Stephen Grant is the pastor at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church on eastern Long Island. Grant is one of the more unique second-career clergy around, as he once worked for the CIA. Besides theology, his interests include archery, golf, writing, classic films, the beach, poker, baseball, and history. Grant also knows his wines, champagnes and brews. Oh yes, he generally dislikes politicians, and happens to be an expert marksman with a handgun and a rifle, while being pretty handy with a combat knife as well.
St. Stephen – for whom my parents named me – was the first martyr of the Church, and we celebrate his faith on this day. Once again, I pray that I might have a fraction of his strength:
Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed togetherat him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60)
From “Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel”…
But Grant’s attention was drawn to the window between Peter and John, and Philip. That was the martyrdom of Stephen. Grant, in fact, was specifically named by his mother after St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. So, this was a scene Grant was familiar with – Stephen gazing up at Jesus at the right hand of God the Father, the Holy Spirit as a dove shining the power of faith down on Stephen, all while an angry crowd threw stones to kill Stephen.
Pastor Stephen Grant’s sermon on December 28 inChristmas Bells at St. Mary's: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Storyis taken almost completely from a Christmas Day sermon given by The Reverend David T. Keating. Yes, I know this pastor well, as he is my son. I’m proud of him, and very much appreciate David’s giving the okay for Pastor Grant to use his sermon.– Ray Keating
Pastor Stephen Grant Journal, December 28
I’ve never been inspired by The Muppets to write a sermon. But there’s a first time for everything, and it’s The Muppet Christmas Carol. And besides, it was really Charles Dickens.
So, here it is…
As many of you are aware, I’m a big film buff. And yes, one of the reasons that Christmas is a favorite holiday of mine – you know, beyond the fact that God became man – is the fact that there are so many wonderful movies to watch during this season. It’s an annual tradition in the Grant household to gather together to watch Christmas movies. There are certain staples that always get watched year after year. Movies like The Bishop’s Wife, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, and A Christmas Carol all reliably end up in the rotation. I admit, though, that if only one version of A Christmas Carol is watched in a particular year, it’s usually The Muppet Christmas Carol. That was the case on Friday night. And I’d like to talk a little bit about Ebenezer Scrooge.
In the book version, Charles Dickens described Ebenezer Scrooge as an “old sinner” and then goes on to say this about the character: “Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice.”
When we read this description we can be struck by how people would be rightly terrified. Scrooge is filled with none of the warmth or cheer that we commonly associate with the Christmas season. He is, what we would call - homo incurvatus se - an example of man curved in on himself. Due to sin, he had shut himself off from the outside world. Rather than being concerned for his fellow man, he has nothing but contempt. The Muppets describe his situation, in a song, of course, as being that of “Mr. Outrage. Mr. Sneer. He has no time for friends or fun. His anger makes that clear. Don't ask him for a favor 'cause his nastiness increases. No crust of bread for those in need. No cheeses for us meeses.”
Oftentimes when someone is totally self-absorbed in the way that Scrooge is, something dramatic must happen to shake them out of their ways. A conversion experience along the lines of St. Paul on the road to Damascus is required to move them from apathy about their condition toward concern for their soul. This is what the ghost of Jacob Marley reminds Scrooge of. It is Marley’s hopeless ghost that bemoans, “Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?”
In other words, “Why did I never hear the Christmas message? Why did I, like the Wise Men, not follow the star to the Christ child who shows not only what it means to care for your fellow man, but also to have your heart mended and oriented toward the things of God?”
Throughout the rest of the story, Scrooge experiences a dark night of the soul in which he is forced to once again look away from his own self-obsession and toward his neighbor. He experiences his past, present, and future as if for the first time by actually examining those who have been placed in his life. Whether it is Mr. Fezziwig, his nephew Fred, or his employee, Bob Cratchit, Scrooge is forced to see the people whom God has placed in his life and to rediscover his care and his love for them, often in dramatic ways. Basically, the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future show him the many ways he has been neglecting his vocation of caring for his neighbor.
What then does Scrooge find by going on this adventure? He rediscovers virtues that are deeply Christian in nature. It is Christ Jesus who first is the great friend to the friendless and great physician of body and soul; caring for those in need. Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim highlight these Christological virtues as well. Bob remarks that Tiny Tim wanted people in church to see him so that they might remember their savior who made the blind to see and the lame walk. What I love about this is that Tiny Tim, this innocent one who suffers, wants to be an icon that points us toward the Innocent One who suffers on behalf of the world; and who restores our souls through His suffering. What a fantastic testimony of who Jesus is; even as we see Him through the lens of Tiny Tim.
