We're just back from a short holiday in Switzerland. We had a great time and it was lovely to see Rachel and Jurg (Hi guys!). I read Ronan O'Gara's autobiography as my holiday reading. The book reminded me of what a great contribution O'Gara has made to Munster and Irish rugby. He wrote with great respect for his fellow players - particularly for David Humphries, his rival for the Irish jersey. However one thing that saddened me about the rugby scene was the heavy drinking sessions that followed significant events.
The following words fascinated me:
. . . I have a very strong Catholic faith and I'm a regular mass goer. I don't always get a chance to go on Sundays because of matches and travelling but I always make a point of going during the week. I don't go out of habit and I don't go to be seen. It is a conscious part of my life. I feel I've been very lucky in so many ways and I go there to pray and say thanks.
As I thought writing a blog on O'Gara's faith I was reminded of a wedding Caroline and I went to a few years ago. The bride was a sportsperson too and we reckoned that she valued her Catholic faith. We also enjoyed a very enthusiastic choir in her church.
We wondered what we should say if the topic of faith arose. How would we explain the difference between what we believe and what the Catholic church teaches? We decided that we should talk about how many of the ministries that the Catholic church attributes to the virgin Mary we attribute solely to Jesus. Yet having studied Galatians over the summer I think I would, first of all, want to explain the evangelical understanding of grace.
Evangelicals teach that grace is God's free, unmerited and undeserved favour and is made available to sinful humanity because of the finished work of the cross. Grace is received by faith - it is not earned but received by taking God at his word and trusting his promises. In grace a person who deserves to be an object of God's righteous anger is immediately adopted into the secure and privileged position of a son and heir, and because their position is based of grace and not what they deserve they can have a certain confidence of heaven. The person who has turned to God for his grace, enthorning Christ as their king, recieves the person of the Holy Spirit who enables them to become more and more like Jesus.
I have greatly enjoyed watching Ronan O'Gara play rugby and hope that he will continue to represent Munster and Ireland for a few more years. I respect the fact that he wants to mention his faith in his book. I am also glad that he has a consciousness of God. I am impressed that he is not motivated by habit but thankfullness. It is also my hope that he might grasp the greatness of grace and this would be his greatest sourse of joy and thanksgiving.
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