#imperfect salvation born from a pure love…

[dreadark]

orv epilogue talk

initially the explanation behind the fourth wall bothered me a bit because I was fine with it as is… a literal fourth wall the dokkaebi king isn’t really much of a character so like why should I care about this idk…

but then I realized. the point isn’t what it is but rather why

the dokkaebi king only became the wall because of han sooyoung’s wish to protect kim dokja. during orv the [fourth wall] skill saves his life countless times, but at the same time it dulls all his emotions so he can't fully connect with everyone else

that’s just the literal events that happened. symbolically, han sooyoung’s wish was expressed through her writing twsa for him, and by escaping into the fiction of that world, kim dokja was able to survive. at the same time, using fiction to cope with reality like that has him feeling disconnected from the world and everyone else in it… and that’s what led to him making the 49/51 decision he sees his place as just a reader—an outsider to everyone else's story. because that's how he survived

so maybe han sooyoung’s desperate wish to save him back then also doomed him..? but that really was all she could do then...

[pissgoblin973]

“Fatal Infatuation”

tw/cw: heavily implied (but brief) mentions of self harm and suicide.

explicit sexual undertones, with reference to masturbation.

complete and utter blasphemy.

the babygirlification of adam from the book of genesis which may distress some readers.

the yassification of ambiguously subservient he/him lesbians in scripture.

if that’s all good with you then read ahead but don’t say i didn’t warn you…

authors note: to the all freaky little masochists out there, i see you, i hear you, please drink water <3

————————————————————————————

I love you, for all that you are and all you will ever be.

I love you in times of jubilation and times of despair.

I love you unconditionally and eternally.

From the moment I laid eyes on you,

to the moment our hands first touched,

you were nothing short of perfection.

In every sense of the word, you’re perfect.

I am bewildered and in awe of you.

There is no being in existence that could ever surpass you.

You have forever enamoured me with your presence.

If ever there was a time before you, I wish to never relive it.

You are the light in an endless ocean of darkness.

Your smile alone is enough to illuminate the heavens.

I cannot understate the abundance of my devotion to you. I cannot undervalue my appreciation for your kindness, your grace, your poise, your beautiful face…

Who could even begin to compare to you? Your radiance knows no bounds.

There is no living nor undead thing that could equal up to half of your worth.

For you are perfect, the very definition of the word.

Though you were created in my image, I see no semblance of my imperfections.

No remnants of my shortcomings, no trace of my inequities. You were made pure.

You are Yahweh’s true creation, a testament to His unfailing mercy and might.

You are the pinnacle of life, the rarest amongst flowers and sweetest amongst fruits.

All the days of my life, I promise to shower you with adulation and affection.

For this is my true purpose, my reason to exist is you.

Glory be to Adonai, His wisdom and foresight transcends all things.

He wished for me to be a sacrifice, and I gladly offered myself to Him.

Born of my ribs, He fashioned you into the marvel that you are today.

Blood of my blood, He sculpted you into masterpiece you are today.

As I knelt before the altar, He held me in His arms.

Lovingly, He cradled me and reminded me of His promise.

In acceptance of His will for me, I submitted to His word.

I remember the sweet searing pain, as it coursed through my veins.

The sensation alone, was nothing short of heavenly. I was born again, and made anew.

I was carefully carved, tenderly hewed and delicately engraved. No words will ever be enough to describe the ecstasy I felt that fateful day. It was all for you, knowing that now makes everything so much sweeter.

You are as apart of me, as I am of you.

I only wish to serve you, I now recognise that you are an extension of His divinity.

The will of El Shaddai and yours are one.

I desire to imitate you in every possible way.

I know in my heart that I could never be equal to you in magnificence, and so, I only yearn to be useful to you.

Allow my eyes to be the mirrors of your soul. To behold you is blessing enough.

Permit me the grace to hold you in my arms, I wish to envelope you with my love.

All I have I give you, all the days of my life are now yours to keep, everything I am is yours.

For I am imperfect,

from the moment I laid eyes on you,

to the moment our lips embraced, I knew.

I am nothing short of imperfection, in every sense of the word.

I am but a stain, a burden… impurity personified.

You are my personal salvation, and in the same breath your existence torments me without end.

Stood beside you, I feel inadequate, I feel wrong and I do not know why.

I cannot begin to count the endless nights I have spent defiling myself in a pitiful heat,

my body revels at just the thought of you. I fear I cannot help myself, my loins ache and burn with passion.

I have etched the memory of your touch into my very bones.

The shame I feel only makes my forbidden act all the more pleasurable and intoxicating.

As I run my hands over my body I can only think of you, my skin ignites and I am overwhelmed with lust.

It is as though my heart has been set aflame whenever our eyes meet.

Gazing upon your reflection is enough to satiate and silence my carnal desires.

Your power over me is absolute. At the sound of your call I will heed your command.

If you ordered me to set myself alight, I would obey. Though I know I could never burn as bright as you.

You my sun, you possess a life-giving energy that cannot be replicated by man nor God.

You are above all beings on heaven and earth, you are my universe.

Without question, I am yours and yours alone.

Use me, break me, tear me limb from limb, drink from my blood and devour my body.

Pick me apart and take anything you wish. I donate my flesh to you, use it to your desire. I am your sacrifice.

You need only just to say it and it is done.

In doing all of this, I have come to accept that I can never be as perfect as you are,

I will always fall short of your excellence.

Perhaps it is His will for things to be as they are.

Maybe, He wishes to afflict me with self loathing and envy through you…

As I run my hands over my body, I cannot help but howl in grief.

I weep bitterly and gnash my teeth, perplexed at the injustice of it all.

I have spent ceaseless nights this way.

Wishing and hoping, that this wrongness I feel within myself would wash away…

But why you, and not me? Was I not worthy enough for Him?

“It should have been me…” I tell myself.

I was His first creation, His firstborn, His first love… and yet He discarded me.

I presented myself to Him, there I lay, spread-eagle and eager to fulfil His every desire.

Like a lamb led to the slaughter, I feigned innocence.

Accepting my fate in humility, I let Him have me.

He desecrated my flesh, bloodied my mind and made me impure…

He reached for my heart and gave it to you.

Though I can never bring myself to blame you, I know none of this is your fault. It never was.

Through my agony you were conceived, and through my blissful torment you were born.

I came first, yet I am treated less than second to you…

I see the way He looks at you, the way He talks to you, appreciates you.

The sight of it is enough for me to wince in discomfort.

The phenomenon of pain is quite a marvellous thing. When I am most broken I feel beautiful.

I could chip away at my body forever if it meant I could preserve the euphoric sensation that is suffering.

Why is that so? Perhaps, it is His wish for me.

Day after day, I mourn the person I once was… but who even was I before you?

Now that I have let myself become defined by you, I can no longer tell.

I peer into my reflection and I am unsure of who I see. Could you tell me, if I asked you?

Would you even know?

Perhaps If I loved you enough, it could remedy this hatred I harbour towards myself…

אבא, שמע את תפילתי

Elyon, I cry out to you but You to not answer. You have forsaken me and forgotten me.

Why curse me with the burden of existence? To what end?

How can I lie to myself, pretending to love another when the heart I once had is no longer there?

I cannot pretend to be ignorant to Your betrayal, this is not what I was promised.

Why Her and not I?

Have You simply forgotten me as apart of Your grand design?

Beside Her I feel like a disheveled creature, an abomination, a mistake.

She is everything, whilst I am nothing. Like night and day, we are not the same.

Freely I gave You my love, yet You mean to replace me?

I never once disobeyed You, I never once questioned or challenged You, and this is how You reward me.

I am disgusted by myself, even at the end of eternity no power can revoke this feeling.

Why must that be? Does watching me suffer please You?

I had foolishly thought that I could replace You, the way You did to me.

Each time I look at Her, I am only reminded of You.

Even still, I cannot bring myself to confess that I am jealous.

Why must that be? Does seeing me ache with annoyance satisfy You?

Perhaps, If I defied Your will I could be beautiful again…

Use me, hurt me, punish me, torment me, defile me and chain me to You forever.

If my pain and suffering is Your desire, then I shall seek it always.

For I am empty and aimless without Your guidance.

The hole where my heart once was can only be filled by You.

Let me heal You… Let me seek You…

Let me serve You… Let me love You…

I pledge my allegiance to You, and to You alone.

I am willing to take the fall for our sin. You need only to ask of it, and it is done…

[mediaanalexis]

In Hebrew, the word “Chased” translates to the emotion that God feels towards his creation. The grace, benevolence, and compassion that God feels towards us, we as humans, are expected ideally to feel towards God in turn. But just as God loves our imperfection, the same could be said of us towards God. In the book of Genesis, many Jews disagree with God’s actions. He can come across as vengeful, angry, harsh, and even downright cruel. From everything he did to Job, ordering Abraham to kill his son Isaac, the God of the Old Testament seems far from perfect. But this, it seems, is what makes the Jewish religion so fascinating.

God seems blatantly unperfect, but the Jews’ love for God never ceases, even with His faults out on full display. It is far easier to love an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God. If God were perfect, then we’d love Him for being perfect, which is conditional love. But we are not meant to feel a conditional love for God, just as God is not meant to feel a conditional love for us. The Jews’ love for God does not rely on His lovability, perfection, or any of His other traits. Just as we are forgiven, we must forgive Him.

To see all of someone, and still decide to love them forever is the kind of pure love we have for others-and that God wants from us. The Jews believe that all human beings are “Betzelem Elohim”, or created in the image of God. If all humans are created in the image of God, that means all love, not just the love we feel for God, is a kind of holy act.

However, some Jewish writers feel the opposite. Philip Roth, for example, in The Dying Animal, sees all love as a form of obsession. He believes that the act of loving-not just romantic, but also platonic love- makes people feel as if they are empty and that only through the love of another, can you be filled up. He believes that people are born whole but that “love fractures you. You’re whole, and then you’re cracked open.” And while he does make an interesting point, time and again, Jewish literature mirrors the love humans have for each other with the relationship we have with God. Just as Roth proposes, Love doesn’t make you any more whole; however, it is a form of connecting with the sacred within you that is a mirror of God. To love is to practice radical kindness and compassion which catapults positive change. And that positive change ripples outward, and through that human action, holiness on Earth can ensue.

Love is more than the sum of its parts-it’s so large and encompassing that it becomes intertwined with religion in its own right. For example, Psalm 145:8 exemplifies how we become more holy when we love. When we unconditionally love, we become more like God who is “abounding in steadfast love,” ultimately creating a better world. Love makes humans kinder, more devoted, more forgiving: it ultimately creates salvation on Earth. Through love, we mirror God, creating heaven on Earth.

I.L. Peretz, in his short story If Not Higher, reveals that through love for humanity, every action with this in mind can release the divine into the world and reveal God. His protagonist in the story, the Rabbi, not through traditional prayer in Temple, but through charitable action reveals his love towards God, and therefore by extension, his love towards humanity. By expressing his love through kind acts, he mirrors the steadfast love that God has for us and helps to build a heaven on earth.

Peretz posits through subtext that religion should be less about rigid rules or traditions, and more about the practical love we must have for humankind. His story “If Not Higher” shows how heaven is in our reach: it is not unattainable, because it exists in our hearts. If God made us in His image, then God lives in us. The idea of having so much love at our disposal to spread just like God does is a responsibility we must not take lightly.

[dreamywriterinthedark]

Museum Date

Pairing: Spencer x Reader (gn <3)

Part two

Resume: Spencer Reid confesses his feelings for you at a nocturne exhibition in a museum.

Category: too fluffy for my own good.

Trigger Warnings: not much just brief suggestion of death which never occurred.

I was thinking about making a part two where it takes place a year later. Is that something you’d want to see ? This feels very cheesy (i just want to see him happy lol). Any feedback (positive or negative) is welcome. Don’t hesitate to submit suggestions!

special thanks to @rigatonireid​ for being supportive and too sweet 💕

(let me know if you want to be tagged)

It started with friendship but was quickly followed by endless pinning over one another right under the nose of your co workers for the longest time. At first, they thought it was cute but after all the jokes imagine able were made by Morgan, it started to feel like torture. To a team of profilers it was as noticeable as an elephant in a room yet the two concerned were oblivious to it. However, it wasn’t your coworker’s exasperation that brung an end to the friendship coated romantic yearning you and Spencer had but your life being endangered during a case right in front of his eyes. 

He felt powerless, scared of losing you or making the same mistakes again he chose to not take your time for granted. Sure, you were young, your friendship was too precious to alter but what’s worse ? Make a beautiful mess or stay caged ? This almost tragic event made Spencer completely change his mindset. Time was limited and he was going to make the most of it. There was something about the rhythm in his body, like his heart strings were tuned in a tone he’s never explored before echoing within the marrow of his bones. He was now sure he was going to confess how he felt but he wanted it to be special. So he booked two tickets for a nocturne museum exhibition. 

All his life he was worried about not being good enough. Despite his thirst for perfection in the coldest sense of the term, that night, he couldn’t care less. That night by (sometimes) glancing at the paintings (and you, cause you’re the real masterpiece here) he realized that the more you looked closely the messier these paintings looked. They were worshipped for their imperfections, it’s what made them special. He realized that beauty may come from chaos, it was shown by how Van Gogh’s brush strokes mimicked small hurricanes when they were supposed to be a peaceful landscape. Stars were born from hurricanes and here you were the shiniest, brightest of them all. You’ve been through hell and back yet you were radiant, magical. We don’t love art because it’s perfect but because it gives life meaning.

Sometimes you’d just sit in silence, staring in the same direction with your head resting on his shoulder. Occasionally, you would intertwine your fingers with his. At some point you swore his voice was what lost souls would hear when they were welcomed to heaven. It’s like your heartbeat was dancing to his melodic voice too busy grasping its beauty to even hear what he was chanting. After all, you two were the art, you wished this moment could’ve been engraved in a canvas... and it was. It was written in the stars, everything you’ve been through, every shout, every piece of broken glass led you up to this moment of pure bliss. The sky was your canvas. And it was reflected in his eyes. As soon as that thought hit you, you lifted up your head to look at him, he was already staring. He knew.

“Why did you bring me here ?” you asked.

“Because I thought someone so beautiful should be surrounded by things equally as beautiful.” he smiled pursing his lips, proud of his own wittiness. His smile only grew bigger with a flutter in his chest after seeing you chuckle before rolling your eyes while slightly throwing your head back. You glanced back at him, an eyebrow raised at him.

“And to tell you that I’m madly and hopelessly in love with you.” he added as if it were his last breath. Your smirk dropped, a complete look of stupor invaded your face. His eyes traveled from your eyes to your lips in desperate need for the suffocating oxygen only your lips could provide. He looked at them as if they were his salvation.

“You love me ?” you asked, you were melancholically electrified which showed in your eyes, it showed in your voice.

“Of course, I do. I’ve loved you before I even met you. I’ve loved you before you saved my life on that autumn night. I’ve loved you ever since you spilled that dumb coffee on my shirt. Y/n, you’re my soulmate.”

You crashed your lips against his, he cupped your face in his hands and it felt like a revolution. There was something about hearing him say your name that did something to you. You felt alive, more than ever. You started to understand why people like this life thing so much after all. You inhaled sharply while his eyes searched for yours panting for air as well. They were dreamy as if he was in a slumber, his cheeks flushed like spring roses.

With a hand resting on his collar and his stroking your other’s knuckles you said: “I love you Dr Spencer Reid and I don’t want to love anyone else but you.”

 “Oh is that so?” he teased. You looked away, to get your attention he started kissing your face. Your cheeks, your temples, your forehead, your nose, your lips using his eidetic memory each time he saw your face to remember every detail of it so it could be engraved in his brain just like your mere essence is in his soul, just like your story is in the sky.

[raz-b-rose]

There's nothing about transgender people in the bible and the thing that seems to be anti gay was actually referencing pedophilia. There's some really great websites explaining this, definitely look into it

Ok so I’m assuming you’re talking about this post. So thats what I’ll base most of my response off of. 

1. You offered no sources for me to cross reference

2. You didn't reference what verse you are talking about, if any, so I can look into it myself. 

Just because the bible doesn't directly use the English terms “transgender” doesn't make it any less of a sin discussed in the bible. Also remember it is difficult to translate the bible into English perfectly because of how the original Hebrew and Greek was spoken and written culturally at the time. It is always important to compare to the original scripture, and culture, to have an accurate read. 

However, the issue you are presenting to me, God is very clear and deliberate in his design. Not just of us as people but as how he designed each gender uniquely to function within the different relationships created through those bonds. Everything humans are and do is a reflection in some way of Gods design (Genesis 1:27) and how sin has corrupted the world. 

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”  Genesis 2:7

It is no coincidence that God actively created mankind. He spoke everything else into existence except for us. He formed us with his own hands and so intimately breathed life into Adam. (It is also not a coincidence that paramedics can revive someone via CPR. Again an image of Life given to us via God) 

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4 

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.”  Psalm 139:13

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”  Isaiah 64:8 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;”  Jeremiah 1:5 a

Consecrated:  having been made or declared sacred;  declared to be or represent the body and blood of Christ

After Jesus’ sacrifice for our souls, the veil in Gods temple that was used to resemble our separation from him due to our sins was torn in two. (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45, Hebrews 10:19-22)  After that our bodies became living temples for God. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, also keep in mind the commands in these verses are for believers, you can’t be expected to obey if you have not repented) The Holy Spirit will become a part of you at the moment of salvation and therefore God is always with you. 

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”  Psalm 139:14

“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”  Isaiah 43:7

I myself, having been called by God to work in this ministry uniquely created for me, will work for His glory. I will speak truth, and plant seeds. God will reap what He sows, I simply obey and give God all the glorious control. 

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11

God does not make mistakes. He made us as we are, nothing we feel changes the fact that he chose male or female for us. 

If God made mistakes then everything the bible says is a lie. To accuse God of such a thing, attack his character and Being in such a way, is purely insane. There is no hope for us if even a word of His is a lie. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

The bible is God. It reflects who He is, to displays His plan and design for all to see. The bible is Jesus. It shows Gods detailed plan from the beginning to end, to offer us salvation for our own sin and the beautiful opportunity to choose Him. The word of God  is active in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. 

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” Hebrews 4:12

They are Three in One and have existed outside our constructs of time for all of eternity. 

If the bible is wrong about even one thing, then God would cease to exist. That is why God doesn't make mistakes, and bible holds no lies. It can hold mysteries that God does not full reveal to us (this is where acts of faith come in) but it does not lie. Because God can not lie. 

