Sacramental Life
Understanding the Breach
In the “Sacramental Life” episode, Jared Zimmerer reminds us that the grace we receive from the sacraments strengthens us to fight our spiritual battles.
He compares the sacramental life to strength training or bodybuilding.
In what ways is undertaking an exercise or strength training program similar to preparing for spiritual battle? What is required of a man to succeed at each?
What are some of the vices that can become obstacles to maintaining these types of programs—whether for strength training or the sacramental life?
According to the Catechism, “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.” Father Burke Masters says, “Grace is something that we can’t touch, it’s unmerited, but it’s the divine life God wants to give to us.”
Why is grace necessary to follow Christ?
Why are the sacraments vital in the life of a Catholic?
Bricks For The Breach
“So a sacramental vision of the world is to see everything through the lens of God, to see things not just for their surface level but things that are much deeper, and what attributes of God does this thing represent. And it should guide our entire day. It should guide the fact that we are now literally representations of Jesus Christ in the world. How are you going to do that? You know, how are you going to live up to that calling?” (Jared Zimmerer)
Sword of the Spirit
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” (John 6:53-57)