Holly Michael's Writing Straight

~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life's Crooked Lines by Author Holly Michael

Holly Michael's Writing Straight

Tag Archives: Spirituality

France…a spiritually uplifting trip

10 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Holy Catholic Church - Anglican Rite, Inspiration, Journeys: In Writing and Life, Photography, Travel

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

Anglican, Anglo-Catholic, Anglo-Catholicism, Bernadette Soubirous, Bishop Leo Michael, Chateau fort de Lourdes, Christianity, Crooked Lines, elisa Amati, Father Luca de Pero, France, grotto, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Immaculate conception, Inspiration, inspiring, Jesus Christ, Lourdes, Lourdes France, Our Lady of Lourdes, Spirituality, Tsunami 2004 Still Wading Through Waves of Hope, Virgin Mary

Sad to hear the news of the terrorism in France. My husband and I were just there in November–in Lourdes, a few days stop-over our way to India. The visit was amazing and spiritually refreshing.

Given the sadness of the muslim extremist’s attacks on Paris, thought it would be a good time to share some photos of the beauty and spirituality of France, in Lourdes, about a seven hour drive south of Paris.

A view from the top of Chateau fort de Lourdes

A view from the top of Chateau fort de Lourdes and below, looking up at the castle.

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More views from the top of the castle

More views from the top of the castle

climbing a steep staircase to the top of the castle

climbing a steep staircase to the top of the castle

Love the narrow, quiet streets. Me and My husband, Bishop Leo Michael

Love the narrow, quiet streets. Me and My husband, Anglican Bishop Leo Michael

Our wonderful friends, Elisa Amati and her husband Father Don Luca drove all the way from Northern Italy to join us. We had a blast!

Our wonderful friends, Elisa Amati and her husband Father Luca de Pero drove all the way from Northern Italy – about 15 hours drive – to join us. We had a blast!

Streets of France

Streets of France. Elisa had a map. We would find our restaurant!

My husband, Bishop Leo Michael, Me, Father Don Luca, and his wife, Elisa Amati at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

My husband, Bishop Leo Michael, Me, Father Luca de Pero, and his wife, Elisa Amati at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

Our Lady of Lourdes grotto was our planned destination and it was an incredible spiritual experience. More photos:

In 1858 Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl said that a "lady" spoke to her in the cave of Massabielle (a mile from the town) while she was gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. Similar apparitions of the alleged "Lady" were reported on seventeen occasions that year, until the climax revelation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception took place. Bernadette Soubirous was later canonized as a Saint, and many believe her apparitions have been validated by the overwhelming popularity and testament of healings claimed to have taken place at the Lourdes water spring.

In 1858 Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl said that a “lady” spoke to her in the cave of Massabielle (a mile from the town) while she was gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. Similar apparitions of the alleged “Lady” were reported on seventeen occasions that year, until the climax revelation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception took place. Bernadette Soubirous was later canonized as a Saint, and many believe her apparitions have been validated by the overwhelming testament of healings claimed to have taken place at the Lourdes water spring.

Bernadette

Bernadette Soubirous

Night at the grotto

Night at the grotto

An amazing blessing. Look to the left of the statue, considering the crevice a mouth. Do you see the face of Christ. We only saw this on our last night at the grotto

An amazing blessing. Look to the left of the statue, considering the crevice a mouth. Do you see the face of Christ? We only saw this on our last night at the grotto. Peace and Holy Spirit filled this beautiful holy place.

During one of the apparitions, Bernadette was told to by Our Lady "go drink at the spring and wash yourself there". Shortly after the first pilgrimages began Louis Bouriette was cured. He had lost his vision and washed in the miraculous water where he regained his vision.

During one of the apparitions, Bernadette was told to by Our Lady “go drink at the spring and wash yourself there”. At the time, the spot above place was nothing but a place in the dirt. Then, the spring miraculous bubbled up. Shortly after the first pilgrimages began Louis Bouriette was cured. He had lost his vision and washed in the miraculous water where he regained his vision. Through the years, many have been cured at the miraculous water of Lourdes. The water still runs and pilgrims can collect the water at faucets near the grotto.