“But Raz, what about those cases of people being born with both genders” 

Sin has corrupted the world, outside of Gods perfect design is an imperfect image of what could have been, what will be once Jesus returns and God restores what has been broken. 

(Something we all desire with all out hearts because it is what we were created for. We were created to have perfect union with Christ. to be perfect in every sense. For there to be no death or evil. We desire perfection in our everyday lives because it is in our intended nature and our relationship with God is only a fraction of what will be possible eternity with Him.)

He has a plan for those people, one we may not full understand or know but it is there and the challenge is no different than those born with any other difficulties (homosexuality, mental illness, health issues, imperfect bodies, addiction, ect.) 

The point is, we are all born with sin. We are all challenged by different temptations (the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.) God presents us with these challenges so the reward for refusing them is great. The feeling of saying no to them, and succeeding by Gods power is wonderfully, indescribable. Its both encouraging and humbling. I know I wont be perfect in this mortal life time, but each success brings me closer to God.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:17

God strengthens us through our battles, and equips us for them through His word. At the end of the day. All of our battles are fought within our minds and our hearts. We are commanded to keep His word close with us (memorized) so we are ready for them all. 

Jesus’ time on earth was important. He lived a life as fully man remember. He Himself was tempted and overcame them all with scripture. (Matthew 4:1-11) His life is an example for us, and an encouragement for what can be accomplished through God. 

He was also fully God. He showcased Their inability to sin and Their perfection. Again. God is prefect. Lying is a sin. God can’t sin, because God is perfect. Therefore, the bible is fully true. 

I urge you to think on these truths, and know that this is love. Gods definition of love is always going to be different from the worlds definition because it tells us what we need, not what we want to hear. 

I love you, and will be praying for you.   

[chronicparagon]

Onmyoji AU: The Phoenix from the West, Blessed and Cursed

Disclaimer: This verse is based on the Onmyoji rpg and information I found about North America during the suggested time period and from other AUs. This includes the early encounters with European settlers and the damage of colonialism. Although  I could not find records of Native Americans being in Japan around the earlier eras, other ethnicities have been there.This includes Yasuke, a samurai of African descent from the 16th century. This also touches on Eastern mythology of the phoenix. I thought this would be symbolism of Harmony’s journey of rising from tragedies, if that makes sense. I did my best to combine Eastern and Western Indigenous perspectives and this I will continue to work on it. 

This could be subject to change when more information can be found and this AU is open to suggestions for improvement. Triggers are tagged.

TLDR: A cleric who would not let bad things that happened keep her down. She travels as a healer with the capabilities to bless and invoke divine intervention, which can affect weaker spirits and demons.

It is hard to say where she came from. Most people did not know the past behind the quiet young woman who holds a gift that is both a blessing and a curse. 

Her journey began as an infant brought to the Land of the Rising Sun. 

She was seen as a commodity like her people including her mother. She was born to an Indigenous woman held captive by travelers who bore the skin that was as white as snow and hearts as cold as the bitter winters.  Horrible barbarians indeed with greed driving their twisted scheme. Search for gold and precious resources ravaged the land the native people held sacred. They retaliated against the invaders, but these strangers always seem to come back in greater numbers. They attacked the villages, slaughtered the bravest of warriors including the woman’s husband and the father of her child who came to the world in the darkest hours of the night, just before the dawn. Her name was Mato Ciqana (Little Bear), after her father, Mato.  Though her mother used to call her Ciqana for short. She was not quite like most babies. A quiet infant who was never fussy or rambunctious and many found endearing for this and for her eyes. 

The child’s eyes were not the beautiful dark hues seen by her people, but bright silver, much like the moon. There is a reason to this, but the truth would not be known until later in the child’s life.  It was an early sign of what she would become.

Though originally intended to be a slave, a man took pity on the young mother and her baby and took them in. He later married the mother and took Ciqana as his own child. He gave her the name Harmony. 

The girl lived her early childhood in Europe and she was more rebellious. Most children made fun of her for her darker complexion, which often led the girl to get into fights. She was scolded for this, but that did little to stop her when she or others were targets of harassment. She lived up to her name, as fierce as the grizzly bear when the time came.

It was often discouraged, but Harmony’s mother secretly taught her about her roots. She was taught her tribe’s language including prayers. Though she was deemed lucky to a protected life from what would have been a grim fate, this would not last. Her father served as a protector of missionaries who would travel to Japan. Harmony and her mother went along with them. This is where blood drenched Harmony’s story.  The attack came in the dark of the night when missionaries arrived to Japan. Sinister beings that are not from the mortal realm found fun in reaping the foreign souls. 

Almost everyone perished, almost. 

When the time came to kill the child, Harmony’s ability came to her aid. She came from a line of  wičháša wakȟáŋ and wičháša winyan, holy men and women who healed the people and served the spirits. Though the holy people and healers were chosen by the spirits through dreams and rituals, her first calling came in a dire moment. One of the two demons cast hellish fire on the girl, just to watch her writhe and cry for mercy. Harmony does not remember how it happened. She tearfully said a prayer in her native language, her heart pleading for salvation. Eyes shut tight, she heard the anguished cries of her devilish assailants before they perished by a holy light. They were weaker demons who would fall to holy powers. Harmony remembered the screams, the painful burns of cursed fire searing into her skin, and the tears she shed for her mother. 

It was then that darkness swallowed the world around her. Surely, this would have been the end had it not been the child’s will to live and divine intervention that she invoked. 

As always, light followed darkness. Harmony woke up to the golden morning light, no longer out in the lone road but in the home of a kind old man. He was a doctor who came across the massacre with the girl being the only survivor. Knowing she is alone, he adopted the child despite not knowing where she came from. From there, he gave her a name to help her blend into Japan’s society. 

He called her Mizuki after her gray eyes that shine as bright as the moon. Though she preferred the name Harmony or her birth name, she had no choice but to accept the new name. Though her heart could never be healed after losing her family, she slowly adapted to her new home. Unfortunately, she was badly burned, leaving scars carved into her skin. Ridicule from the village children for her appearance and not having a family incited her old habit of defending herself with violence. 

Harmony had to learn the hard way that she should not resort to fighting as she grew older. The fighting stopped as she grew older, but while she became a gentle young woman, she would not tolerate injustice. She became more withdrawn from other people, often seeking refuge in the forest embracing the village where she practiced the old prayers and honed her skill in healing on animals, granting every one of them a new chance at life.  While she was taught to be a proper lady, Harmony was not denied learning the ways of medicine as she had an interest in it. Her guardian taught her what he knew, and she incorporated it into her healing capabilities as well as holistic healing that her mother taught her.  Harmony would never forget these teachings as it is her way of honoring her people and the spirits who protected her when near the clutches of death. 

The old doctor has plans for Harmony who he insisted to call Mizuki as she neared marrying age. There were several suitors as they heard about the girl with skin kissed by the sun and silver eyes that resemble the moon. She held the reputation of being quiet with a kind heart as an adult, nothing like the wild child who acted out. Though her scars turned most of them away, which made courting difficult. She did not mind being single. No, she was not against marriage and wished to have that someday, but believed she was not ready for it. She took her time, though the rejections for her imperfections often hurt her. It didn’t help when rumors about her being inhuman for her healing which was not deemed as normal for humans. 

The woman’s life would take another turn as tragedy struck once again. Demons attacked the little village. Harmony did what she could to protect her home and guardian. She did not abandon it, just as her ancestors from the west who stood their ground when invaders attacked. 

But there were too many to fend off herself and she fell, seen as dead, but her body was not touched as she laid unconscious in the blood of her fellow villagers. This was due to outside forces intervening in her favor. This was yet another pivotal moment as she would find herself in another world. It was filled with warmth and light. She remembered seeing a proud bird flying above her before it perched before her. It was then that she found that the bird was a phoenix. A powerful voice came from the bird. 

“Fear not, child. I have not come to harm you.” He begins, “I come with a message.  You have seen what you can do. You can heal the wounds of the body. Your heart is strong and yearns heal broken spirits and spare the innocent souls. This all part of your destiny. You are called to become a holy woman, one who holds the gift of healing the body, mind, and spirit. You hold the gift to protect the weak from darkness and cast away evil.” Harmony remembered these words as though it was yesterday. 

“You must go forth and use your skills to heal the sick, protect the weak, and bring light to this dark world. This is the path you will tread. You are like myself. You fell in darkness and cursed flame, but you have risedn again. Just as you will rise again from the ashes where you lay. Go forth and be the light.” 

Go forth and be the light...

 The dream faded with the spirit’s last words. That was when she woke in the ruins of her home. That is when she noticed a new mark on her body. It’s a mark of a bird with wings outstretched on her back. It was the mark of the spirit.   Forced to relive the darkest moment of her life. Alone and surrounded by people who perished in brutal ways.

 To this day, Harmony would not forgive herself for being so weak as she wanted to protect others. How she wept for the people around her. Despite their distrust in her and how they made fun of her as children, her heart remained pure and full of love for others. Harmony did what she could for them, giving the villagers their last rites from what was taught to her on this land and from her mother. She gave her goodbyes to the doctor who raised her, no matter how her heart ached, she knew it must be done, using her knowledge and skills to bless the bloodstained earth and free the souls.  

That was what she did before leaving with what she could salvage. 

From there, the young woman moves on with the spirit’s words on her mind and a new mission: Tend to others in need, embrace healing, and use her abilities to banish evil with the same methods as her ancestors held close to them.  She is blessed to be a holy agent and healer, cursed to live on land that is not her own, which affects the strength of her gift and cursed to have little acceptance for she carries marks of hellish fire. But despite these misfortunes, they did not keep her down. She still lives with kindness and bring healing energy. 

She rose from the ashes of devastation and heartbreak, just like a phoenix.

[ghostsandgod]

The Golden Key of Paradise

INTRODUCTION.

At first sight of this little book, that bears the high-sounding title of “The Golden Key of Paradise,” perhaps, dear reader, you will be somewhat curious to know whether its contents are as good as its title. Perhaps you are inclined to shrug your shoulders and feel as you do when you see advertised marvellous and infallible cures for all the ills that flesh is heir to.

No — be not deceived; this is a genuine key, and one you can easily manipulate. It is Perfect Contrition, which for the forty centuries (or more, according to many Biblical scholars) before the coming of Christ was the only means of salvation for all those who had committed sin, and which even now is destined to save myriads of souls. Look at its marvellous power. It can open Heaven every day, and every moment of each day. Especially is it efficacious if at the moment of death you cannot have at your side the priest, the dispenser of the divine mercies, an absence unfortunately only too common nowadays, on account of the number of sudden deaths. In this case, Perfect Contrition will be the last key which, with the grace of God, will open Heaven to you. But it is necessary to learn during life how to use this key at the moment of death. How many souls that otherwise would have been lost for all eternity have, by means of an Act of True Contrition, opened Paradise for themselves The learned and holy Cardinal Johann Baptist Franzelin said “If I could wander through the country preaching the Word of God, my favourite theme would be Perfect Contrition.” Golden words, dear reader, with which I fully agree; adding, however, that I would wish to do the same from the pulpits in the cities, where the occasions of sin are greater and the dangers to one s soul are innumerable.

PREFACE TO THE ITALIAN TRANSLATION.

THE Author, by a happy inspiration called this little book “The Golden Key of Paradise.” And, in fact, our true home, yours and mine, and of everybody else, is Heaven. This world in which we now live is not our true home. So true is this that, sooner or later, Death will drive us hence and send us to that Home Eternal. Now, in order to enter into the home of true and everlasting happiness, Heaven, we need a key with which to open the door. And in this little book you will find that key — a key of purest gold, fashioned by a zealous priest from the teachings of the Gospel and of the Catholic Church. This key is called Perfect Contrition.

Now, if Perfect Contrition is the Key to Heaven, it naturally follows that everybody should possess one, and know how to use it. And so, whoever you may be, or whatever may be your condition and state in life, this book is written specially for you.

Are you a priest? This pamphlet will call to your mind beautiful practical truths, the importance of which you may never have considered, and as you turn over these pages you will feel constrained to impart to your flock the wonderful knowledge that is yours.

Are you in a religious community? What peace can you not procure for yourself by frequently using this key.

Are you the father or mother of a family? Then accept this precious key to open the Gates of Heaven for yourself; and leave it as an heirloom to your children; they will thank you for it for all eternity.

Are you a teacher? Teach your charges the frequent use of this mystical key. Some day they will appreciate it.

Whatever you are, learn to use this golden key, and, should any of the thousand disasters so frequent nowadays overtake you, you have at hand the means of saving your soul.

Are you a good Catholic? Use this key frequently, for it led the saints to the apex of sanctity.

Are you a sinner? This key is made specially for you, for it shows you how to reopen the gates that you have closed by sin. I will go even further. Are you a heretic, an infidel in good faith, or one who, knowing his error, is now at death’s door, and has no time to embrace the True Faith or reconcile himself with God? Fortunate are you if this golden key should have come into your hands. It can save you from Hell and open Heaven for you. Fly, fly then, little book, like a butterfly with golden wings, enter into the houses of the rich and of the poor; go into the schools and workshops; fly over mountains and plains, over land and sea; find your way into the steamers and trains; penetrate the mines; ascend to the aeroplane in the clouds; where ever sin and death may be, there bring the light and consolation that are contained in your modest pages.

Key to Heaven.

What is Perfect Contrition?

FIRST of all, what is contrition? Later on we will see about that word “perfect.” Contrition is a grief of the soul, a detestation of sin committed. It must be accompanied by a firm resolution of amending one’s life and of sinning no more.

I. PERFECT CONTRITION. The Soul’s Sorrow.

Now, for real contrition, three conditions are necessary — it must he internal, universal, and supernatural.

(a) It must be internal or inward. It must come from the depths of the heart, and does not consist of acts pronounced by the lips without reflection or thought. It is not necessary to manifest our sorrow by sighs and tears. These may be signs of contrition, but they are not essential or necessary parts of it. Contrition rests in the soul and in the firm resolution of leaving our sin and returning to God.

(b) Our contrition must be universal — that is, it must be extended to all the sins, at least to all the mortal sins, that we have committed.

(c) Lastly, it must be supernatural, which means that it must be founded on some motive of faith — for example, on Hell, on Purgatory, on Heaven, on God, or on some similar motive. Our contrition would be natural, and thereby useless, if it were founded on some purely natural motive of interest or reason — as, for example, if we were sorry because our sins brought us some illness or dishonour or pecuniary loss. But if our sorrow is founded on some truth of our Faith — for example, the loss of Heaven or the fear of Hell — it is supernatural and meritorious.

Now, supernatural contrition may be either imperfect or perfect; and here we return to Perfect Contrition. Contrition is imperfect when we are sorry through fear of God. It is perfect when we are sorry through love of Him. In the first case, we are sorry for having offended God because we fear His just anger and punishment; in the second case, we are sorry because sin offends God, Who is so infinitely good and lovable.

Perfect Contrition springs from the perfect love of God, and our love for God is perfect when we love Him because He is infinitely perfect, infinitely beautiful, infinitely good in Himself, or because, by His innumerable gifts to us, He has shown His love for us. On the other hand, our love for God is imperfect when we love Him because we hope for some benefit from Him. But should this something be Himself in so much as He is our Supreme Good, then this would be perfect love.

From this, you will clearly see that when our love is imperfect we think principally of ourselves, of the benefits we have received; whereas, if it is perfect, we think principally of God — of the goodness of Him Who enriches us with His benefits. When our love is imperfect, we love the gifts we have received; when it is perfect, we love the Giver of these gifts, not so much for the gifts He gives as for the love and goodness that these gifts manifest in Him.

Sorrow Comes from Love.

Now, sorrow or contrition springs from love, and so it follows that our contrition will be perfect when we repent of our sins through the perfect love of God — that is, when we repent, because by sinning we offend God, Who is infinitely good and perfect and beautiful in Himself, and Who loves us so much. Our contrition will be imperfect if we repent through fear of God, because by sinning we have lost Heaven or merited the pains of Purgatory or Hell. When our sorrow is imperfect we think above all about ourselves, and of the punishment that our sins will bring on us in the next life in much the same way as a child is sorry for some fault because it fears a thrashing. With perfect contrition we think principally about God, about His greatness, His goodness, His beauty, His Love, all of which attributes we offend in sinning, and for which sins the God-Man, our Adorable Saviour, suffered so much. It is like a child repenting of a fault because it has grieved its parents, who are so good and loving, and have done so much for it. One other little example will help to explain all this much better. After Saint Peter denied his Divine Master, he thought of his sin, and, “going out, wept bitterly.” Why did he weep? Perhaps for the shame he would feel in front of the other Apostles? If this was the reason, then his sorrow was purely natural and without merit for Heaven. Perhaps he feared being deprived of his dignity as an Apostle and Prince of the Apostles, or perhaps he feared losing Heaven. These certainly would be worthy motives, but still his sorrow would be imperfect. No, No! Peter wept and repented because he had offended his beloved Master, Who was so good, so holy, so worthy of his love; he wept because he had repaid that love with the blackest ingratitude, and, as a consequence, his contrition was perfect, his sin was forgiven. With this golden key he had again reopened the doors of Heaven, which he had closed a moment before by his triple denial. And, dear reader, have you not as much reason to detest your own sins? Certainly. The benefits you have received are more numerous than the hairs on your head, and for each of these gifts you should exclaim with Saint John, “Let us love God Who has first loved us.”

The Love of God.

And how has God loved us? “I have loved you,” He says, “with an eternal love. I have had pity on you and drawn you to Myself.” (Jeremiah 31:3.) So He has loved us with an eternal love. Right from eternity, before you were born — aye, even before this world was made or the angels themselves were created. He turned towards you one of those loving looks that pierce the very heart; for you He created the heavens and the earth, for you He prepared a body and a soul with all the tenderness of a mother preparing for the coming of her child. It is God Who gave you life and keeps you in life; it is He Who from day to day gives you all those natural goods that you enjoy. Such a thought should be sufficient to induce the very pagans to the perfect love of God. But how much more reason have not you, a Christian, a Catholic, to love Him with a perfect love — you who experience a signal proof of His goodness and love, for “He has pity on you”? You, in consequence of the fall of our First Parents, were condemned with the rest of mankind, but your Heavenly Father sent His only Son to be your Saviour and to redeem you with His Precious Blood. During His Agony in the Garden, He thought of you. He thought of you as His Blood flowed from the wounds caused by the cruel scourges and crown of thorns. It was of you He thought as He laboured under the heavy Cross up the hill of Calvary. It was of you He thought and for you He suffered as He expired in shame and agony on the Cross. Yes, He thought of you with as tender a love, as if you were the only person in the world, so that you can truly say with Saint Paul, “He loved me and gave Himself up to death for me.” What conclusion can you draw from all this? This, and this only — “Let us love God who has first loved us.”

