You’re the Man
My name is Joe Gorman. I am a Catholic father of 3, soon to be 4 with my wife of just over 6 years.
Over the past few years I have felt God’s calling for me to further pursue faith and exemplify that for my children. However, the more I pursue to lead my family on a path of faith and tradition, the more friction I feel against the current of todays culture. A culture to which I was so accustomed.
There is an old Jim Gaffigan joke about the rules of Lent that I think perfectly sums up todays attitude of the modern American Christian toward the dogma’s of our faith. It goes something like this:
“Don’t eat meat on Fridays…unless you forget…ahh, do whatever you want.”
Haha very funny joke indeed. BUT ITS TRUE! The bit is also prefaced with a couple beats about how Catholics don’t read the Bible “because [we] don’t have to”. Once again funny because it’s true. I grew up immersed in a Catholic community, but it wasn’t until recently I decided to finally [read] the Bible, and along with it, the Catechism – both in their entirety. I have learned so much and I am disappointed in how little I learned immersed in a Catholic community. And it didn’t take long to find others who have felt that way too.
According to gallup.com, only about 40% of adults attended church weekly in 2012. That number was down to 34% before the pandemic. Latest number in 2023 was down to 31%.
“So what happened?” as the Joker says, “Did your balls drop off?”
Generally speaking, we have become soft in our stance in faith. Our knees buckle as soon as the slightest ounce of obligation is placed on our shoulders. We should be reading the Bible more. We should understand the reasoning of our faith and practices. And furthermore, we should PRACTICE our faith and exemplify true virtue for our children
A good community holds each other up and points us in the right direction when we are starting to veer off the path. And when you’re back on the right path, a good community will let you know in someway that “You’re the Man”. A good community reminds you that “You’re the Man”, and with that comes harsh responsibility of sacrifice for the good of others. So it time to recognize your duty as a man and lead. Because after all…
You’re the Man.