Serving Others Is Part of Discipline, Not Optional

There was a time in my life when discipline meant something completely different. It meant surviving. It meant looking out for myself. It meant chasing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. That kind of life left me empty.

When Christ found me, He didn't just save me from my sins—He began teaching me a new way to live. I discovered that true discipline is not just about waking up early, going to the gym, reading books, or building routines. Those things have value, but Christian discipline goes much deeper.

Christian discipline always leads us to love.

Jesus did not come to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). If we claim to be His disciples, then our lives should reflect His. That means discipline isn't only about personal growth; it's about becoming the kind of person who is available for God to use.

Every week, our team goes into the streets to feed the homeless, pray with those who are hurting, and remind people that they are loved by God. We pray outside abortion clinics because every human life is sacred. We volunteer in our parishes. We visit those who have been forgotten. None of these things are "extra credit" for Christians. They are part of living the Gospel.

It's easy to say, "I'll serve when I have more time."

"I'll serve when life slows down."

"I'll serve after I fix my own problems."

But Jesus never waited for perfect circumstances before serving others. He calls us to love Him by loving our neighbor today.

Serving others also forms us. It teaches humility because the mission stops being about us. It teaches patience because people don't always respond the way we expect. It teaches sacrifice because serving often costs us our time, comfort, and convenience. Every act of charity chips away at selfishness and shapes us more into the image of Christ.

As Catholic men, we are called to be leaders. Leadership in the Kingdom of God is measured by service, not status. The strongest man in the room should also be the first to kneel in prayer, the first to carry a burden, and the first to serve those who cannot repay him.

The discipline of prayer, the discipline of the sacraments, the discipline of studying Scripture, and the discipline of serving others all belong together. Separate them, and our faith becomes unbalanced. Unite them, and they become the path to holiness.

So ask yourself:

• Who can I serve this week?

• Who needs encouragement?

• Who needs a meal?

• Who needs someone to pray with them?

• Who has God placed in my path?

Don't wait for a title. Don't wait for recognition. Don't wait until you feel ready.

Serve now.

Because serving others isn't optional for a disciple of Jesus Christ—it is part of the discipline of becoming one.

As St. James reminds us, "Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (James 2:17)

Let's become Catholic men and women who are disciplined in prayer, faithful in the sacraments, rooted in truth, and known by our love.

Fight from victory. Live the Gospel. Serve the least.

Viva Cristo Rey.