The Basilica of Lourdes

The Basilica of Lourdes, built over the top of the grotto

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Where Bernadette was baptized

Where Bernadette was baptized

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My husband and Father Don Luca celebrating Mass.

My husband and Father Luca de Pero celebrating Mass

Father Don Luca and Elisa

Father Luca de Pero and Elisa

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Saints everywhere :-)

Saints everywhere 🙂

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Father Don Luca and Bishop Leo Michael walking up the hills toward the stations of the cross

Father Luca de Pero and Bishop Leo Michael walking up the hills toward the stations of the cross

Speaking of the Stations of the Cross, I plan to write and publish a Stations of the Cross book using some of my photos from Lourdes. Really excited about that project.  I’m also working toward finishing my sequel to Crooked Lines. (below)

Beautiful beach and seaAfter we left Lourdes, we went to South India to visit the places and people we helped after the 2004 Tsunami. After returning home, I published my then and now book, Tsunami 2004 – Still Wading through Waves of Hope. Some fascinating stories and pictures from the time of the 2004 Tsunami and after. We’d helped more than two hundred orphans after a national fundraising event. It was really great to return ten years later and visit the people and places and write their stories. Tsunami 2004 is now available on Amazon in Kindle and in print.

While in India, on our follow-up trip, we faced a horrific experience when my husband contracted dengue fever from a mosquito bite and nearly died. But, then and now, we held onto those peaceful blessed days at Lourdes and the wonderful fellowship with Father Don Luca and Elisa. ***

bookFor this weekend Crooked Lines, my novel, is on sale for .99 CENTS. Here’s the blurb: On the shores of Lake Michigan, Rebecca Meyer seeks escape. Guilt-ridden over her little sister’s death, she sets her heart on India, a symbol of peace. Across the ocean in South India, Sagai Raj leaves his tranquil hill station home and impoverished family to answer a higher calling. Pushing through diverse cultural and religious milieus, he labors toward his goals, while wrong turns and bad choices block Rebecca from hers.
Traveling similar paths and bridged across oceans through a priest, the two desire peace and their divine destiny. But vows and blind obedience at all costs must be weighed…and buried memories, unearthed.

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Great Day!!

24 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Crooked Lines, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Chargers, Church, Crooked Lines, Faith, Holly Michael, Hope, India, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, NFL, Novel, San Diego Charger, Spirituality, tight end, touchdown

San+Diego+Chargers+v+Seattle+Seahawks+ICLcPDab_0BlToday is a great day for several reasons! First all, because it’s Sunday! The day of the Lord…and…

…secondly, this cutie above is playing the San Francisco 49ers today. Last week Jake had his first touchdown against the Seahawks!

Go Jake! Do it again! #proudmom (gotta use that hashtag on #gameday).

Game time: 3:00 pm CT

Isn’t he a cutie?

houston2

AND…

…since I’ve recently launched my debut novel, CROOKED LINES, I chose today as a KINDLE sale day!

Crooked Lines is only $1.99 today!

Church. Football. Then a good read. 🙂 Great way to spend Sunday…oh, and if you missed church, Crooked Lines is a spiritually themed book, so you’ll get some good inspiration, along with a some drama and a bit of mystery.

Crooked3 (1)Here’s the blurb for CROOKED LINES and the link to buy it at KINDLE, HERE and below the blurb, too.

On the shores of Lake Michigan, Rebecca Meyer seeks escape. Guilt-ridden over her little sister’s death, she sets her heart on India, a symbol of peace.

Across the ocean in South India, Sagai Raj leaves his tranquil hill station home and impoverished family to answer a higher calling. Pushing through diverse cultural and religious milieus, he labors toward his goals, while wrong turns and bad choices block Rebecca from hers.

Traveling similar paths and bridged across oceans through a priest, the two desire peace and their divine destiny. But vows and blind obedience at all costs must be weighed…and buried memories, unearthed.

Crooked Lines, a beautifully crafted debut novel, threads the lives of two determined souls from different continents and cultures. Compelling characters struggle with spirituality through despair and deceptions in search of truth.

CLICK HERE FOR CROOKED LINES KINDLE DEAL OF THE DAY and have a GREAT DAY!!!