Besides, God drew you to Himself by Baptism, the first and most important grace in this life, and by the Church into whose bosom you were then admitted. How many there are who find the True Church only after trials and sacrifices of every kind! How many, again, who never know it! But through the love and mercy of Almighty God, you were endowed with the gift of the True Faith in your cradle. He continues to draw you to Himself by means of the Sacraments and of innumerable other graces, both internal and external. You are, as it were, submerged in an ocean — in the ocean of divine love and mercy. Not satisfied with all these proofs of His love, He wishes to crown all these favours by placing you in Heaven, near to Himself, where you will be eternally happy. What return can you make for all this love? Nothing but love can repay love, and so do not all these proofs of His infinite love force us to love Him and to exclaim with Saint Paul, “Caritas Christi urget nos”? ‘The love of Christ constrains us’ to love Him in return.

Now, let us examine a little. How have you corresponded to the love of a God so loving and so lovable? Undoubtedly, with ingratitude and sin. But do you not now repent of such ingratitude? Ah! I have no doubt but that at this moment your heart burns with a desire of repairing such ingratitude by means of a whole-hearted love. If such is the case, then at this very moment, you have Perfect Contrition — that contrition, namely, that is founded on the love of God and is called Perfect Contrition, or Contrition of Love.

But this contrition may be of a still higher degree and consist in loving God simply because He is infinitely perfect, infinitely glorious, and worthy of being loved above every other thing, independent of His mercies towards us. Let us make a comparison. Astronomers tell us that in the firmament there are stars as large and as brilliant as the sun, but so far away that they are invisible to the naked eye. Now, though these stars give us neither light nor warmth, are they not as worthy of our admiration as the sun itself? And suppose, now, that man had never experienced any benefits from that eternal Star — the Love of God; suppose that Almighty God had not created the earth or any living creature; He would not on this account be any less wise, less grand, less beautiful, less glorious, less worthy of love, because in Himself and through Himself, He is the Supreme Good. This is what we mean when we recite the words, “I detest my sins above every other evil because they displease You, my God, Who for Your infinite goodness are so deserving of all my love.” Reflect for a moment on the love of God — above all, think of the manifestation of this love in the sufferings of Our Divine Saviour. By this means, you will easily understand it, and, like a fiery dart, it will pierce and inflame your heart. Behold the practical way of exciting yourself to Perfect Contrition.

It is related in the life of the Curé d’Ars that on one occasion, a lady, a perfect stranger to him, asked him to pray for her husband, a careless Catholic, who had just died suddenly and without receiving the Sacraments. “He was so careless, Father,” she said, weeping; “he did not go to his duties, and whatever will become of him?" “Madam,” replied the saintly priest, “do you not remember the bouquet of flowers he picked every Saturday to decorate Our Lady’s altar? In return Our Blessed Lady obtained for him the grace to make an act of Perfect Contrition before dying, and he is saved.” The Curé had never before seen that lady, nor did he know her husband, but it was a fact that every Saturday he picked that bunch of flowers. Our Lady, in return for that very small token of love he showed her, placed in his hands at that supreme moment the Golden Key of Paradise.

II. HOW TO OBTAIN PERFECT CONTRITION.

First of all, we must bear in mind that Perfect Contrition is a grace — a great grace — from God. We should therefore constantly pray for it. Ask for it, not only when you wish to make an Act of Contrition, but often during the day. It should be the object of your most ardent desires. Repeat often, “My God! Give me perfect sorrow for my sins.” And if you sincerely mean what you say, Our Lord will hear your prayer.

Before the Crucifix.

Besides this, here is an easy way of making an Act of Contrition. Kneel down before a crucifix in a church or in your room, or, if you cannot do this, imagine yourself to be in the presence of Jesus Christ, and, while looking at His wounds, think for a few moments, and then repeat these or similar words, “Who is This nailed to a Cross? It is Jesus — my God and Saviour. And see how He suffers! His Body covered with wounds and blood; His Soul submerged in anguish and humiliations. Why does He suffer? For the sins of mankind, and so for mine also. In the abyss of His torments, He is thinking of me. He is suffering for me. He is making reparation for my sins.” Remain there at the foot of the Cross while the Blood of your Saviour falls drop by drop on your soul. Ask yourself how you have corresponded with these proofs of love. Call to mind your past sins, and, forgetting for a moment both Heaven and Hell, repent because your sins have reduced your Saviour to so pitiable a state. Promise Him that you will not crucify Him again, and then slowly and fervently repeat the Act of Contrition. Better still, repeat those words of sorrow that will spontaneously rise up in your heart, now softened by grace and filled with a holy bitterness.

Three Visits.

It will not be out of place to call to mind here what Saint Charles Borromeo taught his penitents when they went to Confession. “Do you wish,” he used to say, “to know an easy way of exciting yourselves to true sorrow for your sins? Make three little visits — the first above, the second below, the third in the middle. Your visit up above will show you Paradise, which you have renounced for some empty pleasure, for some sinful thought, or word or act. The displeasure that will arise in your heart at the thought of this loss will be good attrition, or imperfect contrition, and in Confession will suffice to wash away your sins.

“Your visit below will show you that frightful place in which you would be now if God had exercised His justice — that place where you would for ever suffer the torment of fire, far from your true home, which is Heaven. The sorrow arising from this consideration is also excellent, and sufficient in Confession.

“Your third visit will show you Christ crucified and dying for you on Calvary amid pains and insults of every description. The knowledge that the Crucified One is Infinite Goodness Itself, your greatest Benefactor, Whom, instead of loving, you have insulted and crucified, will awaken in your heart sentiments of love and sorrow that will wipe away your sins even before you enter the confessional.”

Dear reader, remember these three visits of Saint Charles, not only when you go to Confession, but each time you wish to excite yourself to Perfect Contrition.

III. IS IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE AN ACT OF PERFECT CONTRITION?

No doubt, it is more difficult to make an act of Perfect Contrition than an Imperfect one, which suffices when we go to Confession. But still, there is no one who, if he sincerely wishes it, cannot, with the grace of God, make an act of Perfect Contrition. Sorrow is in the will, not in the senses or feelings. All that is needed is that we repent because we love God above everything else; that is all. True it is that Perfect Contrition has its degrees, but it is none the less perfect because it does not reach the intensity and sublimity of the sorrow of Saint Peter, of Saint Mary Magdalene, or of Saint Aloysius. Such a degree is very desirable, but is by no means necessary. A lesser degree, but, provided it proceeds from the love of God, and not through fear of His punishments, is quite sufficient. And it is very consoling to remember that for the 4000 years (or more, according to many Biblical scholars) before the coming of Christ the only means sinners had of obtaining pardon was this same Perfect Contrition. There was no Sacrament of Penance in those days. Even today for thousands — aye, for millions — of pagans, of non-Catholics, and of Catholics, too, who have no time to call a priest to their bedside, the only means of pardon and salvation is an act of Perfect Contrition.

Now, if it is true that God does not wish the death of a sinner, it follows that He does not wish to impose on His creatures a contrition or sorrow beyond their powers, but one that is within the reach of everyone. And so, if millions of poor creatures who, through no fault of their own, live and die outside the True Fold, if these can obtain the grace of Perfect Contrition, do you imagine, dear reader, that it will be difficult for you — you who enjoy the happiness of being a Christian and a Catholic, and so are capable of receiving much greater graces than they — you who are far better instructed in things divine than the poor infidels are?

But I dare to go even further. Often, very often, without even thinking of it, you have Perfect Contrition for your sins. For example, when you hear Mass devoutly or make the Stations of the Cross properly; when you reflect before your crucifix or an image of the Sacred Heart. What is more, every time you say the “Our Father,” in the first three petitions you make three acts of perfect charity, each of which is sufficient to cancel every sin from your soul.

Very often, a few words suffice to express the most ardent love and the most profound sorrow — for instance, the little ejaculations, “My Jesus, mercy,” “My God and my All,” “My God, I love You above all things,” “My God, have mercy on me, a poor sinner.” Aided by the grace of God (and God has promised to give to all who ask), it is by no means difficult to make an Act of Contrition. Take the case of David, who for one curious look fell into the sin of adultery, and then of murder. Having committed these sins, he lived on quite unconcerned about the state of his soul till the prophet Nathan came to reprove him. And this reproach induced David to make an act of Perfect Contrition in a few words, “Peccavi Domino” (“I have sinned against the Lord” 2 Samuel 12:13). So efficacious was his contrition that the prophet, inspired by God, exclaimed, “The Lord has forgiven you.”

Take, again, the case of Mary Magdalen — a public sinner. She did not even say one word, but simply wept at the Feet of Jesus. Jesus saw the sorrow in her heart, and, turning to her, said: “Woman! because you have loved much your sins are forgiven you.” See, then, how little is needed — only to love God above everything. And love demands neither time nor trouble; it suffices to think of Jesus crucified, for it is impossible then not to love Him, and to be sorry for the sins by which we have crucified Him.

Remember the good thief — a robber condemned to death — and yet for those few words spoken from his heart, “Lord, remember me when You shall come into Your Kingdom,” he was immediately promised Heaven by Christ Himself: “Today, you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Lastly, look at Saint Peter, who denied his Master three times. Jesus looked at him; Peter said not a single word, but, “going out, wept bitterly.” He was forgiven; he was chosen by Christ to be His first successor on earth — the Prince of the Apostles — and to-day is one of the most glorious saints in Heaven.

Dear readers, should we ever have the misfortune to offend God, let us give a look at the tabernacle where Jesus is palpitating with love for us, or let us think of Calvary. Our hearts will be touched. We will repent. We shall be forgiven and saved.

IV. THE EFFECTS OF PERFECT CONTRITION.

Forgiveness Even Before Confession.

Suppose the person before he makes an act of Perfect Contrition is in the state of mortal sin. Immediately, before even he goes to Confession — so long as he has the intention of going when opportunity offers — all his sins are forgiven. Not only is the eternal punishment of Hell remitted, but all his merits, which he had lost by sinning, are again restored to him. And if the person making this Act of Contrition is in the state of grace, his soul is strengthened against future temptations, his venial sins are forgiven, his purgatory is lessened, and the love of God increases in his soul. Behold the wonderful effects of the mercy of God produced in the soul of the Christian, and even in that of the pagan in good faith, by an act of Perfect Contrition.

Contrition Does Not Dispense With Confession.

Perhaps in reading this you will be surprised and inclined to say, “I can well understand that at the moment of death we should ask for the grace of Perfect Contrition, and that at that supreme moment, it produces these wonderful effects, but I can scarcely credit that it has this power at all times, and when we are well and strong.” And yet, all this is perfectly true; it is as solid as the Rock on which the Church is built. In short, it is as certain as the Word of God. In the Council of Trent, the Church, under the assistance of the Holy Ghost, declared “that Perfect Contrition — that is, that which proceeds from the love of God — justifies man and reconciles him with God even before the reception of the Sacrament of Penance.” Of course, it is understood that such a person, if a Catholic, has at least the implicit intention of going to Confession. Now, the Council of Trent says nothing about the moment of death — it makes no distinction of time or circumstances, and so always and at any moment during life, this golden key opens the gates of Paradise. This declaration of Holy Church is simply the explanation of those words of Our Divine Saviour, “If anyone loves Me” (and no one can love Him without being sorry for having offended Him) — “if anyone loves Me, My Father will love Him, and We will come and dwell in him.” Now, since God cannot dwell in a soul stained with mortal sin, it follows that Perfect Contrition, or the Contrition of Charity, as it is called, banishes sin from the soul.

Such has always been the teaching of the Church, and when a heretic denied it, he was condemned by Rome. If, as we have already seen, Perfect Contrition produced these wonderful effects in the Old Law — the Law of Fear and Justice — with what greater reason should it not do so in the New Law — the Law of Mercy and Love?

But, seeing how efficacious Perfect Contrition is, seeing how it cleanses the soul even before Confession, you may be inclined to say, “Why, then, go to Confession at all? Was not Confession instituted by Jesus Christ for the remission of sins? And if Perfect Contrition remits sin even before Confession, where is the necessity of Confession?” This objection or difficulty is answered in the Catechism: “If we fall into sin we should make an Act of Contrition and go to Confession as soon as we can.” And the reason is because, though Perfect Contrition produces the same effects as Confession, it does not do so independently of Confession. Confession is the ordinary means instituted by Christ for the forgiveness of sin, and Perfect Contrition supposes the intention of confessing those sins already forgiven by this Act of Contrition. Without this intention, an Act of Contrition would not remit a single mortal sin. Should a person afterwards neglect to go to Confession, at least within the year, he would commit a mortal sin by wilfully disobeying one of the Commandments of the Church. So, bear in mind that in order to make a good Act of Contrition we must have the intention of going to Confession. But when? Must one go at the first opportunity? Strictly speaking, no; since we are obliged to go but once a year, except in special circumstances — as, for instance, when we wish to receive Holy Communion. However, all theologians vividly exhort us to go as soon as possible, and for several reasons. We are more certain then that our sins are forgiven, for our contrition may not have been perfect. We thus enjoy greater peace of conscience, and we enrich our souls with the precious graces annexed to the Sacrament of Penance. When, for instance, you meet with an accident and injure, say, your hand or foot, what do you do? You immediately apply such home remedies as you know of, and then call the doctor at the first opportunity, for his prescriptions, you know, are authentic. And you should do the same for an injury to your soul — immediately say an Act of Contrition, which is the home remedy, and then, as soon as possible, have recourse to your spiritual doctor, who is your Confessor.

Again, someone might be inclined to say, “Since it is so easy to obtain pardon by means of an Act of Perfect Contrition, I need not worry any more. I can sin without scruple, and then simply make an Act of Contrition, and all will be well.” Dear reader, anyone who would reason in this way would not have the shadow of sorrow. How could he say he loved God above everything when he intends to offend Him without scruple? When one is really sorry for having done something, he is resolved never to do it again. It may happen, and often does happen, that after one has sincerely repented of a sin, he is tempted again, and again falls into the same sin. This is quite a different thing. His contrition was good, because at the moment his resolution was sincere; but later, under a fresh temptation, he unfortunately fell again. All he can do is to repent once more, and resolve more firmly than ever to be more vigilant in the future.

Perfect Contrition is a great help to all those who sincerely wish to keep in the state of grace — to all those who, in spite of good intentions, through frailty, fall from time to time into mortal sin. But should anyone wish to abuse it as a means of sinning more freely, for him, instead of being a divine remedy, it would turn into an infernal poison.

Saint Augustine is the model of Perfect Contrition. Having spent a sinful youth and early manhood, he repented, and in his Confessions says: “Too late, oh Eternal Goodness! have I learned to know You, but for the future I will love You, I will never again offend You.” See how he coupled with his sorrow the resolution of sinning no more.

V. WHY IS PERFECT CONTRITION SO IMPORTANT, AND, AT TIMES, EVEN NECESSARY?

It is important during life, and especially at the moment of death, for the following reasons: —

Friends of God.

What greater happiness can we wish for in this life than to be in the state of sanctifying grace? It is this which beautifies the soul, which makes it a child of God and an heir to Heaven. It converts every good work and every suffering patiently borne into acts of merit. It is, as it were, a magic wand, converting everything into heavenly gold. On the other hand, what more unfortunate being is there than a person in mortal sin? All his past merits are lost, his soul is in danger of hell, all his good works, all his sufferings, even his prayers, are without the least merit for Eternity. How important, then, to be in the state of grace. And if a person does fall from this state, how can he again acquire it? There are two means — Confession and Perfect Contrition. Confession is the ordinary means, but as it is sometimes very difficult, and even impossible, to go to Confession, Almighty God, in His Goodness, has given us an extraordinary means, which is Perfect Contrition.

Suppose, which God forbid, that someday you have the misfortune of committing a mortal sin. After the distractions of the day, when you are at home in the quiet of the evening, your conscience will begin to trouble you, you will begin to feel ill at ease, and perhaps frightened, and with very good reason, too. What are you to do? God places in your hands the golden key that will reopen for you the Gates of Heaven that you closed during the day. Make an Act of Contrition from the motive of the love of God; resolve to sin no more, and to go to Confession when you can; then go peacefully to bed.

You are at peace with God, and if you die during the night, you will be saved.

On the contrary, how pitiable is the state of the man who is ignorant of Perfect Contrition! He goes to bed at night and rises in the morning an enemy of God; he continues in this fearful state for days and weeks, perhaps for months and years. This profound darkness into which his soul is plunged is unbroken except for a few days after each Confession; he then sins again, and remains in this state till his next Confession. Unhappy man! To live practically all his life in mortal sin, an enemy of God, without merits for Heaven, and in constant danger of being lost eternally.

Before Holy Communion.

Of course, you would not think of going to Holy Communion after having committed a mortal sin and before going to Confession. Saint Paul insists: “Let a man prove himself first.” (1 Corinth 11:28.) Let him go to Confession, and then partake of the Eucharistic Bread. Perfect Contrition is an efficacious, but at the same time an extraordinary, means of obtaining pardon — a means to be used when we cannot conveniently go to Confession, and we always have an opportunity of going before Communion. Still, we would do well to make an Act of Contrition immediately before Communion, to purify our souls more and more, and to receive more abundant fruits from this most holy Sacrament.

Again, the practice of making frequent Acts of Contrition is most advantageous for one who habitually lives in the state of grace. Apart from a special revelation from God, we cannot know for certain whether we are in His friendship or not; but every Act of Contrition lessens our anxiety on this point. Again, it often happens that we are in doubt as to whether we have given consent to a temptation or not. What are we to do? Examine our conscience? This is useless, for it will only bring back the temptation again, especially if against holy purity; and, moreover, we will never decide whether we have consented or not. No; make an Act of Perfect Contrition, as Saint Francis de Sales was accustomed to do, and worry no more. And even if it were revealed to us that we are in the state of grace, Perfect Contrition would still be most advisable. Every act increases sanctifying grace in our souls, one degree of which is worth more than all the riches of this world. Each act cancels any venial sins that stain our souls, which, in consequence, increase in fervour and sanctity. Each act of perfect love remits some of our purgatory. What did Our Divine Saviour say to Mary Magdalen? “Because you have loved much, much is forgiven you.” If, in order to lessen our purgatory, we gain Indulgences, do good works, give alms, then the perfect love of God, which is the queen of virtues, merits the very first place among all the virtuous acts we perform.