When Scrooge travels with the ghost of Christmas future and sees a potential reality in which Tiny Tim has died from his illness, it is Bob Cratchit who remarks that life is made of a series of meetings and partings and as Tim has now departed this table first, we will not forget him. I’ve always thought this was hard to hear in what is meant to be a children’s story. Yet, by the end of the story we know that Scrooge changes his ways in order to become more joyful, hopeful, and, in essence, more Christ-like. The fundamental conversion of Ebenezer Scrooge has not just brought new life for himself; it has brought new life for the Cratchit family. Moments like this resonate with us because they reflect deep spiritual truths that lie at the heart of our life of faith.
But Bob Cratchit is also right. Death is part of the reality of the world we live in. We don’t like to think about it around this time of year, but this is part of our condition as those who have experienced the effects of sin. As the years wear on, we can become aware of the fact that there are more empty places around the Christmas dinner table as a result of loved ones who have parted our dinner tables never to return. Yet, this is why the message of Christmas is a hopeful one even in the face of this. It is one we need to hear every day of the year; not just on Christmas. Christ Jesus was not content to leave the parting from the Christmas dinner table as a forever parting. Instead, He won for each and every Christian life eternal so that we would once again meet around the wedding feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which will have no end. The message of Christmas is clear! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us so that we might dwell forever with Him. This has profound ramifications. It means you will experience a new life. You will see that loved one again. And in place of temporal partings, we receive eternal meetings that are promised to us by our savior.
So, what can we say then of old Scrooge and how he relates to each of us? At the beginning of the story, we hear that Marley’s specter is bringing with him Scrooge’s reclamation. Throughout the story, Scrooge encounters his own shortcomings as well as his joys. There are highs and lows, and in those moments Scrooge is forced to examine his conscience, much like we do when we have the law preached to us. By the end of Scrooge’s Christmas Eve, he realizes that he is an old sinner and, in response to that, he craves absolution.
Each of us has within us the capacity to be like Scrooge at the beginning of the story. We can become narcissistic, cruel, and self-obsessed. We can walk through life with our eyes cast down and miss those in need around us. But we have an encounter with Christ that is the center of the Gospel, which serves as the impetus for our turning back outward; toward our fellow man. We are able to see the miracle of Christ’s birth and look up from ourselves toward the Christ-child. Then we too can model the behavior that Christ Jesus first demonstrated. We can care for those who are hurting or in need. We can exhibit the joy and the warmth that is there for our friends and family members. We can pass along the forgiveness of sins and share with others the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. And perhaps when we encounter Scrooges in our own lives, we can be like the shepherds who had heard the good news of the angels, and the Magi who followed the star. We can go to this newborn Christ-child to receive life itself; and, in turn, point the world to this newborn light. It is, after all, Christ Jesus who daily and richly pronounces the words of absolution that old sinners like Ebenezer Scrooge, and you and I, are in deep need of hearing.
In the meantime, may we pray that the joy and the love of Christ Jesus takes root in our hearts this season. May we not be consumed by empty sentiment or holiday fervor. Instead, may we pray that the same love which compelled the Son of God to come into the world be alive in our hearts as well. And may we take courage that, because of Christ Jesus’ all atoning life, death, and resurrection, the departures from our Christmas dinner table will not be forever. Instead, we continue to look forward to happy reunions with the saints of God, both within the walls of our churches and at the end of all things when Christ calls us to be with Him at His eternal feast within the kingdom. Merry Christmas. Amen.
Scrooge lacked gratitude for all that he had, for all that God had given him. But here, he was given a great gift, and all that he should have gratitude for became evident, especially the gifts brought by Christ.
And okay, I admit it, Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat helped me this year more than usual, given the state of my mind when Jen and I were watching this Christmas classic.
Ray Keating was a guest on the American Reformation podcast with Pastor Tim Ahlman. Tune in for a wide-ranging discussion, from Ray’s Pastor Stephen Grant and Alliance of Saint Michael novels to his work as an economist to a discussion about the Church in the public square to some Christian history, and more!
Spend Christmas with a Former CIA Operative Turned Pastor
Christmas Bells at St. Mary’s: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story by Ray Keating is the perfect page-turner for the Christmas season. This is Keating’s 20th work of fiction, and the 19th book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series.
If you appreciate the spirit captured by many classic Christmas films, then you’re just like Pastor Stephen Grant … and you’ll enjoy this latest adventure. From the pages of his own journal, Pastor Grant paints a picture of Christmas at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church, emphasizing gratitude for family; for a new clergy friend; for a special handbell concert; and yes, for movies of the season. But danger also lurks, and sin, justice, forgiveness, suffering, sacrifice and salvation mix together in a rare way.