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Crooked Lines: From America to India Along Life’s Crooked Lines

28 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Crooked Lines, India, Inspiration, Photography, Writing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

America, Author Holly Michael, Bishop Leo Michael, Christian Fiction, Crooked Lines, Darjeeling, Faith, fiction, Goa, Holly Michael, India, India to America, Mumbai, Novel, Spirituality, Tamil Nadu

My novel, Crooked Lines, is featured on India’s Crown, a premier site linking American authors to Indian Readers. Find out some fascinating facts about Crooked Lines and some awesome pictures of India, too! Read on!!

India's Crown in Christian Literature Excellence - ICICLE

104 (2)

I’m so pleased to introduce my debut novel, CROOKED LINES, on our premier site, India’s Crown. It’s been such a pleasure launching this site with talented and acclaimed author Caryl McAdoo. We’ve also added new talent from India to our team, lovely blogger and social media expert, Natasha Lopez from the Mumbai area.

Like INDIA’S CROWN, CROOKED LINES–a novel set partly in India and partly in American–blends two cultures. Here’s my answers to a few of our interview questions.

How do you suppose a reader living in a different culture—such as India—will relate to your book?

Crooked3 (1)CROOKED LINES was inspired from stories of my husband and clergy friends who came of age in a religious order in India in the mid-1980s. Their tales as young seminarians (80s and into the 1990s and beyond) fascinated me—serving in a Mumbai slum, meeting Mother Teresa, freeing “untouchables” from bonded labor situations, rescuing youth out of radical communist situations, working in orphanages.

I also laughed with them at…

View original post 1,504 more words

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Crooked Lines: From America to India Along Life’s Crooked Lines

28 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Holly Michael in Crooked Lines, India, India's Crown

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America, America to India, American, Author Holly Michael, big dreams, Bishop Leo Michael, Christian Fiction, Christianity in India, Crooked Lines, Crooked Lines A Novel, Darjeeling, debut novel, Faith, fiction, Goa, Holly Michael, Hope, India, Novel, Religious Fiction, Spirituality, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, www.indiascrown.com, www.writingstraight.com

Crooked Lines: From America to India Along Life’s Crooked Lines. India’s Crown (ICICLE) symbolicea premier site linking American Authors to India Readers featured my novel, Crooked Lines! Read for a fascinating look at how Crooked Lines came to be and a photos from India.

Also, a chance to win a free signed copy of Crooked Lines!

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Rich Maffeo’s: My Very Own Frankenstein Monster

24 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Inspiration

≈ 6 Comments

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Blog, book, Christian, christian author, contemplative catholic, forgiven, Holly Michael, Inspiration, lessons along the journey, Rich Maffeo, Spirituality, www.writingstraight.com

rich maffeoRich Maffeo is one of my favorite Christian authors. He blogs over at The Contemplative Catholic Convert. I found a lot of spiritual wisdom in his well-written, inspiring blog post today and asked his permission to reprint it here.

Here’s the blog in its entirety:

I published this essay in my book, Lessons Along the Journey. I re-posted it to my blog about a year ago. The incident below occurred decades ago, but from time to time I talk with people who, like Robert, cannot (or choose not to) believe God’s great love and forgiveness could be directed toward them. To everyone else, yes. But not to and for them.  After a more recent conversation along these lines, I thought to re-post this again. There are still many Christians who need the reminder.

————-

I think that if God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as higher tribunal than Him. — C. S. Lewis

 MY VERY OWN FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER

          The  shadowy figure darted behind a tombstone and peered steadily into the darkness. When he was satisfied no one had spotted him, he thrust his shovel into the fresh grave — again and again. Soon, his spade thudded against the casket. A few minutes later, he lifted the corpse onto his shoulders and grunted.

Dr. Frankenstein would be pleased.

I’m surprised I still remember the 1950s horror film. Dr. Frankenstein zapped the cadaver with a bolt of electricity and brought the dead back to life. Unfortunately, the monster ended up terrorizing the countryside.

Have you noticed how our culture seems preoccupied with death? Surf the TV most evenings or browse the sci-fi section in online streaming sites. The titles may surprise you. Even some Christians seem preoccupied with restoring life to things that ought to stay dead.

