Manly Catholic: Igniting Men to Light the World on Fire Ep 166 - Get in the Arena - Jonathan Kuplak on Fighting Comfort, Choosing the Cross, and Becoming Saints
Men, we are losing the battle because too many of us are sitting on the sidelines. In this powerful episode, I sit down with Jonathan Kuplak, co-founder of Sebaste, to talk about fighting back, breaking free from mediocrity, and choosing the cross in our daily lives. From running 214-mile endurance races to leading life-changing summer intensives for young men, he embodies what it means to get in the arena and stay there, even when you get knocked down.
Sebaste is raising up a generation of Catholic men who refuse comfort, refuse passivity, and refuse to be sedated by the world. Instead, they are choosing discipline, brotherhood, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of sanctity.
The challenge I issue in this episode is simple and direct: stop making excuses, get up, and get back in the fight. Whether that means eliminating one obstacle holding you back, committing to daily prayer, or training your body to match the strength of your soul—your time is now.
Be sure to help Johnny by sponsoring a mile for his upcoming MAMMOTH run!
We dive into:
- Why men must reclaim discipline and physical training as spiritual warfare.
- The mission of Sebaste and why it’s transforming young men across the country.
- The reality of spiritual combat and the need to “choose the cross.”
- Why men must take quitting off the table and recommit every single day.
Products & References Mentioned:
- Sebaste (organization & summer intensive)
- “Choose the Cross” movement on Sebaste.org
- The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
3 Powerful Quotes from the Episode:
- “I want to be a man that never stops coming, that’s always getting back in the arena, always getting in the ring. Even if you’re getting blasted, you can always get up and go one more round.”
- “You were born into a battle. Whether you like it or not, you’re in it. The only question is—will you engage or will you sit on the couch and have another Twinkie?”
- “Most men don’t even have skin in the game of their own salvation. But when you commit, everything changes. Life is an endurance test—and we’re called to run it to become saints.”
Key Takeaway for Men:
Remove one obstacle from your life that is holding you back from Christ, and replace it with one physical discipline and one spiritual discipline—then refuse to quit.
Brothers, the bar for men today is on the floor. It’s time to raise it. Get in the arena, take up your cross, and start fighting like your soul depends on it—because it does.
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