To the Ends of the Earth. Mark C. McCann

when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prv 22:6).

      Monday

       As Fathers Our Foundation Is God Alone

      “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

      Matthew 7:24–27

      Family tension is an ever-present reality in this fallen world. The only real solution to the conflicts that arise between parents and children is Jesus Christ. Without Jesus as the foundation of our lives, our faith, and our families, we will ultimately fail in our task as parents.

      As the gospel reminds us, it is the foundation of the house that will determine whether it will last. Building materials, architectural styles, and everything else are secondary to that key component. In the same way modern psychology, spiritual enlightenment, and manly principles cannot hold the structure of a family together if the base of the house has been set on shaky ground. As men, if we fail to provide that sturdy gospel foundation through the witness of our lives, our families will suffer and our children may not be able to withstand the storms of life. Only as our lives are grounded in Christ can we build our families and our Church on a rock-solid faith that will endure into eternity.

      Questions for reflection

      How have modern, man-made parenting tools let you down and proved to be a poor witness of gospel values to your children?

      What does building on the foundation of Christ look like for a modern Catholic father? How are you following Christ’s call to share his message of hope with future generations?

      Are there specific things you need to change in order to build your home on the rock of Christ?

      Praying with Scripture

      “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps 127:1).

      Tuesday

       We Must Be Solid Witnesses of the Faith for Our Children

       “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;

       incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

       I will open my mouth in a parable;

      I will utter dark sayings from of old,

      things that we have heard and known,

      that our fathers have told us.

      We will not hide them from their children,

       but tell to the coming generation

      the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,

       and the wonders which he has wrought.”

      Psalm 78:1–4

      As fathers, we hope our values will be passed on to our children. The good news is that they will. The bad news is that we often pass on the wrong values to our children. Are we workaholic fathers who never have time for our families? Are we addicted to drinking or drugs, our possessions or our fantasies? Do we care more about our unmet dreams than the future of our children? What holds first place in our lives?