Ray Keating says, “Pastor Stephen Grant and I love classic films, including the tradition of watching certain movies at Christmas time. That becomes clear in Christmas Bells at St. Mary’s, and I hope this book becomes something of a traditional read around Christmas.”
Kirkus Reviews has called Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant “an engaging and multifaceted character” and “a consistently entertaining hero.” Lutheran Book Review calls Keating “the master of the theological thriller.”
Matthew Heise, author of The Gates of Hell: An Untold Story of Faith and Perseverance in the Early Soviet Union, said, “Check out Ray's novels… They are action-filled and deeply thought out. His Stephen Grant is Jack Ryan in Lutheran clerical garb!”
In an article titled “If James Bond Became a Pastor” covering Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries series, author and columnist Gene Veith noted, “Mr. Keating knows how to tell an exciting story. And these books, like the James Bond novels, are ridiculously entertaining.”
A quick video about the journey to and experience at the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod National Convention. Thanks to Jonathan Keating for creating this cool video!
Book Summary: From Finland to California, the tension builds and the action never falters. Pastor Stephen Grant arrives on the West Coast to officiate at the wedding of two friends. But the past reaches out to disrupt the festivities. Can Grant and his former CIA colleagues stop an attack by a team of killers sent by a powerful figure bent on revenge?
18th Installment in Series Featuring a Former CIA Operative Turned Pastor
For Better, For Worse: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is an action-packed, thought-provoking page-turner from Ray Keating. This is his nineteenth work of fiction, and the 18th book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series.
What’s For Better, For Worse about? From Finland to California, the tension builds and the action never falters. Pastor Stephen Grant arrives on the West Coast to officiate at the wedding of two friends. But the past reaches out to disrupt the festivities. Can Grant and his former CIA colleagues stop an attack by a team of killers sent by a powerful figure bent on revenge?
Ray Keating says, “It’s my hope that For Better, For Worse provides plenty of action in a shorter story, along with digging a bit into the characters and their relationships. Plus, this story also says a thing or two about marriage and what it’s all about in the end. That’s a lot to pack into a tale of less than 100 pages, but I hope readers find it entertaining and interesting.”
The first Facebook review of For Better, For Worse said: “Outstanding story. It's impressive how much you managed to cram, if that's the right word, into such a slender book. I really enjoyed it.”
For good measure, Ray Keating received the following message from a reader on Facebook: “I'm not generally into short stories, but I like yours!”
Kirkus Reviews has called Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant “an engaging and multifaceted character” and “a consistently entertaining hero.” Lutheran Book Review calls Keating “the master of the theological thriller.”
Matthew Heise, author of The Gates of Hell: An Untold Story of Faith and Perseverance in the Early Soviet Union, said, “Check out Ray's novels… They are action-filled and deeply thought out. His Stephen Grant is Jack Ryan in Lutheran clerical garb!”
In an article titled “If James Bond Became a Pastor” covering Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries series, author and columnist Gene Veith noted, “Mr. Keating knows how to tell an exciting story. And these books, like the James Bond novels, are ridiculously entertaining.”
Ray Keating is a novelist, an economist, a nonfiction author, a podcaster, a columnist, and an entrepreneur.
At this point, Keating has penned 18 Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries (with more on the way) – Warrior Monk, followed by Root of All Evil?, An Advent for Religious Liberty, The River, Murderer’s Row, Wine Into Water, Lionhearts, Reagan Country, Heroes and Villains, Shifting Sands, Deep Rough, The Traitor, Vatican Shadows, Past Lives, What’s Lost?, Persecution,Under the Golden Dome, and For Better, For Worse. He also has begun the Alliance of Saint Michael series, with Cathedral.
Among recent nonfiction books are The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution, The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York and Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know.
In addition, Keating is the editor/publisher/columnist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and hosts three podcasts. He was a columnist with RealClearMarkets.com, and a former weekly newspaper columnist for Newsday, Long Island Business News, and the New York City Tribune. His work has appeared in many periodicals, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Post, Los Angeles Daily News, The Boston Globe, National Review, The Washington Times, Investor’s Business Daily, New York Daily News, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, TheHill.com, Touchstone magazine, Townhall.com, and Cincinnati Enquirer.
Ray Keating’s Second Book in Series Offers More Quick Reads on Topics and Questions Related to Economics and Business
Ray Keating, a leading economist on small business and entrepreneurship, has written a new book titled The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. This is the second book in an ongoing series, with the first being The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist.