Robert is a good example. He has a bad habit of digging around in graveyards — mostly his. He called me some time ago in a state of depression, “How can God forgive me?” he pleaded. “You don’t know what I’ve done.”

That was not the first conversation I’d had with him over the same theme. I’ve lost count of the times Robert has called for assurance of God’s forgiveness. And each time I remind him of Scripture’s promises, he responds with his characteristic, “Yes, but.”

As he spoke, a mental image of the Frankenstein monster formed as Robert again dug up his past — a past covered by Christ’s blood. I watched him piece together one old sin after another, assembling them into a monster that terrorized him and his family.

This time, though, I could not find fault only with my friend’s needless despair. With seamless precision, my thoughts propelled me toward my own graveyard where “Yes, but” is etched on several tombstones.

Like Robert, I know Scriptures that assure me of God’s forgiveness. So why do I dig around in my past, piecing together my own monster? Why do I permit the creature that Christ put to death be resurrected and wreak havoc on my life and hurt my relationship with God and with others?

I know why. Sometimes I doubt our Father’s trustworthiness. I am skeptical that Christ’s sacrificial death could cover my despicable sins. So, I revive my past, lifting each sin onto my shoulders as if to say, “Lord, if you really knew what I’ve done, you would never forgive me.”

On the other end of the line, Robert’s litany of reasons why God was angry with him gained momentum. With each passing thought, he dug himself deeper into the Yes, but pit until I couldn’t take anymore.

“Robert,” I interrupted.

He stopped talking and I reminded him again — myself as well — of the promises which stand more sure than Earth itself, of promises more secure than any anchor, of promises that transcend all of our “Yes, buts”:

“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “[Therefore], now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

Scripture after Scripture, promise after promise swirled though my mind and slipped across my tongue. I don’t know if they helped Robert, but I know they helped me to once again place my monster back into the crypt. By God’s grace, I will leave it there. Life is too short, and the laborers too few, to waste time and energy carrying a dead man around on my shoulders.

God says to the penitent: Forgiven. Satan whispers: Guilty.

Whom will we believe?

Here’s a link to Lessons Along the Journey, for more great spiritual readings.

lessons

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Friday Inspiration: St. Basil the Great

15 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity

≈ 2 Comments

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Blog, divine, Divine Love, God, grace, Holly Michael, Inspiration, light, Love, Saint Basil, Spirit, Spirituality, St. Basil the Great. Saint Basil the Great, www.writingstraight.com

IMG_2329Even as bright and shining bodies, once touched by a ray of light falling on them, become even more glorious and themselves case another light, so too souls that carry the Spirit, and are enlightened by the Spirit, become spiritual themselves and send forth grace upon others. 

This grace enables them to foresee the future, to understand mysteries, to grasp hidden things, to receive spiritual blessings, to have their thoughts fixed on heavenly things, and to dance with the angels. So is their joy unending, so is their perseverance in God unfailing, so do they acquire likeness to God, so-most sublime of all-do they themselves become divine. ~ St. Basil the Great

st-basil-the-great

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Christmas Challenge: Romans, Day 12 – Spiritual Gold Mine. Dig In!

20 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in 16 Chapters to Christmas, Christianity

≈ 2 Comments

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Anglican Church, be transformed, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Bishop Kenneth Kinner, Bishop of the missionary jurisdiction of the american Indian people, Blog, Casper, Casper Wyoming, Chapter 12, Christ, Christianity, Christmas Challenge, Church of the Holy Family, Deacon Alfred Sturges Christmas Challenge, do not be overcome by evil, do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good, do not conform, do not pay evil with evil, Episcopal Vicar, Faith, God, HCCAR, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love, love one another, Paul's letter to the Romans, Romans Chapter 12, spiritual gifts, spiritual gold mine, Spirituality, transformed, www.writingstraight.com

Thanks Deacon Alfred, for this challenge. What a blessing to read Romans! Wow! Gold mine! There’s so much rich wisdom in this chapter! Read, enjoy, and come away spiritually richer!  And at the end of this post, enjoy an inspirational true story from Bishop Kenneth Kinner. 