Finally, every Act of Contrition strengthens our souls, and so increases our confidence of obtaining that greatest of all graces — the grace of final perseverance. What accumulation of graces does not this practice of frequent acts of Perfect Contrition obtain for us!

At the Moment of Death.

But, if this practice is so important during life, it reaches the height of its importance at the moment of death, especially when death comes too suddenly to call the priest. Take the case when, some years ago, a fire broke out in a large tenement house and many were cut off from escape by the flames. Among these was a boy of twelve years, who, falling on his knees, loudly recited an Act of Contrition, and invited all to join with him. How many, perhaps, of those unfortunate victims owe their eternal salvation to that boy? Now, dangers surround us every day. You or I, which God forbid, may one day be the victim of an accident — a kicking or bolting horse, a motor-car out of control, a slip on a stairs, a fall off a tram or train, a falling tree — there are a thousand and one ways by which death may come suddenly. A stroke may come when we are at our work or at our meals — suddenly, when least expected. Someone may run for a priest, but he may not arrive in time. What are you to do? Immediately make an act of Perfect Contrition. Don’t wait to see if the priest will arrive in time, but immediately repent for having offended and crucified so good a God. You will be saved. Perfect Contrition will be for you the Golden Key of Paradise.

But do not delude yourself with the thought that you will put off your repentance till the moment of death, and that then you will make an act of Perfect Contrition. Perfect Contrition is a grace given only to those of good will, and if anyone were to abandon himself to a life of sin with the hope of a death-bed repentance, he would find himself face to face with a Judge Who will say, “You will seek Me, but you will die in your sins.” (See John 8:21.)

Will I have sufficient time in case of a sudden death to make an Act of Contrition? With the grace of God, yes. It requires very little time, especially if during life you have made a practice of exciting yourself frequently; it is not necessary to say even one word. Besides, when death is imminent, instants seem like hours. The mind is very active, and, added to this, Almighty God will be most lavish with His graces at that supreme moment.

What irreparable evils are caused through ignorance at the time of an accident! People rush from every side to render assistance. Some begin to cry; everyone loses his head; one rushes for a doctor, perhaps another for a priest; someone calls for water and begins to apply first-aid remedies — and all the time the unfortunate victim is dying. Except for the one who sent for the priest, no one has compassion on his soul — no one suggests an Act of Contrition. Should you ever be present at an accident, run quickly but calmly to the victim, give him a crucifix to kiss if you have one, and then slowly and clearly ask him to repeat with his heart what you are about to say. Then slowly and distinctly repeat an Act of Contrition, even though the dying man may not seem to hear or understand you. A soul that you may save in this way will be your crown in Heaven.

Do you know, dear reader, who will most naturally make an Act of Contrition when necessity arises? He, of course, who was most accustomed to make one every day, in every danger, after every sin, only such a one, when the occasion arises, will know how to manage quickly and swiftly the Golden Key of Paradise.

VI. WHEN SHOULD WE MAKE AN ACT OF CONTRITION?

Every Night.

All you who have followed me thus far, I beg of you, for the love of God and of your immortal souls, to make this act every night before retiring. This I ask, not because you are obliged in conscience to do so, but because I know it is for your good. Do not tell me that daily examination of conscience and Perfect Contrition are good only for priest and religious; don’t make the excuse that you have not the time, or are too tired in the evenings. For how long does it take to make an Act of Contrition? Half an hour? A quarter of an hour? No; a few minutes are quite sufficient. I suppose you say a few prayers before going to bed. Very well! Having finished these prayers, think for a moment or two as to what sins you have committed during the day — you will hardly need to think if you have fallen grievously, for such a sin will rise naturally to your remembrance — then slowly and fervently recite an Act of Contrition, preferably before a crucifix or picture of Our Lady. And then go to bed in peace, for you are at peace with God. Begin this very evening, and never omit this most excellent practice. Should you ever have the misfortune of committing a mortal sin, do not remain in this awful state for an instant — on the spot, or at least before going to bed, say an Act of Contrition, and then go to Confession when you can.

One day, dear reader, sooner or later, the hour of your death will come, and if, which God forbid, it comes suddenly, you now know the key with which to open Heaven. If you have been faithful in making frequent Acts of Contrition during life, I assure you that you will have both the time and the grace to make one at that supreme moment, and thus save your soul. And if you are given sufficient time to prepare for death, let your last prayer be an act of love towards God, your Creator, your Redeemer, and your Saviour — an act of sincere and perfect contrition for all the sins of your whole life. Then throw yourself with childlike confidence into the arms of Divine Mercy, for God will be for you a merciful and compassionate Judge.

And now I leave you. Read and re-read this little book. Get others to read it, and put into practice its precious lessons. Often repeat your Act of Contrition, a simple means, as you have seen, of obtaining pardon, the supreme and only means in case of necessity, a source of grace both during life and particularly at the hour of death—in short, “THE GOLDEN KEY OF PARADISE.”

VARIOUS ACTS OF CONTRITION.

1. O my God, I am sorry that I have sinned against You, for You are so good; I will never sin again. O pardon me and help me with Your grace.

2. O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest my sins above every other evil; because they displease You, my God, Who, for Your infinite goodness, are so deserving of all my love; and I firmly resolve, by Your holy grace, never more to offend You, and to amend my life.

3. O my God, from the bottom of my heart I am sorry for all my sins, because by them I deserve Your just punishment in this life and in the next; because I have been ungrateful to You, my greatest Benefactor, and, above all, because I have offended You, the Most Perfect and the Most Amiable Good, my Saviour, Who has died on the Cross for my sins, I am firmly resolved to amend my life, never more to offend You, and to avoid the occasions of sin.

4. O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, because You are so very good, and I firmly purpose by the help of Your grace not to offend You again.

*****

[inthespiritofthemind]

#46 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Part 2

Verse 18: “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,” When Adam and woman sinned in the Garden of Eden, God’s closeness and fellowship with mankind was broken.  But He had a plan for reconciling us to Himself before the foundation of the world. Every part of what these verses say was part of that plan and was set in motion.  God knew what would happen and began the reconciliation of mankind to Himself. Reconciliation is the restoration of a friendly relationship.  God loves us so much, that He created us as His highest creation.  He spoke His Word and when man disobeyed, God’s Word was fulfilled and mankind died spiritually as a result of the first sin each one committed.  He desired for His relationship with mankind to be restored.  But each man was in an unholy state when sin occurred and could not survive fellowshipping God directly.  God’s pure holiness made it impossible for us to be in close contact until the ultimate sacrifice was made.  The sacrifice of the blood of bulls and goats according to the Law each year “could never make perfect those who draw near…..For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin.”  Hebrews 10:1b, 4

So, God planned the ultimate sacrifice which would be once for all.  “By this will (covenant) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  Hebrews 10:10 He planned to send His Son to be the ultimate sacrifice as a spotless lamb, sinless and perfect, on the cross for us, as us, in death and in resurrection. Thereby, He, God, could reconcile the whole world, whom He loved so much, to Himself through Jesus Christ!! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (God).  John 3:16 Now we can, as holy and righteous spirit beings who are one with Him, fellowship Him through Jesus.  Jesus points us to the Father.  Everything Jesus did was because God desired it.  Jesus had to submit His will to the Father completely. And by doing that, we have been reconciled to the Father!

In the last part of verse 18 we see that God gave us the ministry of reconciliation.  This brings to mind that after we have received the fact of our reconciliation, He desires for us to look out of our own selves and “minister” that same reconciliation to others.  To minister is to “give help, serve, or attend” to the needs of others around us.

Verse 19: “namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”  This reconciliation has not just been given to Christians.  It is a fact already accomplished for the whole world. We receive it gladly for ourselves, but the message of reconciliation is for everyone in the world.  The sacrifice has been given.  It is done! It is for everyone! God desires all of mankind to know they are already reconciled to Him.  He yearns for relationship with all mankind.  And He has given us that ministry.  A ministry is caring for the needs of others, and for the lost, it is sharing that God loves us all and has given us reconciliation or relationship with Him.  Everyone can have salvation upon receiving Jesus as Savior and then know God.  

He is not holding trespasses or sins against us. He gave the ultimate sacrifice of His Son! The sins have been paid for by Jesus.  God demanded perfection and Jesus performed that for us. Demons accuse us of imperfections and failings over and over in the number one stronghold called performance.  In that stronghold we base our own value on a flawed view of the imperfection and behavior in our souls, and we think that is how God sees us.  But this verse clearly states that God is not holding our sins against us.  We are reconciled.  The whole world is reconciled to God.  Demons also manipulate this performance stronghold in our souls to cause us to have difficulty loving the brethren based on their performance and behavior and to feel distant from God based on our performance and behavior.  These are all lies which we have received and believed.

God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus and His perfect sacrifice.  God no longer holds our sins against us.  We are sin free.  We are brought back to reconciliation and relationship with God.  Individually and as part of the whole world, we are entrusted to speak and minster that word of reconciliation.  If we are believing the lies of the stronghold of performance, we will encounter demons trying to stop our freedom from occurring and that of those to whom we are to minister.  We need to spend time with the Holy Spirit to be free of these strongholds.  He will shine the light of truth in our souls and we must take authority over the evil spirits and command them to leave. Offensive warfare will uncover the spirits and when we turn up the light of truth against them they will leave. When light comes against darkness, the light always works and wins!  Then we must will to do what the Father desires and speak the word of reconciliation to all mankind.

Verse 20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”  We are people sent as representatives or messengers for Christ.  We are begging on behalf of Christ.  Jesus humbled Himself before His Father giving everything.  He gave Himself for the whole world at the request of His Father.  How did He do that?  Think of the love required for Him to go through what He went through.  He gave up His deity and became a man in the flesh. He dealt with everything we deal with in life except He knew what darkness was and never sinned when tempted by that darkness.  He knew what it was to live in this earth, but His fellowship with His Father was not severed until He suffered the cross.  Because He gave all, even His life, He asks us to accept His sacrifice and reconciliation to God. We are to share this offering from the Father. This is such good news.  God is entreating through us for all to accept.

Verse 21: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  Jesus went to the cross for us and as us.  When He died, He died as us.  So, we were literally on the cross with Him.  We saw that in verse 14.  In verse 15 we see that He also rose again on our behalf. He rose as us. We have died and risen with Christ.

Jesus did not just die as us and rise as us, but He BECAME sin!   That is a miracle only God could do! He knew no sin. He became sin.  As perfection, He had never sinned. He was the only one who ever performed perfectly, which is what God required as a “once for all” sacrifice for mankind to be redeemed and reconciled to Himself.  He became sin on our behalf.  He did that so we could become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).  

This “might” does not mean “maybe” will become the righteousness of God. “Might” here represents the opportunity to have something when you receive what is offered.  It is done when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.  This is a gift from the cross.  This means that when we receive Jesus we are rebirthed spiritually and become one spirit with God.  To be reconciled with God and in right standing enough to have a relationship with a holy God means that we must be holy and righteous as well. The newly rebirthed spirit being that we have become is clean and brand new as stated in verse 17. We are new creations who have never sinned and cannot sin. “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”  1 John 3:9

The rebirth does not change the soul, hence the need to renew the mind to the presence of lies from the enemy.  These lies and the liars behind them affect behavior in the soul and body or “flesh.” The lies also keep us from knowing the will of God. Romans 12:2 We are instructed to do spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 The battleground is the mind. Spiritual warfare is when spirits fight. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12  

The enemy will condemn believers when the soul expresses bad behavior which is a result of their presence and lies in our minds. But Romans 8:1 says “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”   And 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus holds us complete without blame. We are righteous and one spirit with God.  We are blameless.  We are holy. We must renew our minds and believe the truth.  We must renew our minds and shine the light on the lies of the enemy driving them out of our souls.  God has given us righteousness through the gift of His Son and Jesus entreats us to know that and share that gift with the world.  I Corinthians 15:34 calls upon us to “Awake unto righteousness and sin not.” Righteousness is who we are in spirit. “Sin not” refers to the mind of the soul being renewed.  We are not to be sin conscious.  We are to walk in the righteousness God gave us.  

[pamphletstoinspire]

Articles on Catholic Theology and Teachings - Part 3 - Faith: A Stumbling Block and a Balm for Christianity

None of the theological virtues is more confused, distorted, publicized and mocked than the virtue of faith. Yet, it is the centerpiece of nearly every Sunday sermon throughout the world and is synonymous with piety and religion in our modern culture. Centuries of heresy and a corrosion of religious teaching have wrecked havoc on the simple foundation of the Christian Way; but hope in modern society should not be lost since the average man still believes faith is necessary for a virtuous life. Instead, the real threat to modern Christianity is a distortion of the virtue of faith rather than obstinate refusal of it. An enlightening examination of faith is perhaps the best way to prevent oneself from sinking into the mire of unbelief and heresy so prevalent in today’s modern Church.

In an age that respects tolerance of beliefs over the value of objective truth, it is no wonder that so many people no longer believe in the necessity of the Christian faith. Indeed a common position held today is the following: “It doesn’t matter which religion you belong to as long as you are a good person. God doesn’t care which religion you join as long as you mean well”. This statement is an example of a modern heresy called indifference, and it has taken root throughout all levels of Christianity. If this heretical statement were to come from a Christian (and it very often does) and they were to be challenged by asking, “What about faith, isn’t it necessary for salvation?” the answer would probably be that faith only means you believe in some god. After all, if God is good why would he burn someone in hell for picking the wrong religion? Here it can be seen that the proponent of indifference has struck a chord of truth: why punish the ignorant for not knowing the facts? This is the very bane of modern Christianity: a distortion of Christian doctrines with half-truths, confusion of facts and ignorance. Modernism is so insidious because it resonates with half-truths. Perhaps an examination of what faith really means is necessary to obviate religious indifference.

Faith means believing in the teachings of God without the need for direct evidence or rationalizations. Christians believe in the articles of faith because God has told us they are true, and we need no other evidence in order to live our lives according to those articles. It needs to be emphasized that faith is not a warm sensation we have in our hearts that tells us we are right. Faith is not defined as simply believing that God exists. Faith is not even a warm, gooey emotion that lets us know God loves us. In its essence, faith is intellectual and virtuous. C. S. Lewis noted in Mere Christianity that faith is considered virtuous because it sustains us in periods of trial when our beliefs are in doubt. Faith does not force us to believe something irrational; rather it allows us to hold true to our Christianity during periods when irrational doubt assails us. Indeed, faith is not irrational or contrary to reason, hence no Christian believes the articles of Christianity to be contrary or opposed to reason. Given this definition of faith we can understand why religious indifference is contrary to true Christianity.  A man cannot have true Christian faith unless he is willing to accept and believe the articles of faith. Here we arrive at the crux of the problem: what are the Christian articles of faith and how are we to know they are those of Jesus Christ?

The source of the Christian articles are those teachings that come from God. Christians and Jews believe that God first communicated his truths to men through the Jewish prophets beginning with Abraham, father of the Jewish nation. God adopted the descendants of Abraham as his chosen people and in doing so helped to forge the first seed of salvation throughout the ancient world. It was the Jews who first received the Ten Commandments and the law of God. The Jews became the bulwark of truth in a confused, pagan world. They were the first major religion to embrace monotheism, a radical notion at the time (although it seems very orthodox and obvious today). This is not to say they were a perfect people, in fact they very often rebelled against God and turned to polytheism and it’s pantheon of false gods. It took nearly four thousand years for the Jewish people to reach the point were they could go no further. Their religion was wholesome and good in that it reinforced the law of God that is written in our hearts, it encouraged prayer, and most importantly it offered an imperfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. Unfortunately, it could go no further. The Jewish faith was very stagnant and had become mired in hairsplitting over interpretations of the Mosaic law. No attempt was made to evangelize to those outside the Jewish faith because the Jews believed their religion to be hereditary: they believed the truth was meant only for Abraham’s children. Finally, the imperfect sacrifices offered by the Jewish High Priests was not enough to atone for the scandal of man’s sins. It was then that the God-man Jesus appeared from the obscure town of Nazareth and did things shocking, outrageous and wondrous. Himself a Jew, Jesus spoke and preached like one of the great prophets. He could cure the sick, heal the broken, raise the dead, prophesize the future, multiply bread and fish, and walk on water. Even more remarkable, he claimed to be able to forgive a man’s sins. Such a statement from a Jew was considered blasphemous and outrageously conceited. The Jews must have fumed! How can a mere man claim to forgive a person’s sins? For his seemingly blasphemous statements and growing popularity with the common man, the Jewish leaders had Jesus crucified. What many of the Jews did not realize however, was that this was no mere man. On the third day following his crucifixion, the followers of Christ testify to his resurrection from the dead. It was the resurrection that provided the proof that Jesus was in fact God in the flesh, and from this miraculous event Christianity was born.

Many readers have heard the story of the birth of Christianity countless times, and the point of reiterating it is to show what the basis of our faith is. We have faith in Christianity because this man Jesus proved himself to be more then a man by his deeds, words, prophetic fulfillment, and resurrection from the dead. We believe his teachings are true because we believe he is God, and his teachings and practices constitute the fulfillment (not the replacement) of the Jewish religion. Although Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead, he did not abandon his flock. He instituted a living, visible Church lead by his apostles and guided by the Holy Spirit. The leader of the infant Church, Peter (whose original name was Simon until Christ changed it), was chosen by Christ, “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18)”. The Church, lead by Peter and his successors, has always been the guardians and teachers of the doctrine of Christ for, “the household of God [is] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone (Ephesians 2:20)”. God has given us the church to instruct and interpret Christ’s teachings. No man is left to private interpretation of the Bible; rather the Church protects the original creeds of the apostles and shepherds us to the truth. One of the first leaders of the church, St. Paul instructed the early Christians to reject private interpretation of the doctrines of Christ, “ no prophecy in Scripture is the subject of private interpretation.” The inevitable conclusion is that the Church plays the vital role of teacher, interpreter and protector of the Scriptures. This is why any attempt to break from the church’s teachings by abandoning the Church, starting a new denomination or railing against “the institution of the Church” is pure folly. Here is why so much confusion and error has infected “Christianity”, not because the Church has gone astray but because people of have gone astray and left the true apostolic Church.

