This Month's Challenge
January 2020
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. (Gospel for Jan. 5, Mt 2:9-12)
Whenever I meet a refugee, immigrant or traveler, I am reminded of things I take for granted. Those who come great distances to find something often draw our attention to the blessings we enjoy. Most of us are fortunate to have Jesus nearby, truly present in the tabernacle of our local church, but we take his close presence for granted all too easily. The Wise Men embarked on a difficult journey to encounter Jesus, but a five-minute drive can seem too far for us. May our daily familiarity with Jesus never result in indifference. May we instead, like the Wise Men, enter the Lord’s house to do him homage.
Challenge by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:
This month, I challenge you to take to heart the example of the Wise Men and go out of your way occasionally to visit the Blessed Sacrament in a local church. Second, I challenge you to participate in the Faith in Action March for Life or Novena for Life programs or to personally support a local pro-life initiative.
Questions for Reflection:
What daily opportunities do you have to encounter Christ? Because gratitude counters our tendency to take things for granted, how can you demonstrate daily gratitude in your life? Why is it important to visit Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, and have you benefited from this experience?
Previous Challenges
Instructions
The Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge for the month will be available in a number of places:
- kofc.org/challenge
- Columbia
- Knightline
- Chaplain's Report
- Knights of Columbus social media
- Monthly email to Grand Knight and Chaplain
To conduct the Supreme Chaplain’s Monthly Challenge, during a Knights of Columbus meeting (ideally during the Chaplain's Message or the Grand Knight's Report) or other gathering:
1) Open with the Sign of the Cross and perhaps a brief prayer.
Example Opening Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. We thank you for guiding our lives and pray that we may have the courage exemplified by Venerable Fr. McGivney to live our faith to the fullest through our council, our families and in society. May our words today give glory to your Sacred Heart and if we struggled this past month in living our faith, help us to never stop turning to you and always try again.
2) Re-read the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge from the previous month.
3) Open the floor for discussion on what it was like to try and live last month's challenge. Every month has a number of Questions for Reflection that may help facilitate discussion. Don't worry about what order the men speak in or if there is silence in between men speaking. Not everyone has to speak and it is not a problem if the discussion is brief. Men are welcome to comment on others’ contribution to the discourse.
4) When finished, read the Supreme Chaplain's Monthly Challenge for the next month.
5) End by asking if there are any intentions and close with prayer and the Sign of the Cross.
Example Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time together with our brothers. We ask you to have mercy on all those people and intentions we prayed for. Give us the perseverance to live next month's challenge and to remember that we are united with our brother Knights around the world in doing so.
