Note: This meeting plan builds on our 2024 Retreat post, "St. Paul - From Wolf to Lamb". We recommend inviting guys to listen to the posted recordings of the retreat in preparation for the session below.We will gather again at our next meeting for a session that reflects upon key themes from our Advent Retreat this past December. Recall that Fr. John Langlois O.P. was our Retreat Master and the theme of the Retreat was St. Paul – From Wolf to Lamb. In Fr. John’s talks, he shared Lessons from St. Paul’s Conversion, with his final talk focusing on how St. Paul was a Model of Fatherhood for us men. St. Paul exhorted his “children” in Corinth to be Role Models, Teachers, Disciplinarians, and Encouragers to their sons and daughters. The very last thing Fr. John said, summing up this talk was “God does not ask us to succeed, he asks us to Strive!” This begs the question, what are we striving for this Lent and in our lives?
Scriptures
- 1 Cor 4: 14-16 I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides to Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me.
- 2 Cor 12: 9 …but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
- 1 Cor 4: 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
Discussion Questions
- As St. Paul urges, are you striving to be an imitator of Christ in your family and to others?
- How do you strive to be a good role model and teacher in your family?
- How do you balance being a disciplinarian and encourager-in-chief to your children?
- Do you believe that God’s Grace is sufficient for you?
- How do you define success for yourself as a husband, a father, a son, a man?
- What are you striving to accomplish this Lent? How?
Be sure to reach out and invite another man to join us!