Now there can be no doubt that the Catholic Church of today is the same church as that instituted by Christ nearly 2000 years ago. Does this seem shocking? It should not, for we can see that Christ clearly instituted a church lead by St. Peter in the scriptures. The name Peter is the English translation of the Greek word “Petros” which translates to “kepha” in Aramaic, the language of Christ. Kepha means rock in Aramaic, and it is clear in Matthew 16:18 that Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter (rock) in order to show that Simon was the rock on which the church would be built. Additionally, Christ said that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church; we thus have an assurance that the Church cannot fail or fall away. It makes sense that the Church would remain infallible in doctrine and teaching, even though it’s own leaders are still vulnerable to sin. The Church cannot fail in correct teaching and interpretation of doctrine because this would undermine the basis for all Christian faith. How could we ever be assured of the truth without an infallible, everlasting church? The Protestant reformers, no matter how good their intentions, erred seriously in defecting from the church. Although, they had good reason to protest the corruption and sins within the hierarchy of the church leadership at the time, they had no right to break from the infallible church of God. Without the Catholic Church’s councils and papal definitions of doctrine, Protestantism quickly lost its way in a sea of conflicting doctrines and practices. The original Protestant Lutheran denomination, Anglican denomination, and Anabaptist denomination fractured into thousands of competing sects within a few hundred years after the original Reformation. Protestantism, despite the good intentions of its adherents, is nothing less than a heresy and it has lead millions from the true Church.

Does the reader still need evidence that any given Protestant church is not the original church of Christ? Simply look at the doctrines of any Protestant denomination and compare it to the teachings of the original Church Fathers. The Church Fathers lived a mere fifty to three hundred years after Christ’s birth. Who better to study when confirming a given denomination’s orthodoxy? I’ll leave it to the reader to do their own research, but here are two critical examples:

·    Infant baptism—Origen wrote in the 3rd century, “the Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism also to infants.” Yet nearly every Baptist, evangelical and fundamentalist Protestant denomination rejects this vital doctrine.

·    Sacrifice of the Mass—Clement of Rome wrote about the bishops’ offering of masses in the 2nd century, “from the episcopate who blamelessly and holily have offered its sacrifices”. Unfortunately, only the Orthodox and Anglicans make any pretense to offer a sacrifice of the mass.

The list could go on and on, but the fact remains that Christ would not come to earth and leave his teachings without any authorized guardian and teacher. Those who claim the Holy Spirit helps each individual person correctly interpret scripture without any need for a single, authoritative church needs to open their eyes. Protestantism has tried this theory and failed: witness the countless denominations that preach conflicting doctrines. Only the Catholic Church can make any valid claim to being the historical Church, because only Catholics can attribute the succession of leadership from St. Peter through the chain of popes. So it seems that Christian faith is tied to belief in the teachings of Christ as well as membership and loyalty to the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has often been called the “ark of salvation” because the Church’s protection of Christ’s doctrines is necessary for the perpetuation of the faith.

Nonetheless, there are still those who do not understand why faith is necessary for eternal salvation. After all, what’s so great about believing a list of teachings? Isn’t being good so much more important? The Church has always recognized that three virtues are necessary for salvation: faith, hope and charity. Faith helps us to properly conform our consciences to the law of God and reinforces our loyalty to him during the best and worst of times. Without faith, a man might believe his actions are permissible when in fact they are evil (such as those who fool themselves into believing abortion, mercy killing, or promiscuous sex is not sinful.) Hope is necessary because it gives us utter reliance and longing for God. Without virtuous hope, a man would lose sight of God and pursue a lesser good, or he would believe God is no longer necessary for salvation. Finally, charity, also known as love, is necessary because it brings us into communion with God, the one being who loves us more than anyone else. St. Paul tells us charity is the greatest of all virtues, but hope and faith are also necessary for salvation, “faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13)”. Hope and faith sustain a Christian and fuel a Christian’s love for God.

At last we finally understand why faith is so misunderstood and so needed in today’s modern church. True faith helps us conform our lives to God’s will, and without faith guided by the Catholic Church, we are doomed to languish in manmade religions. If faith is to become the balm of the modern world rather than a stumbling block, the Christians of today must enter into the one, holy, unified, and apostolic church. For, “the church of the living God [is] the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15)”.

[pope-francis-quotes]

26th January >> (@zenitenglish)  #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis WYD: Holy Father’s Speech at Saturday’s Prayer Vigil (Full Text)

‘The salvation the Lord offers us is an invitation to be part of a love story interwoven with our personal stories…’

Pope Francis on January 26, 2019, joined the vast crowds of young people at World Youth Day in Panama for a Vigil with young people at Campo San Juan Pablo II – Metro Park. Following is the full text of his speech for the occasion, provided by the Vatican.

******

Dear young friends, good afternoon!

We have watched that beautiful presentation about the Tree of Life. It shows us how the life that Jesus gives us is a love story, a life history that wants to blend with ours and sink roots in the soil of our own lives. That life is not salvation up “in the cloud” and waiting to be downloaded, a new “app” to be discovered, or a technique of mental self-improvement. Still, less is it a “tutorial” for finding out the latest news. The salvation the Lord offers us is an invitation to be part of a love story interwoven with our personal stories; it is alive and wants to be born in our midst so that we can bear fruit just as we are, wherever we are and with everyone all around us. The Lord comes there to sow and to be sown. He is the first to say “yes” to our lives and our history, and he wants us to say “yes” along with him.

That was how he surprised Mary, and asked her to be part of this love story. Obviously, the young woman of Nazareth was not part of the “social networks” of the time. She was not an “influencer”, but without wanting or trying to, she became the most influential woman in history.

Mary, the “influencer” of God. With just a few words, she was able to say “yes” and to trust in the love and promises of God, the only force capable of making all things new.

We are always struck by the strength of that young woman’s “yes”, the words “be it done” that she spoke to the angel. This was not merely passive or resigned acceptance or a faint “yes” as if to say, “Well, let’s give it a try, and see what happens”. It was something else, something different. It was the “yes�� of someone prepared to be committed and take a risk, ready to stake everything she had, with no more security than the certainty of knowing that she was the bearer of a promise. Hers would undoubtedly be a difficult mission, but the challenges that lay ahead were no reason to say “no”. Things would get complicated, of course, but not in the same way as happens when cowardice paralyzes us because things are not clear or sure in advance. The “yes” and the desire to serve were stronger than any doubts and difficulties.

This afternoon we also heard how Mary’s “yes” echoes and expands in every generation. Many young people, like Mary, take a risk and stake their future on a promise. Thank you, Erika and Rogelio, for the witness you gave us. You shared your fears and difficulties and the risks you faced with the birth of your daughter Inés. At one point, you said, “We parents, for various reasons, find it hard to accept that our child will be born with an illness or disability”. That is true and understandable. Yet the amazing thing was what you went on to say, “When our daughter was born, we decided to love her with all our heart”. Before her birth, when faced with all the issues and problems that came up, you made a decision and said, like Mary, “let it be done”; you decided to love her. Presented with the life of your frail, helpless and needy daughter, your answer was “yes”, and so we have Inés. You believed that the world is not only for the strong!

Saying “yes” to the Lord means preparing to embrace life as it comes, with all its fragility, its simplicity, and often enough too, with its conflicts and annoyances, and to do so with the same love with which Erika and Rogelio spoke. It means embracing our country, our families and our friends as they are, with all their weak points and their flaws. Embracing life is also seen in accepting things that are not perfect, pure or “distilled”, yet no less worthy of love. Is a disabled or frail person not worthy of love? Is a person who happens to be a foreigner, a person who made a mistake, a person ill or in prison, not worthy of love? We know what Jesus did: he embraced the leper, the blind man, the paralytic, the Pharisee and the sinner. He embraced the thief on the cross and even embraced and forgave those who crucified him.

Why did he do this? Because only what is loved can be saved. Only what is embraced can be transformed. The Lord’s love is greater than all our problems, frailties and flaws. Yet it is precisely through our problems, frailties and flaws that he wants to write this love story. He embraced the prodigal son, he embraced Peter after his denials and he always embraces us whenever we fall: he helps us to get up and get back on our feet. Because the worst fall, the fall that can ruin our lives, is to remain down and not allow ourselves to be helped up.

How hard it is at times to understand God’s love! But what a gift it is to know that we have a Father who embraces us despite all our imperfections!

So, the first step is not to be afraid to welcome life as it comes, to embrace life!

Thank you, Alfredo, for your testimony and your courage in sharing it with us all. I was impressed when you told us: “I started working on a construction project, but once it was finished, I was without a job and things changed fast: without an education, a trade, and a job”. Let me summarize this in four “withouts” that leave our life rootless and parched: without work, without education, without community, without family.

It is impossible for us to grow unless we have strong roots to support us and to keep us firmly grounded. It is easy to drift off, when nothing holds us down. There is a question that we older people have to ask ourselves, but also a question that you need to ask us and we have to answer: What roots are we providing for you, what foundations for you to grow as persons? It is easy enough to criticize and complain about young people if we are depriving them of the jobs, education and community opportunities they need to take root and to dream of a future. Without education, it is difficult to dream of a future; without work, it is very difficult to dream of a future; without a family and community, it is almost impossible to dream of a future. Because dreaming of a future means learning how to answer not only the question what I am living for but also who I am living for, who makes it worthwhile for me to live my life.

As Alfredo told us, when we find ourselves at a loss and without work, without education, without community, and without family, at the end of the day we feel empty and we end up filling that emptiness with anything we can. Because we no longer know for whom to live, to fight and to love.

I remember once talking with some young people, and one of them asked me: “Father, why are so many young people today not interested in whether God exists or find it difficult to believe in him, and they seem so bored and aimless in life? I asked them in return what they thought. I remember one particular answer that touched me and it relates to the experience Alfredo shared – “it’s because many of them feel that, little by little, they stopped existing for others; often they feel invisible”. This is the culture of abandonment and lack of concern for others. Not everyone, but many people feel that they have little or nothing to contribute because there is no one around to ask them to get involved. How can they think that God exists, if others have long since stopped thinking that they exist?

We know well that to feel acknowledged or loved it is not enough to be connected all day long. To feel respected and asked to get involved is greater than simply being “on-line”. It means finding spaces where, with your hands, your heart and your head, you can feel part of a larger community that needs you and that you yourselves need.

The saints understood this very well. I think, for example, of Saint John Bosco. He did not go off to seek young people in far-off places but learned to see with God’s eyes everything that was going on in his city. So, he was struck by the hundreds of children and young people left to themselves, without education, without work and without the helping hand of a community. Many other people were living in the same city, and many criticized those young people, but they were unable to see them with God’s eyes. Don Bosco did, and found the energy to take the first step: to embrace life as it presented itself. From there, he was not afraid to take the second step: to create a community, a family with them, where through work and study they could feel loved. He gave them roots from which they could reach up to heaven.

I think of many places in our Latin America that promote what they call familia grande hogar de Cristo. With the same spirit as the John Paul II Foundation that Alfredo spoke of and many other centres, they seek to accept life as it comes, in its totality and complexity, because they know that “there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease” (Job 14:7).

It is always possible to “sprout shoots and grow” when there is a community, a warm home that enables us to take root, that provides the confidence we need and prepares our hearts to discover a new horizon: the horizon of a beloved son or daughter who is sought, found and entrusted with a mission. Through real faces, the Lord makes himself present. To say “yes” to this love story is to say “yes” to becoming a means of building in our neighborhoods those ecclesial communities capable of walking the streets of our cities, embracing and weaving new relationships. To be an “influencer” in the twenty-first century is to be guardians of roots, guardians of all that prevents our life from dissipating and evaporating into nothingness. Be guardians of everything that can make us feel part of one another, to feel that we belong.

That was what Nirmeen experienced at World Youth Day in Krakow. She found a lively, happy community that welcomed her, gave her a sense of belonging and allowed her to live the joy that comes from being found by Jesus.

A saint once asked: “Will the progress of society consist only in owning the latest car or buying the newest gadget on the market? Is that the extent of our greatness as human beings? Is that all there is to live for?” (cf. SAINT ALBERTO HURTADO, Holy Week Meditation for Young People, 1946). So let me ask you: Is that your idea of greatness? Weren’t you created for something more? The Virgin Mary understood this and said, “Let it be done!” Erika and Rogelio understood this and said, “Let it be done!” Alfredo understood this and said, “Let it be done!” Nirmeen understood this and said, “Let it be done!” Young friends, I ask you: Are you willing to say “yes”? The Gospel teaches us that the world will not be better because there are fewer sick, weak, frail or elderly people to be concerned about, or because there are fewer sinners. Rather it will be better when more people, like these friends, are willing and enthused enough to give birth to the future and believe in the transforming power of God’s love. Are you willing to be an “influencer” like Mary, who dared to say, “Let it be done”? Only love makes us more human and fulfilled; everything else is a pleasant but useless placebo.

In a few moments, we will encounter the living Jesus in Eucharistic adoration. You can be sure that he has many things to say to you, about different situations in your lives, families, and countries.

Face to face with him, don’t be afraid to open your heart to him and to ask him to renew the fire of his love so that you can embrace life with all its frailty and flaws, but also with its grandeur and beauty. May he help you to discover the beauty of being alive.

Do not be afraid to tell him that you too want to be a part of his love story in this world, that you are ready for something greater!

Friends: when you meet Jesus face to face, I ask you also to pray for me, so that I too will be unafraid to embrace life, to care for its roots and to say, like Mary, “Let it be done, according to your word!”.

© Libreria Editrice Vatican

JANUARY 27, 2019 01:17

WORLD YOUTH DAYS

[dfroza]

i trust in my seed

of meeting you by writing from the thought-life, by sharing the words of my heart (my spirit)

its genesis is pure, unadulterated. untouched by fear. there exists no lie in here. it is the gentlest invitation to read and to think with me.

the same heart is seen clear, on every page, with the Son its absolute “Center” just as the sun is to earth in providing warmth and Light (even in the Winter) as all seasons blend to form a picture of rebirth, of turning the page by an act of grace...

and to find the contentment here & now in the hope of sacred promises made. to discover the strength (the bravery) of humility, to be children who wake up each day trusting in Love’s care as a pure Father no matter what may be happening in this world at the time.

to view the simplistic silence of the moon and to “believe...” that the space of the heart has been made new, to become A blank first page that has erased the past (tense) to free us from its depressive state and its fear of being unloved, of having no place called “Home”

A poetic memory that reflects upon being here, & now and finding contentment in the process of life (just as we are in the physical) while carrying the seed of the eternal rebirth of the body that will be... (it begins by welcoming the entrance of the Spirit in the rebirth of the heart inside, Anew)

we are each made unique, like snow, yet not meant to live in fear or to follow sinful behavior, as we are meant-to-be filled with Light and to be inspired by its truth in Love in the things we think and speak and do.

and to know that courage is to trust in grace simply because we are imperfect.

and a post shared Today by John Parsons that reflects upon the physical state we all find ourselves trapped in, for the time being until A grand end of time brings about A new world:

Why does God want us to face the truth about death? Why does Moses ask God to teach us to "number our days?" (Psalm 90:12). The reason is that by nature people deny the reality of death - they hide their eyes from it, ignore it, and pretend it's not there - so they can continue to live under the illusion that they are in control of their lives, that they are the center, that they are immortal little "gods." Death threatens the ego and humbles us to confess the truth about life, namely that we are not in control, that we cannot choose to be immortals, that we do not have power to exist in ourselves, and therefore we need life from a different source - spiritual life - wherein we receive a new identity and a new being found in relation to God.

The "natural man" regards death as an offense or as "absurd" because it splits us in two, creating a "divided house" that cannot stand. The ego demands to be god-like, important, valued as sacred, etc., yet the prospect of death crushes the aspiration and yields alienation from reality. This creates a painful tension or dualism within the heart where the meaning and purpose of life is lost.... The message of the gospel begins precisely there, however, speaking to broken people who thirst for life but find themselves living on death row - people who are humbled and who understand they cannot heal themselves from the "sickness unto death," as Kierkegaard used the term. The remedy is not to deny death or to live as if death is not a genuine horror, but to understand it as our natural estate, brought about by sin that exalts the ego over the God who made us. [Hebrew for Christians]

The power of the gospel is to partake in a new source of life and to be healed from the sickness of death by God's miracle in Messiah (2 Cor. 5:17). "Jesus saves" is not a cliché for the faith but the sober truth of reality. It is by our union or identification with Him, by the agency of the Holy Spirit, that we are imparted new existence, true spiritual being, that is not subject to the natural law of sin and death (Col. 3:9-11). Being "in Messiah" means you are "justified," that is, welcomed, affirmed, accepted and declared righteous by God, and that you are set free from the condition of "being unto death." You partake and share in the life (relationship) of God based on his redeeming love: you are "adopted" by God, made a member of his "household," and attain the inheritance of which is eternal life. Consequently you cry out "Abba, Father" to God who watches over you and leads you through the days of your sojourn here on earth (Rom. 3:32). Despite walking through the shadowy byways and tribulations of this world, you refuse to let death define you or be the last word: you trust that your Father is with you, working all things for your ultimate good (Rom. 8:28). You know who you are, where you are going, and what your end is because of Yeshua our Lord. [Hebrew for Christians]

.

Facing death is essential because the message of the gospel must be grounded and framed in the language of our wretched desperation as lost souls in this world (Rom. 7:24). Death is the central problem of existence, and death is therefore the "propaedeutic" that leads us to the salvation found in Yeshua the Messiah...