Romans 12

New International Version (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1-romans12-2-english

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

spiritual gifts

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

***

Amazing! If I could say one verse was my favorite, hmmm….maybe: Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

If everyone lived only by this verse, imagine how beautiful this world would be.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  

It’s sad that evil and hate exists and not everyone wants to live in peace with one another. The key words are, “as far as it depends upon you.”

On a personal note, this is something I’ve struggled with. I can’t control others or force them to live in peace with me, though God knows I’ve tried, even doing the heaping coals thing. Blood isn’t always thicker than water. The blood of Christ is what binds us to each other. If people don’t love God and if they hate and wish harm upon me or upon my dearest loved ones, I will not repay evil with evil. But I will keep my distance, pray for them, and do my best to live joyfully in Christ, maintaining my spiritual fervor, and continuing to use the gifts the Lord has given to me, as this chapter teaches. Father, we are all your children, please handle us all according to your perfect will.  Amen.

And remember: 

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kinnerRegarding Romans 12:2, please enjoy this inspirational true story, written by Bishop Kenneth Kinner, Episcopal Vicar of Church of the Holy Family, Casper, Wyoming, (Holy Catholic Church, Anglican Rite):

TRANSFORMED!

Phil came to Casper seeking a new start in life. He had been in a California prison for seventeen years. He still faced a form of imprisonment; Phil was addicted to alcohol. As a felon and as an addict it was very difficult to find employment.

Finally he landed a job cleaning up a local bar every night after closing time. The overwhelming temptation always in front of him.

Phil was ashamed, hurting , feeling worthless. Then in his most basic of needs he learned to pray to the Lord for help. This world, as he knew it, was a path to self destruction. On a certain morning he was walking back to his ‘home’ in a seedy hotel about a mile away. Dawn was about to signal a new day; Phil was asking the Lord to help him.

What happened next changed Phil’s life forever. The Lord Jesus appeared to him on Center Street in Casper, Wyoming. I’m not sure what the conversation was but clearly the loving power of God was released. Phil never had another drink as long as he lived.

Then what do you do about employment now? The postmaster in another town, learning of Phil’s experience, gave him a job as caretaker of the post office property. A convicted felon in a post office ! Against all the rules. But, for over ten years Phil cared for the property; he never once failed his charge.

In the fullness of years God called Phil, a sober Christian man, to his eternal home.
I was asked to offer the Burial Office for him. Yes, they called it a ‘memorial’. A friend of Phil’s handed me Phil’s Bible. My attention was on a marker in Paul’s letter to the Romans. The following was underlined: “Do not be conformed to his world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” Romans 12:2 

Bishop Kenneth Kinner is the Episcopal Vicar of Church of the Holy Family in Casper, Wyoming and Bishop of the American Indian People. 

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Christmas Challenge: Romans, Day 2

10 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in 16 Chapters to Christmas, Christianity

≈ 5 Comments

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1 Chapters to Christmas, Alfred Sturges, Anglicanism, Baptism, Bible study, Christians, Christmas, Christmas preparations, Deacon Alfred Sturges, Faith, HCCAR, Holy, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Jesus, Judging, preparing our hearts for Christmas, Romans Ch. 2, Romans Chapter 2, Sacraments, Sin, Soul, Spirituality, St. Augustine, St. Paul's Letters to the Romans

Thanks for coming back today! It’s “DAY TWO” of Deacon Alfred’s Challenge: 16 Chapters to Christmas. The challenge is to read the entire book of Romans, all sixteen chapters, from December 9th until Christmas, based on St. Augustine’s conversion after reading the letters of St. Paul to the Romans. If you didn’t read the first chapter, you can do so at Biblegateway.com or by clicking here and reading yesterday’s blog post. Or, just take the challenge for today and read this chapter.

Here’s Romans, Chapter 2 (today I’m using the NRSV)

The Righteous Judgment of God

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2 You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” 3 Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: 7 to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

12 All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.

The Jews and the Law

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God 18 and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law, 19 and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, 21 you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

25 Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. 29 Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.

