed, please email Archdeacon Mitch at mitch@heritageartsinc.com and we will pray for you. And if you’d like to assist in the beautification, improvement and maintenance of St. Barachiel Chapel, or support our educational mission, please click here to make a donation.

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time -- Sunday 1/23/22

Readings: Jer 1:4-5, 17-19, Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17, 1 Cor 12:31—13:13, Lk 4:21-30

Luke 4:21-30 American Standard Version

And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph’s son? And he said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country. But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; and unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things; and they rose up, and cast him forth out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.  But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

 Brothers and sisters, God doesn’t give us what we want – he gives us what we need.  Perhaps I mention this too often, but it’s so very, very important that I’m willing to risk harping on it.  Look here – many people lose their faith when things go wrong in their lives because they think that if they follow the commandments and worship God, that they should get some kind of magical protection.  That’s not Christianity.  That’s paganism, that’s magic, that’s idolatry.  And so you have to understand this so that your faith will be strong.

During the Exodus, after the people had been freed from their slavery in Egypt, the people did nothing but gripe and moan and complain about how much harder freedom was than slavery.  So God put snakes into their path to make their journey even worse.  The people repented and begged Moses to speak with God so that they could get relief from the snakes.  Moses did.  But did God do away with the snakes?  No.  He didn’t even make the snakes stop biting!  God told Moses to make a brass snake and put it on a pole, and he said that if those who were bitten looked at the brass snake, the poison would not kill them.  They were still going to get bitten, the poison was still going to hurt, they were still going to be sick, and still suffer.  They just wouldn’t die. (Numbers 21:4-9)

And then, to really drive this point home, God sends his only begotten son Jesus who says in John 3:14, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.”  Jesus is saying, just like the people in the wilderness all those years ago, you’re still going to suffer, and get sick, and be beset by all kinds of problems.  In fact, you’re still going to die an earthly death.  But those who follow Christ may have hope for a hereafter.

 Okay.  So now to today’s reading.  Jesus is in the temple, and he’s just finished reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 61. 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”

 And Jesus tells them that this scripture is fulfilled in their hearing.  And they say, “Wow, isn’t that great!  God’s chosen one is from right here in our hometown!  Boy oh boy is this is going to be great for us!  We’re going to be liberated from the oppression of the Romans!  Let’s party, let’s celebrate!”  They had heard about Jesus’ miracles in Capernaum, they figured, “If that’s what he did over there, imagine what he’s going to do here!”

But then Jesus shocks them.  He says, like Elijah – who didn’t help the widows here but this one widow way over in Zarephath – his job is to heal others, not himself; to heal foreigners, not his own family.  He mentions Elisha – who doesn’t heal Israel’s lepers, but this one leper who is the general of the opposing army!  Jesus basically tells them in no uncertain terms that they are not going to be getting any special treatment.  In fact, they might not get anything at all!

And do they get the message?  No.  Of course they don’t.  Just like many of us today, they think that if they follow the rules they should get rewarded.  Just like us, when they find out they aren’t going to get what they want, they get frustrated, disappointed, angry and resentful.  So they take Jesus to a cliff to throw him off but, miraculously, he escapes. 

Friends, struggle against the temptation to think the way those people thought.  We are not going to get what we want.  We are going to get what we need.  And what we need is the blessed hope of a share in the Paschal Mystery – in the passion, death, resurrection, and glory of Jesus Christ – so that we may give up our pettiness and selfishness and live our lives in imitation of Christ, as healers and preachers to all the nations, loving our neighbors as ourselves. 

VALLEY FORGE: METTLE MAKER #292

What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!

VALLEY FORGE: METTLE MAKER #292

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Knife and Pistol Command, Mastery, and Fitness

Self-defense: The fourth week of the month is always weapon week. Hopefully you did some command, mastery, and fitness work with a weapon in your hand this week. No problem — next week is a split-week so it’s dedicated to General Self-defense. Couldn’t hurt to do some more. Get your mock weapon of choice and complete 25 each of Bottom Scissors, Crunch ‘n’ Punch, Shrimps, Prisoner Get-ups, Get-ups, Shin Rides, and Side Deadfalls. See video at right for more details (includes a little tidbit about Valley Forge as well). Is this stuff new and different for you? You should evaluate your current program and maybe think about switching to ours. Click here to sign up — it’s free.

Fitness: Go back in time and ask the folks at Valley Forge what “fitness” is and see what they say. Ask a hunter what “fitness” is, and he or she might suggest that fitness is being able to stand stock still for three hours in sub-freezing temperatures, or being able to silently skulk for 100 yards in a crouch (see the Heritage Wildwood drill below). Fitness depends. Need help tweaking your fitness program, or want help designing one from scratch? Enroll in the free Heritage Self-Defense Distance Learning Program or maybe click here to sign up for the free Heritage Fitness Program. Did I mention they’re both free?

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Valley Forge by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. Excellent book

Wildwood: Could you have survived the hell that was Valley Forge? Could you have lived on boiled leather scraps, slept on frozen mud in cramped, hastily-built log cabins, and gone to war with no shoes? Within a couple of months there wasn’t so much as a rustling rat or a scraggly plantain within 10 miles of Valley Forge because they stalked and ate every critter and harvested every edible plant. Can you slowly skulk for at least 100 yards? See video below and work the drill. Want to learn more about nature appreciation and survival? Click here to sign up for the 100% free Wildwood distance learning program.

Spirit: The men who survived Valley Forge had been hit by just about every suffering, indignity and malady that a human can endure short of being crushed by his own tombstone. Facing and surviving a brush with death, whether it is short or prolonged, provides a certain clarity that’s hard to define. The only way to get close without going through it is to meditate on death. Here is an other excerpt from Jeremy Taylor’s Holy Dying (1651). If this sort of thing interests you, come to this blog every Sunday for Holy Communion and worship with us, and click the button on the right to subscribe to the church newsletter.

“He that would die well must always look for death, every day knocking at the gates of the grave; and then the gates of the grave shall never prevail upon him to do him mischief. This was the advice of all the wise and good men of the world, who, especially in the days and periods of their joy and festival egressions, chose to throw some ashes into their chalices, some sober remembrances of their fatal period. Such was the black shirt of Saladine; the tombstone presented to the Emperor of Constantinople on his coronation-day; the Bishop of Rome's two reeds with flax and a fax-taper; the Egyptian skeleton served up at feasts; and Trimalcion's banquet in Petronius, in which was brought in the image of a dead man's bones of silver, with spondyles exactly returning to every of the guests, and saying to every one, that you and you must die, and look not one upon another, for every one is equally concerned in this sad representment.” ~Jeremy Taylor, Holy Dying (Chapter 2, Section 1)