For more see:

and Hebraic History is significant to our faith & hope in Love (in God) just as seen in John’s posts that followed these:

"This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you: Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself" (Lev. 9:6-7). Have you considered why you were born into this world? What is your purpose, destiny, and end? The Torah states that you were personally created by Almighty God, who breathed out the breath of life (נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים) into you, and then redeemed your life so you could know the glory of God and spiritual reality. As it is written: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your desire they existed and were created" (Rev. 4:11). God creates all things for his glory and purposes, which indeed is the first blessing recited over the bride and groom in a traditional Jewish wedding: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלם שֶׁהַכּל בָּרָא לִכְבוֹדו / “Blessed are you Lord our God king of the universe, who has created all things for his glory.” The purpose of life is to know and love God, to walk in His light and truth, and to glorify his compassion and grace forever... Shabbat Shalom, chaverim. [Hebrew for Christians]

The Scriptures reveal that ultimate reality is a divine love story with a “happy ending,” despite the struggles we face in this world. We see this in connection with the great deliverance of the Passover, when we read the story of our redemption in the Torah, summarized a special book called a “haggadah.” Note that the Hebrew word “haggadah” (הַגָּדָה) means “retelling,” which of course refers to the story of our journey from slavery to freedom by the hand of God’s love. With regard to the sanctity of this story, the Torah commands us: “You shall tell (i.e., ve’higadta: וְהִגַּדְתָּ, from which “haggadah” comes) your child on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Torah of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt” (Exod. 13:8-8). The sages note that the numeric value of the word “haggadah” (הַגָּדָה) is the same as the Hebrew word for “good” (i.e., tov: טוֹב), which again indicates that the story of our redemption in the Messiah is truly good – indeed, the greatest story ever told... [Hebrew for Christians]

1.11.19 • Facebook

[iamjesusgal]

The Holy #Bible describes what heaven will be like, and one of the things it tells us is that “the great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21). Although this is hard for us to imagine, it reminds us that heaven is far more #glorious than anything we will ever know in this life. Every picture of heaven the Bible paints for us is beyond our understanding but assures us of heaven’s beauty and #splendor. This world is imperfect and subject to decay, but heaven’s perfect beauty will never fade. When God gave the apostle John a glimpse of heaven’s glory, his immediate response was to worship (see Revelation 22:8). The most important truth about heaven, however, is that God will be there. No evil will ever touch us, but we will be safely in God’s presence forever. The Bible says, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb (Christ) is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23). Think of it: In Heaven “we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)! Is heaven your destination? Do you know beyond doubt that someday you will go to be with Christ forever? You can, by turning to Him in faith and trusting Him alone for your salvation. God’s promise is for you: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). (Billy Graham) Heaven is a beautiful perfect place where God, Jesus His Son and those born again dwell. Last few days, several of my dear friends have lost loved ones, departed from this life, who have entered their eternal destiny. Today I will be singing 'If You Could See Me Now'... a Beautiful song that transports the mind off the earthly pain onto heavens reality... being on the presence of God, and seeing Jesus face to face,I pray brings comfort. #iamjesusgal #iamjesusgalministries

[transformedmind]

Doctor/Christian

I had a passing thought on my drive to clinic this morning. Being a doctor who practices preventative care is, in a lot of ways, similar to being an evangelical Christian. 

You see, it is our job as primary care physicians to assess a patient’s individual risk factors, and then counsel them on healthy lifestyle habits that can help prevent catastrophic health events, like a stroke or heart attack or some types of cancer. We do this for every patient, every time we see them. Sometimes they follow our advice, and sometimes they don’t. But we have to tell them what would happen if they don’t follow our advice. We try to make certain all patients are informed about the risks involved in their current lifestyle habits. No one should have to experience liver cancer just because no one ever told them their Big Mac they ate every day (leading to fatty liver -> liver failure -> liver cancer) put them at risk. No one should have to experience bladder cancer because no one told them the smoking they’ve done their whole life doesn’t just put them at risk for lung cancer. 

These risks have been studied over a hundred years and we know them to be true. To not tell patients what could be coming down the line would be negligence. To not tell them would lack compassion. I would never want to face a patient after the fact, crying out, asking why I didn’t warn them? Why didn’t I tell them the dangers involved?

But we also recognize patient autonomy as physicians. We recognize that a patient may understand their smoking is unhealthy for various reasons, but may choose to continue to smoke. This is usually because the idea of letting go of something they’ve clung to for so lung is unbearable. We recognize that a patient can understand that weight loss will be good for their health, but live in a way that does not promote weight loss. This is usually because they’ve tried it before and failed, or don’t believe they are able to live a healthy lifestyle because of family, work, stress, among other things.

There are a lot of different factors involved. And yes, there is a difference between wanting to do something and not doing it (for various reasons), versus not wanting to do it in the first place. We recognize that, too. We know that just because a patient is “non compliant” (not doing what we told them to do) doesn’t mean they set out to “disobey” us. Maybe they couldn’t afford that medication. Maybe they didn’t have a car to get to their colonoscopy appointment.

But now I’m starting to get off topic.

So how is being a primary care doctor, described above, like being an evangelical Christian?

Evangelism is sharing the gospel with others. Everyone - believers and non believers, alike. That is the Great Commission of Matthew 28. There are a lot of different denominations out there, but there are a few key points to a gospel-centered message that are foundational, that cannot be wavered or changed. These include:

1) God is the Creator of the universe and all within it. He loved His creation, and made humans to live in relationship with Him. (Genesis 1 & 2)

2) Adam and Eve, the first of mankind, sinned against God, leading to a separation between us and Him. (Genesis 3)

3) We are all born sinners in a sinful world. (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12)

4) Because God is just, our sins (i.e., rebellion against God) had to be punished. And because He is holy and sovereign, we could not enter into union with Him while still clinging to our sinful ways. (Psalms 5:4-6)

5) Because we are descended from Adam, and therefore imperfect, we are not able to give up sinning (1 John 1:8). And because we keep on sinning, our punishment was to spend eternity separated from the Almighty God (i.e., hell), never able to know our Creator - the One who made us, the One who knows the very numbers of hairs on our head, the One who loves us and created us for a purpose (2 Thessalonians 1:9, Luke 12:7).

6) But GOD, who is rich in mercy and abounding in love, sent His beloved Son named Jesus, whom had been with Him since the beginning, down to Earth. Jesus, who was both wholly God and wholly man, came to Earth to live a perfect, sin-free life. To proclaim God’s holiness and preach the message of salvation. But that’s not all he did. He also died, and did so willingly. He not only suffered the agonizing death of a crucifixion, but he also suffered the anguish of complete separation from God. He endured the ultimate punishment from God - which was intended for each and every one of us. Because Christ lived a life free of sin, he was the perfect sacrifice. He was pure, he was faultless. And because he was without sin, his punishment was able to substitute for the punishment we deserved (Rom. 5:8, 2 Corinth. 5:21). Christ died, once for all (Rom. 5:18). He did this so that we could be in union with God; we could become God’s children again. We could spend eternity with our Creator and never have to be apart from Him again (John 3:16, Rom. 8:1-2).

7) Three days following his death and burial, Jesus rose from the dead. Claiming victory over death - because death is not the end. And he ascended into heaven, to sit at the right hand of God, and make intercession for us. (John 20, 1 Corinth. 15)

And so, in our evangelism, we share this gospel message with the world. We tell others the Good News - we can be redeemed! We can be justified through faith in Christ, and live eternally in relationship with our Creator. All we need do is confess and repent of our sins, and put our trust in Jesus (1 John 1:9).

But the opposite of this is also true. If we do not put our faith in Christ, if we do not trust in him for salvation, God will not see us as justified (John 3:36, Mark 16:16). He will not see us as His children, because we remain separated from Him. And we will thus experience an eternity apart from Him.

Many will reject this message. They will hate the one who tells them God demands justice (John 15:18-25). They will hate the one who tells them the only way we can approach God is through faith in Jesus (John 14:6). There are many reasons people reject God, but the most common is that they are unable to let go of the ways of this world in order to completely rely on Christ (Mark 10:17-22). We can look to this world for sources of happiness, but no matter what we find, without God it is all meaningless (Ecclesiastes). 

Therefore, just as the primary care physician warns the patient of the dangers involved in their current lifestyle, so the evangelist warns the non-believer of the danger involved when they do not put their trust in God. Whereas the physician is focused on the physical body, the evangelist is focused on the spiritual. The physical body will die, but the spirit shall remain. 

How does the physician differ from the evangelist? Lots of ways, but the most prominent being that the physician recommends actions to save the physical body. These include: a healthy diet (consisting of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, healthy fats, and low in red meat, added sugar, saturated fats, and salt), aerobic exercise (150 minutes of moderate intensity per week), maintaining a healthy BMI, smoking cessation, restricted alcohol intake, compliance with necessary medications, drink at least 2 liters of water per day, as well as keeping an optimistic outlook on life to stay in good spirits. Oh, and trying to keep as little stress in your life as possible. And always wear sunscreen. And always wear your seatbelt in the car and your helmet on the bike. And don’t forget your routine cancer screenings and recommended vaccinations.

That doesn’t sound difficult at all… right? I have had maybe a handful of patients who have been able to do all of this consistently. For most of us, even the doctors who are giving this advice, living this out is hard. 

The Christian does not recommend action. This is because there is nothing we can do to buy our salvation - no matter how many Sundays you go to church, or how much money you donate to charity, or how many people you’re nice to (Matt. 7:21-23, Isaiah 64:6). We can’t buy it because it’s already been bought. Jesus did that. All we need do is accept it. This is true for any person, no matter their “risk factors” (I.e., sins they have committed in the past) (Rom. 10:13, 1 Tim. 2:4). This is the free gift of God’s grace (Rom. 6:23). You could be the most evil, rotten person in the world - mass murderer, child molester, etc. If you confess and repent of your sins, and wholly put your trust in Jesus, God will welcome you with open arms. He will forget your sins and make you into a new creation (Hebrews 10:17, 2 Corinth. 5:17).

So as both a physician and a Christian, I will continue to share with others what I have been taught. I will continue to tell them truth they may not want to hear.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel (Rom. 1:16), even if it is offensive according to this world. But as a Christian, I pray I will live my life pointing toward the only one who can save, the Great Physician: Jesus. Because even if we do all the right stuff and are healthy as can be and live to 104 years old - without God, it was all worthless. 

[frederickwiddowson]

Why We Must Be Saved - sermon notes

I  believe the Bible testimony that the natural fate of all mankind is a burning Hell.

Deuteronomy 32:22  For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

 Psalm 86:13  For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Luke 16:19 ¶  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 And that this is just the holding place for a much worse fate…

 Revelation 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever…14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death…15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 And that the only way out of that horror is to trust in Christ’s righteousness and not our own, to live forever in Heaven with the God who created us.

 John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 Philippians 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

     9 ¶  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 So, the possibilities are eternal life or eternal suffering. Street preachers will shout, “Born once, Die twice. Born twice, Die once!”

 So, we tell people about the free gift of salvation in Christ.

 Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 We believe that Jesus rose from the dead and we believe what He said about Himself.

 Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 But very few will hear what we have to say, sadly.

 Matthew 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 Each of us who witness to others about our faith and why we believe what we believe have come across someone who has said, “why do I have to be saved?” To risk oversimplifying complex human justifications I think there are two main types of person who ask this question.

The first type of person has lived an honorable life. They may have served in the military, raised a family, followed traditional morality, payed their taxes, obeyed the law, didn’t lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate anyone who did. I know some atheists with a stronger moral code than most Christians. Maybe they are a Freemason and do lots of good works. Their works are just based on the wrong thing and they are holding on to it as a justification for their life. They don’t believe there is a God or a Heaven but if there is they deserve His and its blessings.

I’m not going to foolishly tell them that if they ever lied in their life they ought to consider themselves a liar or if they took a pencil home from work they are a thief. We don’t think like that in this culture and you don’t think like that. We typically think of a thief as someone who has that as part of their character or just has a bad character as if that was a fixed, definable thing in each person. They might even define themselves by their sin. They don’t feel guilt about it. They don’t feel shame. They have not repented of their wicked sinful nature or their behavior. Paul said that unrepentant sinners shall not be saved, will not come to Christ unless they reject what they are.

1Corinthians 6: 9 ¶  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 But, let’s look at a “good” person, by the world’s standard. This person has done nothing, they say, that would merit them needing to be punished in Hell or saved from it.

 But, they are missing the point. The point is that we have inherited a sin nature. Who here has not stolen something or lied to someone? Who here has not thought of someone’s death in their heart? The problem is our sin nature not an individual sin or careless pocketing of an employer’s pencil or a too long glance at the magazine rack in the airport. Those things are just evidence of a much bigger problem. In the old Perry Mason TV show from the 1960s they used to always have a defendant on trial for murder whose character witness would insist that they were not capable of murder. Of course, we know better. There is no one sin on earth, one thing that we snort at when watching TV, that we are not perfectly capable of doing ourselves.

 You see, the problem is in your heart.

 Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 The human heart is not just evil. It is desperately wicked. Do you know what that means? This is going to trouble some of you because you don’t look at yourselves this way. If you chanced to be out walking and happened upon a nightclub fire like some of the famous ones we’ve had in past days, say, the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston in 1942 during World War Two where in 15 minutes 492 people died and 166 people were injured you’d see what desperate means. People crowded the exits and would have pulled anyone trying to get out or trying to pull them out to their death in total panic. They were desperate to get out but in their panic kept themselves and others from escaping. Your heart is that desperate to be wicked.

 You aren’t just prone to sin, or just an imperfect person who does his or her best in life. You aren’t trying to do your best but making a few mistakes along the way, with the best of intentions. No, your heart wants so badly to do what it knows to be wrong it takes a great deal of socialization, fear of public humiliation, and a desire for approval from others to keep you from winding up on death row or being a permanent resident of the rescue mission if you haven’t trusted Christ.

 Admit it, you’ve been angry without a cause, you’ve sought your own, just what you wanted regardless of anyone else’s feelings. You’ve lied, cheated, stolen, and committed sexual immorality all the while justifying it by some misunderstanding or unmet need. You’ve murdered people in your heart, hated them and wanted them to die. I’m not talking about telling the proverbial little white lie or stealing some paperclips from work so I can make some kind of trendy argument to get you to admit something you don’t really believe about yourself. I’m talking about what you and I really are like.

 I had a customer in housing sales once who told me an interesting story. He was a good guy, a little abrasive, but a skilled craftsman who loved his wife and family. He was just pure Baltimore, if you know what I mean. He had heart problems. Once, in an unnamed hospital in Baltimore he died on the operating table and had to be revived. He became conscious cursing and screaming and talking about fire and a Hell he didn’t believe in. When he was able to he apologized to the nursing staff for his language. They shrugged it off. A nurse told him that they’d experienced that even with sweet little old ladies at the end of their lives. He thought it was funny and dismissed my efforts to suggest it was real.

 You see, this person you’re talking to, and it may be a relative, even a sweet, little old lady, your mother maybe, is a vile, believe it or not, wicked, nasty sinner by nature who cannot enter into the presence of God without Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.

 Until most people can wrap their minds around that they will just look at you like a cow looks at a new gate. Good people are hard to convince that they are not good people. They have the testimony of their hearts, their friends and family, their accomplishments, their material success, and, yes, the testimony of their own seared and twisted conscience.

 They’ve got to be made to understand that they are not being compared to other, lesser mortals. They are being compared to Christ. In comparison to a sinless, righteous, perfectly moral and obedient man to God, who happened to be God in the flesh at the same time He was fully a man where would this good person you are talking to stand? Imagine that. This good guy or good girl is being compared to God. They are lost without His righteousness as theirs does not and cannot measure up.

 It even happens with religious people, people who say they believe in God. Remember,

 James 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

 And their works, which they trust in, while good and wonderful have no effect on getting them into Heaven. Their works are dead works, on which they are banking their justification, apart from Christ’s righteousness.

 Hebrews 6:1 ¶  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 Whatever they think justifies themselves before God other than Christ’s righteousness is a lie and a sham. If they don’t wrap their minds around that they are not going to be saved.

 Another person that is perplexing is that guy or girl who has led such a rotten, miserable existence and is usually in such awful trouble when you talk to them that they cannot believe that they even could be saved if they wanted to. They are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They hate themselves even while they continue to mess up their lives and the lives of others. I’m going to focus on them. You good people won’t understand what I’m about to say, you folks who’ve been good all your life, exemplary, first-rate citizens. Only people like me will understand this.

 Their wickedness is a stench in their own nostrils and they’ve lost all hope of redemption. Their family is going or gone and all sense of self-respect or self-value has fled their disgustingly failed lives. Sometimes, the first person I mentioned is really putting on a front and in his or her heart they are really the second person but you might not find that out in conversation, or you might.

 They’ll say they’ve gone too far to be saved. But, they are missing something important, too. I want to thank Jonathan Edwards, a great preacher of the 1700s for this and I’ll use his words sometimes and paraphrase his words at other times. It can be overwhelming but just try to pick through it and get the gist of what is being said, and think about it.

 King David wrote;

Psalm 25:11  For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 

When this Psalm was written it was a time of great trouble and trial for David. This is very clear by what he asks and what he says;

Psalm 25:7  Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.

Psalm 25:18  Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

Look at the argument he makes pleading for forgiveness.

He pleads for pardon for God's name's sake. He has no expectation of pardon for the sake of any righteousness or worthiness of his for any good deeds he had done, or any compensation he had made for his sins; though if man's righteousness could be a just plea, David would have had as much to plead as many powerful leaders of men. But he begs that God would do it for his own name's sake, for his own glory, for the glory of his own free grace, and for the honor of his own faithfulness.

 David pleads the greatness of his sins as an argument for mercy. He not only does not plead his own righteousness, or the smallness of his sins; he not only does not say, Pardon mine iniquity, for I have done much good to counterbalance it; or, Pardon mine iniquity, for it is small, and you have no great reason to be angry with me; mine iniquity is not so great, that you have any just cause to remember it against me; my offence is not such but that you may well enough overlook it: but on the contrary he says, Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great; he pleads the greatness of his sin, and not the smallness of it; he enforces his prayer with this consideration, that his sins are very heinous.

 But how could he make this a plea for pardon? I can answer that. Because the greater his iniquity was, the more need he had of pardon. It is as much as if he had said, Pardon my iniquity, for it is so great that I cannot bear the punishment; my sin is so great that I am in need of pardon; my case will be exceedingly miserable, unless you be pleased to pardon me. He makes use of the greatness of his sin, to enforce his plea for pardon, as a man would make use of the greatness of calamity in begging for help. When a homeless person asks for food, he will plead the greatness of his poverty and necessity. When a man in distress cries for pity, what more can he say but that he desperately needs help?—And God allows such a plea as this: for He is moved to mercy towards us by nothing in us but the miserableness of our case. He does not pity sinners because they are worthy, but because they need His pity.

Now, let’s put this into focus.

If we truly come to God for mercy, the greatness of our sin will be no impediment to pardon.—If it were an impediment, David would never have used it as a plea for pardon, as we find he does in the text.—The following things are needful in order that we truly come to God for mercy:

 That we should see our misery, and be sensible of our need of mercy. They who are not sensible of their misery cannot truly look to God for mercy; for it is the very notion of divine mercy, that it is the goodness and grace of God to the miserable. Without misery in the object, there can be no exercise of mercy. To suppose mercy without supposing misery, or pity without calamity, is a contradiction: therefore men cannot look upon themselves as proper objects of mercy, unless they first know themselves to be miserable; and so, unless this be the case, it is impossible that they should come to God for mercy. They must be sensible that they are the children of wrath; that the law is against them, and that they are exposed to the curse of it: that the wrath of God abides on them; and that He is angry with them every day while they are under the guilt of sin.—They must be sensible that it is a very dreadful thing to be the object of the wrath of God; that it is a very awful thing to have Him for their enemy; and that they cannot bear His wrath.