*****

That’s a big chunk of holy wisdom to bite at once, so I’ll break it down.

scoldRomans 2:1-16. Go Paul! Way to rip into those self-righteous people in Rome, thinking they’re all holy n’stuff. Oh boy! God is going to judge you people by your hearts, and not by what privileges you all think you’re entitled to because of your social status. Shame, Shame, puppy shame! I’m glad I’m not one of them. Oops. Was I judging? Yikes. Better be careful. I think we were talking about this in yesterday’s blog, weren’t we?

Anyway, what I think Paul is saying here is that each time we knowingly screw up, we disrespect God’s goodness and that’s well…not good. It all boils down to not loving God enough to do the right thing. So we have to be sorry, and I mean really really sorry. And don’t just tell me your sorry because I told you to say it! You’d better mean it! And I mean, really, really mean it! I’m not seeing that you mean it! (oops, the mom in me is coming out).

puppy_im_sorryAs I was saying…we have to be truly sorry, sorry enough to actually make a change based on pure motives to change and nothing else.

Stuff like “wrath, fury, anguish, and distress” is just not happy stuff. Best to be avoided. Those words above can’t mean anything good, whether a Jew, Greek, Black White, Latino, or whatever your color. God won’t care about our skin tone when he judges. Wrath, fury, anguish, and distress will rain on everyone. So, regardless of our race, social status, or size of our bank account, our conscience should guide us and help us avoid a downpour that we don’t want to be caught up in on judgment day.

bad weather

On December 25th, we celebrate the coming of Christ as an innocent baby.

baby_jesus_5When Jesus comes again, he’s not coming like an innocent baby. He’s coming as the just judge. If we do good in secret, we will be rewarded, and all those sins that we think we got away with, guess what? They’re coming back like those crazy candles you blow out on cakes that re-ignite. Oops!

candles

And my thoughts on Roman’s 2:17-24

Did we not learn anything since the time Paul ripped into the people in Rome? This passage ends with, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that people don’t go to church because of the so-called “Christians” that they know. I’m probably one of those Christians.

better-than-youI’m a church-goer who hasn’t always and doesn’t always act like a Christian. I say the “creed” each Sunday, I know the ten commandments, I listen to The Word. Do I really follow all that Jesus commands? Hmm…. This so not an excuse, but a good friend told me once, “Church is a hospital for sinners and not a hotel for saints.” Okay, but if that’s the case, I kind of want to get well and not die in that hospital.

No wonder people are disillusioned with church. They get that sitting in a pew each Sunday doesn’t make people better Christians. But why doesn’t it? It should, right? We need to ask ourselves what we can do about this epidemic. Spiritual pride is the most dangerous of all kinds of pride. The last thing Christians need to do is blasphemy God. Makes sense, right?

Finally, the last passages: Romans 2:25-29. What do they mean to me. 

These scripture passages talks about circumcision, but consider any Christian ritual and what it should mean. Now, as an Anglican, I’m all for the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. These Christian rituals and others should change us. Real Christians are Christians outwardly and inwardly. A person whom I know, baptized as an infant, was church-shopping. She told me, “I got saved in church last week, then when out and committed probably the worst sin I’ve ever committed.” This person ended up getting re-baptized at three different churches. She said she was told her first baptism, in the name of the “Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” didn’t count because the name, “Jesus,” was not said. Another church had issues with sprinkling versus dunking. And I can’t even remember what the other issues were. Sheesh! C’mon people! In the end, it’s going to be all about “if” the rituals really changed our hearts. Let’s not make a mockery of our Christian rituals and sacraments.

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts on what this chapter means to you. Thanks for sticking with me through Day 2. See ya tomorrow!

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Done this: Regular freelance ghostwriter and online editor for Guideposts for Teens/Sweet 16 Magazine, creator/editor of a magazine for Wal-Mart Corp., journalist, newspaper features writer, published in a variety of national magazines and local newspapers, script writing/editing for corporations. Doing this now: author of fiction and nonfiction, blogger, and editor of Koinonia Magazine. I’m the wife of Rt. Rev. Leo Michael, an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite. Mom to three great kids: Nick (#81 Rajin Cajuns), Betsy (Super cute professor) and Jake (T1D & NFL player) Also, enjoy my travels extensively across the United States and internationally.

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