“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 ESV
The discipline of one’s body is a biblical concept; One that Paul ties to salvation itself. As Christians, we are called into a life characterized by discipline and self control. These two things, which play an essential role in the Christian life are the two things that our world lacks most.
Look around at western culture and you will find people with no self control and no discipline. This is especially apparent to me in the men of western culture. These men are characterized by porn addiction; video game addiction; and of course, an attitude that seeks the easy way out of all difficult things.
Call it extreme, but I believe that if we are to be saved as a society—heck, if we are to be saved at all—we need to grow specifically in the area of discipline. We need to get comfortable doing those things many would deem “difficult” for the sake of “disciplining our bodies” as St. Paul would call us to.
Do no disqualify yourself from the faith through lack of discipline. Today, and all days, work unto the Lord from a sense of duty, integrity, and self control. Wake up early; work hard and eliminate distractions; devote yourself to prayer in the morning, mid-day, and evenings; spend your leisure productively and don’t simply live to be entertained.
I truly believe that discipline is a primary mark of a Godly man and woman. Where one is lacking, the other will follow. I am praying for each one of you today, that in Christ, you would live a disciplined and Godly life.
Blessings!
This is the first video reflection for the Great Fast.
Welcome to the Mere Catholicity Locals Community! Here, you will find like-minded Christians with a desire to live ecumenically and pursue Christ in all things.
The Mere Catholicity movement runs only through listener support. The work that I (Jonah) do requires time and money. Without the financial support of my Locals community, I would not be able to continue making content. Simple as that. It is only thanks to this group that I can continue providing you with content that (hopefully) both edifies and challenges!
The good news for you is that joining the community itself is completely FREE! Once you sign up, you will be able to see most posts, live streams, and even content posted by other users. However, you will only be able to observe. You will not be able to comment, post, or see any exclusive content. This might be a good way to see if you want to support later down the line. So please join! Even if you cannot afford to give at this time!
Now, for those who do wish to give ...
Friends - as I consider the various platforms that I operate, I find Substack to the most conducive to the model of online ministry that I am aiming for. Though I still plan to post here, as many of you still support me through this platform, Substack is where I will be focusing the majority of my time. If some of you wish to move your subscription from here to Substack, you are welcome to do that. Those who continue to support here, I will continue to post here — mostly the stuff that is behind the paywall on Substack so that you are getting the exclusive content regardless of where you are subscribed.
Hope you all are doing well. Lord bless you.
- Rev. Jonah
I've been gone again for a time preparing for my ordination. I was ordained a Deacon in the Holy Catholic Church on March 8th, 2025.
It was a joy beyond words. I am now back in full swing with ministry, media, and work.
I hope you all have been doing well. More to come soon.
Good morning everyone. I wanted to quickly update you on the Mere Catholicity Podcast. I’ve been posting videos on my channel, but it has been quite sometime since my channel has had a podcast episode release.
With my new job as a classical teacher, scheduling interviews has been a challenge. However, my plan is to use my summer breaks as time to double down on planning and recording new podcasts. The idea will be to record a ton of interviews that will then slowly release throughout the school year, expiring around the time the following summer arrives. This will ultimately result in a consistent once a month interview.
All that to say, the podcast will resume here in May or June of 2025 with some excellent interviews lined up!
Blessings on your Sunday!