They must he sensible that the guilt of sin makes them miserable creatures; that they can be no other than miserable, undone creatures, so long as God is angry with them; that they are without strength, and must perish, and that eternally, unless God helps them. They must see that their case is utterly desperate, for any thing that any one else can do for them; that they hang over the pit of eternal misery; and that they must necessarily drop into it, if God have not mercy on them.

 They must be sensible that they are not worthy that God should have mercy on them. They who truly come to God for mercy, come as beggars, and not as creditors: they come for mere mercy. for sovereign grace, and not for any thing that is due. Therefore, they must see that the misery under which they lie is justly brought upon them, and that the wrath to which they are exposed is justly threatened against them; and that they have deserved that God should be their enemy, and should continue to be their enemy. They must be sensible that it would be just with God to do as he has threatened in his Bible, to make them the objects of his wrath and curse in hell to all eternity.— They who come to God for mercy in a right manner are not disposed to find fault with His severity; but they come in a sense of their own utter unworthiness, as with ropes about their necks, and lying in the dust at the foot of mercy.

 They must come to God for mercy in and through Jesus Christ alone. All their hope of mercy must be from the consideration of what He is, what He has done, and what He has suffered; and that there is no other name given under heaven, among men, whereby we can be saved, but that of Christ; that He is the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world; that His blood cleanses from all sin, and that He is so worthy, that all sinners who are in him may well be pardoned and accepted.—It is impossible that any should come to God for mercy, and at the same time have no hope of mercy. Their coming to God for it, implies that they have some hope of obtaining, otherwise they would not think it worth the while to come. But they that come in a right manner have all their hope through Christ, or from the consideration of his redemption, and the sufficiency of it.—If persons thus come to God for mercy, the greatness of their sins will be no impediment to pardon. Let their sins be ever so many, and great, and aggravated, it will not make God in the least degree more backward to pardon them. This may be made evident by the following considerations:

The mercy of God is as sufficient for the pardon of the greatest sins, as for the least; and that because his mercy is infinite. That which is infinite, is as much above what is great, as it is above what is small. Thus God being infinitely great, he is as much above kings as he is above beggars; he is as much above the highest angel, as he is above the meanest worm. One finite measure does not come any nearer to the extent of what is infinite than another.—So the mercy of God being infinite, it must be as sufficient for the pardon of all sin, as of one. If one of the least sins be not beyond the mercy of God, so neither are the greatest, or ten thousand of them.—However, it must be acknowledged, that this alone does not prove the doctrine. For though the mercy of God may be as sufficient for the pardon of great sins as others; yet there may be other obstacles, besides the want of mercy. The mercy of God may be sufficient, and yet the other attributes may oppose the dispensation of mercy in these cases.— So, it is important to consider,

 That the satisfaction of Christ is as sufficient for the removal of the greatest guilt, as the least: 1 John i. 7. " The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin." Acts xiii. 39. " By him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." All the sins of those who truly come to God for mercy, let them be what they will, are satisfied for, if God be true who tells us so; and if they be satisfied for, surely it is not incredible, that God should be ready to pardon them. So that Christ having fully satisfied for all sin,or having wrought out a satisfaction that is sufficient for all, it is now no way inconsistent with the glory of the divine attributes to pardon the greatest sins of those who in a right manner come to Him for it.

God may now pardon the greatest sinners without any prejudice to the honour of His holiness. The holiness of God will not suffer Him to give the least countenance to sin, but inclines Him to give proper testimonies of His hatred of it. But Christ having satisfied for sin, God can now love the sinner, and give no countenance at all to sin, however great a sinner he may have been. It was a sufficient testimony of God's abhorrence of sin, that He poured out his wrath on Christ, when he took the guilt of it upon himself. Nothing can more show God's abhorrence of sin than this. If all mankind had been eternally damned, it would not have been so great a testimony of it.

 God may, through Christ, pardon the greatest sinner without any prejudice to the honour of his majesty. The honour of the divine majesty indeed requires satisfaction; but the sufferings of Christ fully repair the injury. Let the contempt be ever so great, yet if so honourable a person as Christ undertakes to be a Mediator for the offender, and suffers so much for him, it fully repairs the injury done to the Majesty of heaven and earth. The sufferings of Christ fully satisfy justice.

The justice of God, as the supreme Governor and Judge of the world, requires the punishment of sin. The supreme Judge must judge the world according to a rule of justice. God does not show mercy as a judge, but as a sovereign; therefore His exercise of mercy as a sovereign, and His justice as a judge, must be made consistent one with another; and this is done by the sufferings of Christ, in which sin is punished fully, and justice answered. Rom. iii. 25, 26. " Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time, His righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."—The law is no impediment in the way of the pardon of the greatest sin, if men do but truly come to God for mercy: for Christ hath fulfilled the law, he hath borne the curse of it, in his sufferings; Gal. iii. 13. " Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."

Christ will not refuse to save the greatest sinners, who in a right manner come to God for mercy; for this is his work. It is His business to be a Saviour of sinners; it is the work upon which He came into the world; and therefore He will not object to it. He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, Matt. ix. 13. Sin is the very evil which he came into the world to remedy: therefore He will not object to any man that he is very sinful. The more sinful he is, the more need of Christ.—The sinfulness of man was the reason of Christ's coming into the world; this is the very misery from which he came to deliver men. The more they have of it, the more need they have of being delivered; " They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick," Matt. ix. 12. A doctor will not make it an objection against healing a man who applies to him, that he stands in great need of his help. If a physician of compassion comes among the sick and wounded, surely he will not refuse to heal those that stand in most need of healing, if he be able to heal them.

Herein does the glory of grace by the redemption of Christ much consist, viz. in its sufficiency for the pardon of the greatest sinners. The whole contrivance of the way of salvation is for this end, to glorify the free grace of God. God had it on his heart from all eternity to glorify this attribute; and therefore it is, that the device of saving sinners by Christ was conceived. The greatness of divine grace appears very much in this, that God by Christ saves the greatest offenders. The greater the guilt of any sinner is, the more glorious and wonderful is the grace manifested in his pardon: Rom. v. 20. " Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." The apostle, when telling how great a sinner he had been, takes notice of the abounding of grace in his pardon, of which his great guilt was the occasion: 1 Tim. i. 13. " Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mercy; and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

The Redeemer is glorified, in that he proves sufficient to redeem those who are exceeding sinful, in that his blood proves sufficient to wash away the greatest guilt, in that he is able to save men to the uttermost, and in that he redeems even from the greatest misery. It is the honour of Christ to save the greatest sinners, when they come to him, as it is the honour of a physician that he cures the most desperate diseases or wounds. Therefore, no doubt, Christ will be willing to save the greatest sinners, if they come to Him; for He will not be backward to glorify himself, and to commend the value and virtue of his own blood. Seeing He hath so laid out himself to redeem sinners, He will not be unwilling to show, that he is able to redeem to the uttermost.

 Pardon is as much offered and promised to the greatest sinners as any, if they will come aright to God for mercy. The invitations of the gospel are always in universal terms: as, Ho, every one that thirsteth; Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden; and, Whosoever will, let him come. And the voice of Wisdom is to men in general: Prov. viii. 4. " Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men." Not to moral men, or religious men, but to you, O men. So Christ promises, John vi. 37. " Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." This is the direction of Christ to His apostles, after His resurrection, Mark xvi. 15, 16. " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature: he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved." Which is agreeable to what the apostle said, that "the gospel was preached to every creature which is under heaven," Col. i. 23.

So, finally, good person or bad, hero or villain, admirable soul or monster, you need God’s mercy as expressed in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and in His resurrection from the dead and He will give it to you.

 Now, one final word on what you are being saved from. Eternity is a long, long time. Humanity, at its best, is wicked and cut off from the God who created them. But God provided a means by which they could be with Him in that eternity. He did all the work Himself and what we must do is receive His immeasurable gift.  

[111111rishu-blog]

inspire

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced.We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin ? to say that you are weak, or others are weak.You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.The goal of mankind is knowledge ... Now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man 'knows', should, in strict psychological language, be what he 'discovers' or 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.The first sign of your becoming religious is that you are becoming cheerful.The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.In one word, this ideal is that you are divine.The Vedanta recognizes no sin it only recognizes error. And the greatest error, says the Vedanta is to say that you are weak, that you are a sinner, a miserable creature, and that you have no power and you cannot do this and that.The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.GOD of truth, be Thou alone my guide.If you think about disaster, you will get it. Brood about death and you hasten your demise. Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience.The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves!YOU know, I may have to be born again, you see, I have fallen in love with mankind.BY the study of different RELIGIONS we find that in essence they are one.Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.If faith in ourselves had been more extensively taught and practiced, I am sure a very large portion of the evils and miseries that we have would have vanished.MY nature is love Him. And therefore I love. I do not pray for any-thing. I do not ask for anything. Let Him place me wherever He likes. I must love Him for love's sake. I can not trade in love.To devote your life to the good of all and to the happiness of all is religion. Whatever you do for your own sake is not religionTruth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.The will is not free - it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect - but there is something behind the will which is free.As different streams having different sources all mingle their waters in the sea, so different tendencies various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to God.When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is transformed into an actual physical or mental state.All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.Infinite power of the spirit, brought to bear upon matter evolves material development, made to act upon thought evolves intellectuality, and made to act upon itself makes of man a GOd. First, let us be Gods, and then help other to be GOds. "Be and Make" Let this be our motto.Religion is the manifestation of the Divinity already in man.IT is good to love God for hope of reward, but it is better to love God for love's sake; and the prayer goes: O Lord, I do not want wealth nor children nor learning. If it be They will, I shall go from birth to birth. But grant me this, that I may love three without the hope of reward - 'love' unselfishly for love's sake.TO worship God even for the sake of salvation or any other reward is equally degenerate. Love knows no reward. Give your love unto to God, but do not ask anything in return even from Him through pray.That man has reached immortality who is disturbed by nothing material.Do not stand on a high pedestal and take 5 cents in your hand and say, "here, my poor man", but be grateful that the poor man is there, so by making a gift to him you are able to help yourself.It is not the reciever that is blessed, but it is the giver.Be thankful that you are allowed to exercise your power of benevolence and mercy in the world, and thus become pure and perfect.GOD is to be worshipped as the one beloved, dearer than everything in this and next life.If money help a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better.Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way.It is our own mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us. Our thought make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light. First, believe in this world, that.The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him - that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.There is nothing beyond God, and the sense enjoyments are simply something through which we are passing now in the hope of getting better things.The spirit is the cause of all our thoughts and body-action, and everything, but it is untouched by good or evil, pleasure or pain, heat of cold, and all the dualism of nature, although it lends its light to everything.WE see that the apparent contradictions and perplexities in every RELIGION mark but different stages of growth. The end of all religions is the realizing of God in the soul. That is the one universal religion.Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.THE Lord is great! - He will not allow me to become a hypocrite. Now let what is in come out.EACH soul is potentially Divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity with in by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work or worship or psychic control or philosophy- by one or more all of these- and be free. This is whole of RELIGION.GOD is the ever-active providence, by whose power systems after systems are being evolved out of chaos, made to run for a time and again destroyed.Those whose only aim is to barter the energies of life for gold, or name, or any other enjoyment; those to whom the tramp of embattled cohorts is the only manifestation of power; those to whom the enjoyment of the senses is the only bliss that life c.A man may be the greatest philosopher in the world but a child in RELIGION. When a man has developed a high state of spirituality he can understand that the kingdom of heaven is within him.Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.Whatever you are doing, put your whole mind on it. If you are shooting, your mind should be only on the target. Then you will never miss. If you are learning your lessons, think only of the lesson. In India boys and girls are taught to do this.When we really begin to live in the world, then we understand what is meant by brotherhood or mankind, and not before.My countrymen should have nerves of steel, muscles of iron, and minds like thunderbolt.Prayer is divine love alone. When this highest ideal of love is reached, philosophy is thrown away. Who will then care of it ? Freedom, salvation, nirvana- all are thrown away. Who cares to become free while in the enjoyment of divine love?Why should a man be miserable even here in the reign of a just and merciful God?Hindu religion does not consist in struggles and attempts to believe a certain doctrine or dogma, but in realizing not in believing, but in being and becoming.God gave me nothing I wanted, He gave me everything I needed.When I asked god for peace, he showed me how to help others.The Lord has declared to the Hindu in His incarnation as Krishna. I am in every religion as the thread through a string of pearls. Wherever thou seest extraordinary holiness and extraordinary power raising and purifying humanity, know thou that I am there.Let new India arise out of peasants cottage, grasping the plough, out of huts, cobbler and sweeper.The Vedas teach that the soul is divine, only held in the bondage of matter; perfection will be reached when this bond will burst, and the word they use for it is, therefore, Mukti - freedom, freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedom from death and misery.From the high spiritual flights of the Vedanta philosophy, of which the latest discoveries of science seem like echoes, to the low ideas of idolatry with its multifarious mythology, the agnosticism of the Buddhists and the atheism of the Jains, each and all have a place in the Hindu's religion.Religion, the great milch cow, has given many kicks, but never mind it gives a great deal of milk.First, believe in the world-that there is meaning behind everything.Don't look back-forward, infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and infinite patience-then alone can great deeds be accomplished.This is the first lesson to learn: be determined not to curse anything outside, not to lay the blame upon anyone outside, but stand up, lay the blame on yourself. You will find that is always true. Get hold of yourself.Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not. Never pander to weakness. If truth is too much for intelligent people and sweeps them away, let them go; the sooner the better.This life is a hard fact; work your way through it boldly, though it may be adamantine; no matter, the soul is stronger.This I have seen in life-those who are overcautious about themselves fall into dangers at every step; those who are afraid of losing honor and respect, get only disgrace; and those who are always afraid of loss, always lose.Face the brutes. That is a lesson for all life-face the terrible, face it boldly. Like the monkeys, the hardships of life fall back when we cease to flee before them.Those who work at a thing heart and soul not only achieve success in it but through their absorption in that they also realize the supreme truth-Brahman. Those who work at a thing with their whole heart receive help from God.I, for one, thoroughly believe that no power in the universe can withhold from anyone anything they really deserve.The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you free.Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness, fear is wrong life. All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in the world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear.Why are people so afraid? The answer is that they have made themselves helpless and dependent on others. We are so lazy, we do not want to do anything ourselves. We want a Personal God, a Savior or a Prophet to do everything for us.As long as we believe ourselves to be even the least different from God, fear remains with us; but when we know ourselves to be the One, fear goes; of what can we be afraid?There is one thing to be remembered: that the assertion-I am God-cannot be made with regard to the sense-world.All that is real in me is God; all that is real in God is I. The gulf between God and me is thus bridged. Thus by knowing God, we find that the kingdom of heaven is within us.First get rid of the delusion I am the body, then only will we want real knowledge.What the world wants is character. The world is in need of those whose life is one burning love, selfless. That love will make every word tell like a thunderbolt.God is merciful to those whom He sees struggling heart and soul for realization. But remain idle, without any struggle, and you will see that His grace will never come.We have to go back to philosophy to treat things as they are. We are suffering from our own karma. It is not the fault of God. What we do is our own fault, nothing else. Why should God be blamed?Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals, place them day and night before you, and out of that will come great work.Who makes us ignorant? We ourselves. We put our hands over our eyes and weep that it is dark.Desire, ignorance, and inequality-this is the trinity of bondage.We must have friendship for all; we must be merciful toward those that are in misery; when people are happy, we ought to be happy; and to the wicked we must be indifferent. These attitudes will make the mind peaceful.Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate. None else has the blame, none has the praise.Are great things ever done smoothly? Time, patience, and indomitable will must show.Great work requires great and persistent effort for a long time. Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles.Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or her heart. But the intelligent ones are those who can convert every work into one that suits their taste.Those who grumble at the little thing that has fallen to their lot to do will grumble at everything. Always grumbling they will lead a miserable life??. But those who do their duty putting their shoulder to the wheel will see the light, and higher and higher duties will fall to their share.Learning and wisdom are superfluities, the surface glitter merely, but it is the heart that is the seat of all power.Each work has to pass through these stages-ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.Watch people do their most common actions; these are indeed the things that will tell you the real character of a great person.Comfort is no test of truth; on the contrary, truth is often far from being comfortable.Whenever we attain a higher vision, the lower vision disappears of itself.We came to enjoy; we are being enjoyed. We came to rule; we are being ruled. We came to work; we are being worked. All the time, we find that. And this comes into every detail of our life.We are ever free if we would only believe it, only have faith enough. You are the soul, free and eternal, ever free, ever blessed. Have faith enough and you will be free in a minute.A few heart-whole, sincere, and energetic men and women can do more in a year than a mob in a century.Stand as a rock; you are indestructible. You are the Self (atman), the God of the universe.Stand upon the Self, only then can we truly love the world. Take a very high stand; knowing our universal nature, we must look with perfect calmness upon all the panorama of the world.I am the thread that runs through all these pearls," and each pearl is a religion or even a sect thereof. Such are the different pearls, and God is the thread that runs through all of them; most people, however, are entirely unconscious of it.Stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creator of your own destiny. All the strength and succor you want is within yourselves. Therefore, make your own future.It is the patient building of character, the intense struggle to realize the truth, which alone will tell in the future of humanity.If there is one word that you find coming out like a bomb from the Upanishads, bursting like a bombshell upon masses of ignorance, it is the word fearlessness.Be a hero Always say, I have no fear. Tell this to everyone have no fear.The world is ready to give up its secrets if we only know how to knock, how to give it the necessary blow. The strength and force of the blow come through concentration.Work and worship are necessary to take away the veil, to lift off the bondage and illusion.The powers of the mind should be concentrated and the mind turned back upon itself; as the darkest places reveal their secrets before the penetrating rays of the sun, so will the concentrated mind penetrate its own innermost secrets.It is the cheerful mind that is persevering It is the strong mind that hews its way through a thousand difficulties.The mind is but the subtle part of the body. You must retain great strength in your mind and words.All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind; the infinite library of the universe is in our own mind.Knowledge can only be got in one way, the way of experience; there is no other way to know.However we may receive blows, and however knocked about we may be, the Soul is there and is never injured. We are that Infinite.Perfection is always infinite. We are the Infinite already. You and I, and all beings, are trying to manifest that infinity.Blows are what awaken us and help to break the dream. They show us the insufficiency of this world and make us long to escape, to have freedom.So long as there is desire or want, it is a sure sign that there is imperfection. A perfect, free being cannot have any desire.The more you think of yourself as shining immortal spirit, the more eager you will be to be absolutely free of matter, body, and senses. This is the intense desire to be free.The Self when it appears behind the universe is called God. The same Self when it appears behind this little universe-the body-is the soul.As body, mind, or soul, you are a dream; you really are Being, Consciousness, Bliss (satchidananda). You are the God of this universe.The essence of Vedanta is that there is but one Being and that every soul is that Being in full, not a part of that Being.As soon as I think that I am a little body, I want to preserve it, to protect it, to keep it nice, at the expense of other bodies; then you and I become separate.Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient or modern. Society has to pay homage to Truth or die.If superstition enters, the brain is gone.Superstition is our great enemy, but bigotry is worse.A tremendous stream is flowing toward the ocean, carrying us all along with it; and though like straws and scraps of paper we may at times float aimlessly about, in the long run we are sure to join the Ocean of Life and Bliss.God is self-evident, impersonal, omniscient, the Knower and the Master of nature, the Lord of all. He is behind all worship and it is being done according to Him, whether we know it or not.As soon as you know the voice and understand what it is, the whole scene changes. The same world which was the ghastly battlefield of maya is now changed into something good and beautiful.Delusion will vanish as the light becomes more and more effulgent, load after load of ignorance will vanish, and then will come a time when all else has disappeared and the sun alone shines.Come out into the broad light of day, come out from the little narrow paths, for how can the infinite soul rest content to live and die in small ruts?Come out into the universe of Light. Everything in the universe is yours, stretch out your arms and embrace it with love. If you every felt you wanted to do that, you have felt God.This is no world. It is God Himself. In delusion we call it world.Understanding human nature is the highest knowledge, and only by knowing it can we know God. It is also a fact that the knowledge of God is the highest knowledge, and only by knowing God can we understand human nature.This is the great lesson that we are here to learn through myriads of births and heavens and hells-that there is nothing to be asked for, desired for, beyond one's spiritual Self (atman).Perfection does not come from belief or faith. Talk does not count for anything. Parrots can do that. Perfection comes through selfless work.Strength is the sign of vigor, the sign of life, the sign of hope, the sign of health, and the sign of everything that is good. As long as the body lives, there must be strength in the body, strength in the mind, strength in the hand.Impurity is a mere superimposition under which your real nature has become hidden. But the real you is already perfect, already strong.If you want to have life, you have to die every moment for it. Life and death are only different expressions of the same thing looked at from different standpoints; they are the falling and the rising of the same wave, and the two form one whole.Astrology and all these mystical things are generally signs of a weak mind; therefore as soon as they are becoming prominent in our minds, we should see a physician, take good food, and rest.Religion as a science, as a study, is the greatest and healthiest exercise that the human mind can have.The varieties of religious belief are an advantage, since all faiths are good, so far as they encourage us to lead a religious life. The more sects there are, the more opportunities there are for making a successful appeal to the divine instinct in all of us.Be perfectly resigned, perfectly unconcerned; then alone can you do any true work. No eyes can see the real forces; we can only see the results. Put out self, forget it; just let God work, it is His business.Look upon every man, woman, and everyone as God. You cannot help anyone, you can only serve: serve the children of the Lord, serve the Lord Himself, if you have the privilege.Are you unselfish? That is the question. If you are, you will be perfect without reading a single religious book, without going into a single church or temple.Nature, body, mind go to death, not we. We neither go nor come. The man Vivekananda is in nature, is born and dies; but the Self we see as Vivekananda is never born and never dies. It is the eternal and unchangeable Reality.The less passion there is, the better we work. The calmer we are the better for us and the more the amount of work we can do. When we let loose our feelings, we waste so much energy, shatter our nerves, disturb our minds, and accomplish very little work.Knowledge can only be got in one way, the way of experience; there is no other way to know.There is no help for you outside of yourself; you are the creator of the universe. Like the silkworm you have built a cocoon around yourself??. Burst your own cocoon and come out aw the beautiful butterfly, as the free soul. Then alone you will see Truth.Have you got the will to surmount mountain-high obstructions? If the whole world stands against you sword in hand, would you still dare to do what you think is right?Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success and, above all, love.Our first duty is not to hate ourselves, because to advance we must have faith in ourselves first and then in God. Those who have no faith in themselves can never have faith in God.Every individual is a center for the manifestation of a certain force. This force has been stored up as the resultant of our previous works, and each one of us is born with this force at our back.Why are people so afraid? The answer is that they have made themselves helpless and dependent on others. We are so lazy, we do not want to do anything ourselves. We want a Personal God, a Savior or a Prophet to do everything for us.I fervently wish no misery ever came near anyone; yet it is that alone that gives us an insight into the depths of our lives, does it not? In our moments of anguish, gates barred forever seem to open and let in many a flood of light.Religion has no business to formulate social laws and insist on the difference between beings, because its aim and end is to obliterate all such fictions and monstrosities.Is there any sex-distinction in the Atman (Self)? Out with the differentiation between man and woman-all is Atman! Give up the identification with the body, and stand up!He whom the sages have been seeking in all these places is in our own hearts; the voice that you heard was right, says Vedanta, but the direction you gave to the voice was wrong.The essential thing in religion is making the heart pure; the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, but only the pure in heart can see the King. While we think of the world, it is only the world for us; but let us come to it with the feeling that the world is God, and we shall have God.First, believe in the world??that there is meaning behind everything.Don't look back??forward, infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and infinite patience??then alone can great deeds be accomplished.Religion has no business to formulate social laws and insist on the difference between beings, because its aim and end is to obliterate all such fictions and monstrosities.Why are people so afraid? The answer is that they have made themselves helpless and dependent on others. We are so lazy, we do not want to do anything ourselves. We want a Personal God, a Savior or a Prophet to do everything for us.Our first duty is not to hate ourselves, because to advance we must have faith in ourselves first and then in God. Those who have no faith in themselves can never have faith in God.Knowledge can only be got in one way, the way of experience; there is no other way to know.Look upon every man, woman, and everyone as God. You cannot help anyone, you can only serve: serve the children of the Lord, serve the Lord Himself, if you have the privilege.Be perfectly resigned, perfectly unconcerned; then alone can you do any true work. No eyes can see the real forces; we can only see the results. Put out self, forget it; just let God work, it is His business.Religion as a science, as a study, is the greatest and healthiest exercise that the human mind can have.Impurity is a mere superimposition under which your real nature has become hidden. But the real you is already perfect, already strong.As soon as I think that I am a little body, I want to preserve it, to protect it, to keep it nice, at the expense of other bodies; then you and I become separate.The more you think of yourself as shining immortal spirit, the more eager you will be to be absolutely free of matter, body, and senses. This is the intense desire to be free.So long as there is desire or want, it is a sure sign that there is imperfection. A perfect, free being cannot have any desire.Perfection is always infinite. We are the Infinite already. You and I, and all beings, are trying to manifest that infinity.Whenever we attain a higher vision, the lower vision disappears of itself.Watch people do their most common actions; these are indeed the things that will tell you the real character of a great person.Each work has to pass through these stages??ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.Great work requires great and persistent effort for a long time. ?? Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles.We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate. None else has the blame, none has the praise.Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness, fear is wrong life. All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in the world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear.This I have seen in life??those who are overcautious about themselves fall into dangers at every step; those who are afraid of losing honor and respect, get only disgrace; and those who are always afraid of loss, always lose.What the world wants is character. The world is in need of those whose life is one burning love, selfless. That love will make every word tell like a thunderbolt.Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals, place them day and night before you, and out of that will come great work.We must have friendship for all; we must be merciful toward those that are in misery; when people are happy, we ought to be happy; and to the wicked we must be indifferent. These attitudes will make the mind peaceful.Are great things ever done smoothly? Time, patience, and indomitable will must show.Learning and wisdom are superfluities, the surface glitter merely, but it is the heart that is the seat of all power.Each work has to pass through these stages-ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.Be a hero. Always say, "I have no fear."Tell this to everyone-"Have no fear".All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind; the infinite library of the universe is in our own mind.Hold to the idea, "I am not the mind, I see that I am thinking, I am watching my mind act" and each day the identification of yourself with thoughts and feelings will grow less, until at last you can entirely separate yourself from the mind and actually know it to be apart from yourself.Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or her heart. But the intelligent ones are those who can convert every work into one that suits their taste.Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success and, above all, love.If you want to have life, you have to die every moment for it. Life and death are only different expressions of the same thing looked at from different standpoints; they are the falling and the rising of the same wave, and the two form one whole.The powers of the mind should be concentrated and the mind turned back upon itself; as the darkest places reveal their secrets before the penetrating rays of the sun, so will the concentrated mind penetrate its own innermost secrets.It is the cheerful mind that is persevering. It is the strong mind that hews its way through a thousand difficulties.Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success and, above all, love.We believe that every being is divine, is God. Every soul is a sun covered over with clouds of ignorance; the difference between soul and soul is owing to the difference in density of these layers of clouds.Watch people do their most common actions; these are indeed the things that will tell you the real character of a great person.

[silviascorcella]

Fashion Conversation: LEE WOOD - L72

Contemplare le sue creazioni, e intanto scoprire dalle sue parole garbate quel che racchiudono, regala la soffusa sensazione di trovarsi come di fronte ad un’opera di pittura intimista, dove le composizioni quiete di luce morbida e colori nitidi sono invero un loquacissimo sguardo sulla realtà. 

Lui è Lee Wood e il suo brand L72 rappresenta un’avventura stilistica molto recente, ma che ha già conquistato il vasto plauso del pubblico e trionfato, tra le altre, sulla pregiata passerella di Who is On Next? 

La sua moda racchiude percorsi compositi che per buona parte si sono svolti al fianco di Donatella Versace. Una moda che oggi si racconta attraverso la più nobile e sovversiva forma di lusso: la libertà.

[ENGL.]

Going through his creations, and in the meantime discovering from his nice words what they encompass, makes you feel like being in front of a piece of intimist art painting, where the quiet combinations of tender light and vivid colors are indeed a very eloquent glaze on reality. He is Lee Wood and his brand L72 represents a very recent stylistic adventure, but that has already won the ample plaudit of the public and triumphed on the prestigious stage of Who Is On Next? contest. His fashion universe embraces multi-faceted paths, that to a great extent took place alongside Donatella Versace. A fashion universe that today reveals itself through the noblest and most subversive kind of luxury: freedom.

Tell us about yourself and your background: when did the very first encounter with fashion happen and how did it become your professional way? I’m English, born and raised in the countryside near Reading, in the Berkshire county, along the famous River Thames. After the compulsory education I decided to start following my artistic path by entering The Berkshire College of Art & Design, where I studied art, fashion and design. So, when I was 19, I decided to move to London in search of a job and new horizons. I remember two incisive moments concerning my approach in fashion: the first one, when I was a child and my mum, coming back from a ski holiday, was wearing a custom-made dove gray mink coat. That was the first time I ever saw anything like that closely, and that, especially, I could even touch it. So my mum, all proud, showed me the lining with her initials jacquard-woven … I couldn’t believe it, it seemed like a miracle! The second moment was when I went with my mother (it’s always her fault!) to the hairdresser: while waiting for her turn, she was reading some fashion magazines and I gazed at those pictures so glossy, so impeccable, so far from my world, and my mind ran formulating a thousand ideas and as many thoughts. My career began in London, when I started to be the assistant of the stylist David Thomas: it’s thanks to him that one night I had the chance to meet Kinder Aggugini that, in his turn, introduced me to Donatella Versace.

How, why and with what style vision was your label L72 born? My brand comes from my urge to give voice to my personal aesthetic. I’m a reserved person, rather quiet and loner, but inside me my imagination continuously creates, wherever I am and all hours of the day. I’m like a Marcello Piacentini’s building: rigorous, symmetrical, neat, but with the interiors designed by Lorenzo Castillo. After 16 years at Versace, I felt the need for trying new creative ways. I had decided to open my own design consulting studio in 2013 when, while I was making some samples for promoting my activity, I realized that I was subconsciously laying the foundation of my own line. I spoke with different people and friends within the sector and the feedback was more than positive, everybody said I was crazy! I was happily surrounded by products speaking a common language, that could be a total look, without even thinking of it, it was pure instinct. Thus, the things that had been existing in my fantasy for years became concrete and my vision became real. At that point I could not come back anymore !

Your own creative world is instinctual, beauty is a personal point of view, materials are the issue of experimentations and entrepreneurship is essential: what do these elements entail and how does their harmony happen in your fashion? For me everything is connected, I’m always present in my job and in every planning phase of the creative path. I don’t like staying at the desk, I prefer staying around instead, with the suppliers, at the studios, with the printer, at the photography studio to work together and “get my hands dirty” with the people helping me to realize my dream. And it’s thanks to them too, their energy, experience and diligence, if today I am here: every day I learn something new, and this is my nourishment. Today being creative is not enough, unfortunately: our world has become too much complicated and contradictory. You can’t create if you don’t have a support structure; you can’t have a support structure if you don’t have the resources and if you don’t have the resources you can’t make a production that would allow you to produce the next season … as they say in Italy “a dog chasing its own tail”! The expectations have become so much high and strict, accompanied by a very frantic pace of life, that there is a strong risk of implosion. Today a fashion designer must be also a manager, director, sales representative, and self-assistant: that’s crazy! I pay attention to the business and numbers: I’ve been working for 22 years as a salesman and creative director, I would be fool if I wasn’t concerned with the business aspect too, I have a lot of experience and I’d like to improve more and more, but doing things right takes a lot of time and energy and I often find myself leaving the creative part aside for the nights or weekends, when the rest of my world rests and grants me the silence and peace I need to think clearly. My instinct is strong, when I draw my first thought is always the right one for me: if I linger on too much developing  and redrawing, I always end up going back to the beginning. I love neat and graphic fashion, the proportions and the blending of male and female: a sort of “uniform for the future”, a combination of history and street.

Describe your last collection: what kind of inspiration does it originate from and how does this imagery take tangibly form within the creations? The spring/summer collection is called “Primary”: the concept of starting from zero. Last February (2015) I launched my brand with an exclusive press presentation, the project was called “Collection Zero: Non Conditioned”, so I was really starting from zero for the summer production. It’s a journey inside my childhood, moments where I became aware of the world I was in, a pure and instinctive approach, when colors enthralled me and at the same time taught me the chromatic circle, that the primary colors, red, yellow and blue were the main base for all the color blocks, like when I was a kid and I played with Legos, or rather I had fun organizing them by color. I thought to juxtapose this idea of nostalgia with a reflection on the expression of the time we’re living in, so it’s not only a mere memory of my naïf world. I added an embroidery made of real mini-disks: a while ago we used to think that CDs and mini-disks were so futuristic, but today almost no one touches music anymore, CDs have already turned old and young people think they’re something outdated. Our world changes so quickly and the primary colors of that time, my RGB, today are different because our reality is enclosed in a 2.0 world that broadcasts images and colors through the light. Today the main colors are red, green and blue. Ultimately, between a picture you hold in your hand or the same picture that you can see by Internet apparently nothing changes, but I know that the base is truly different.

One name inside and one outside the fashion world you would love to work with? Inside the fashion world I would really love to collaborate with Melanie Ward. I already had the chance to meet her and work with her when she was working with Versace: I really love her style, she’s English like me, and I think that her sensibility marries beautifully with my aesthetic. Whereas, outside the fashion world I’d say Olafur Eliasson, the Danish artist, I think he’s absolutely brilliant. His works begin with a different perspective on our world through lights, colors and science. They’re studies involving the environment to emphasize “hyper reality” concepts: his art captivates me, moves me, amazes me and destabilizes me at the same time, but gladly. I get a powerful and harmonious vibe from it, but with strong social messages.

Beauty will save the world, a renowned quote holding some truth for those who create fashion: what is your ideal about beauty? Will beauty really save the world? How can we categorize beauty in order to realize, then, if that kind of “beauty” could be our salvation? It’s so compelling, personal, it doesn’t mean we want to rely on beauty as if it was a religion, hell no! As for me, the idea of beauty must be dissected and employed depending on the subject. The proportions of a dress, the finishing of a table, a woman walking on the street, the sound of an instrument, things that people may even not like, meanwhile. But we all have our point of view, luckily! Perfection doesn’t exist, thank goodness; here’s what I think is good, the fact that imperfections exist and when we’ll be aware and at peace with this thought, we’ll finally get free from the so called “classic standards” that only bother me. I think nature gets close to perfection, it has its own balance that makes it unapproachable and mystical; but then the human being arrives and thinks he can enhance it, but he only makes disasters, as he often does for himself trying to reach “beauty”. Last summer I worked with MEG for her tour where she featured the album “Imperfezione”: we hit it off, we have several things in common. In an interview she states “I suddenly realized that the possible takes place within the imperfection and not within perfection, that is an abstract world, strict, an archetype, always the same as itself” and this is what we must convey to the world, the diversity, and teach the young people to accept themselves and their neighbor. This is my idea of beauty. A nice, respectful, natural creature.

If I say “imitation of life” (the theme of this Hachi Mag issue n.d.r.): what comes into your mind? I believe that what we’re living is an “imitation of life”. There’s something so insane in our today’s world that I can not think otherwise. I don’t think that this can be considered life, but that we’re literally surviving. We’re conditioned, directed, fed, driven by people and mechanisms that don’t want our prosperity. The world has turned into a game of powers and abuses and our lives are put on the line to bolster a media spectacle that can make us believe the unbelievable, and keep us quiet. As for me, life is something else.

Among the accolades received and the exquisitely personal dreams: what are your projects for the future? My first thought is to continue working, learning and living the best life I can: maybe this is a little fanciful vision, but it’s true. For my brand, I would be able to develop a well-established business that can create the L72 lifestyle by extending the product categories in order to include various licences. Then, if I could dream, think freely without any limits … I would love to buy a plot of land in the countryside and build a brand new home where I could live in complete peace with a lot of animals, where I could finally resume my love of horseback riding and keep on creating from a studio overlooking the hills.

Silvia Scorcella

[Published on Hachi Magazine issue n°4]