When listening to talking heads or politicians, people are legitimately bewildered about how the economy actually works and how to think about critical issues. The Weekly Economist and now The Weekly Economist II offer quick reads on topics essential to thinking clearly on economics and business, and for assessing the often wild assertions heard from politicians on such matters.
Ray Keating notes, “There’s a great deal of misguided and misleading talk about the economy, business, and public policies. Applying sound economic thinking to such matters is critical for our country and the world. With the second book in The Weekly Economist series, I’m hoping that people will take at least a few minutes each week to read these short essays, and by doing so, become a light for clear-eyed thinking of matters critical to economic growth and our quality of life.”
The Weekly Economist and now The Weekly Economist II hold appeal for a general readership looking to become more informed citizens. And they’re ideal for the classroom, boardroom and workplace.
Praise for The Weekly Economist II…
"An accessible, wide-ranging compendium. Keating remains remarkably impartial here, offering fair critiques and reasonable assessments of economic decisions, theories, and policies across time. This is an impressive second installment of the author's economics essays, avoiding repetition from the first collection, and offering cogent advice that feels more timely than ever." - Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★
Praise for The Weekly Economist…
“Reading Mr. Keating's new book is worth more than a degree in economics from most universities. Sensible and accessible, The Weekly Economist is a veritable catechism of how to think economically.” - Fr. Robert Sirico, author of The Economics of the Parables and President Emeritus of the Acton Institute
“If you want a quick and accurate insight into the major topics in economics, and if you have little or no background in economics, Ray Keating's The Weekly Economist is the book for you. Turn to any page and you'll find tight clear reasoning that will help you understand the complicated economic reality around you.” - David R. Henderson, editor, The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics
“For those who are curious about economics but who may not be interested in tackling a dry 300-page economics textbook, Ray Keating provides a brilliant alternative - a weekly breakdown of 52 economic concepts everyone should be familiar with. Although designed to give one easily digestible theme a week, many readers will undoubtedly want to binge-read to see which topics are their favorites. Great information for those new to economics or as a weekly refresher.” - Bryan Riley, Director, National Taxpayers Union Free Trade Initiative
“a lively primer” - Gene Veith, Cranach: The Blog of Veith, and author of God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life
“An accessible and comprehensive guide to concepts that regularly baffle the average person. This book runs the gamut when it comes to economic issues, and will invariably help readers think more critically about the financial machinery that runs the world. Keating makes a subject as potentially dry as economics into something dynamic and interesting. A natural storyteller, he carefully dissects an intimidating sphere of modern existence into a book that nearly anyone could learn from and enjoy.” - Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★
Paperbacks and Kindle editions of The Weekly Economist and The Weekly Economist II are available at Amazon.com, and signed books at www.RayKeatingOnline.com.
Review copies, and author interviews and appearances are available upon request.
Additional praise for Ray Keating’s work…
“Keating is at his best when tackling the issue that introduced him to the world of conservative thought: the benefits of the free market.” - Kirkus Reviews
“Keating is no sour-puss conservative... Keating’s pro-growth agenda of dramatic supply-side tax and regulatory cuts, school choice, and much smaller government stands as New York’s only chance at rebirth.” - Steve Forbes
Ray Keating's “take on the economy is unabashedly supply-side, offering a clear understanding that risk taking and entrepreneurship are the engines of economic growth.” - Jack Kemp
“A common-sense explanation of why politicians and bureaucrats shouldn't throw sand in the gears of global trade.” - Dan Mitchell, Chairman, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, about Free Trade Rocks! by Ray Keating
17th Installment in Series Featuring a Former CIA Operative Turned Pastor
Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is a thought-provoking, exciting page-turner from Ray Keating. This is his eighteenth work of fiction, and the 17th book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series.
In this latest book, Pastor Stephen Grant and his wife, economist Jennifer Grant, are invited to a conference at the University of Notre Dame. While they look forward to speaking at the same gathering, unexpected dangers materialize, fueled by distorted, political impulses among some in the Church. Defending religious freedom isn’t limited to a conflict of ideas, as the struggle turns deadly.
Ray Keating says, “In Under the Golden Dome, I not only try to bring action, urgency and some fun to the reader, but I probably delve more deeply into the world of ideas than in my previous novels. First, I’ve set the book at one of my favorite places in the country, that is, at and around the University of Notre Dame. Second, the conflict in this story stems from conflicting views on the mix of freedom, pluralism, and Christianity, and the questions, risks and history of wedding the Church with politics. Third, at the same time, my primary objective remains telling a compelling story, with characters that readers find interesting.”
Kirkus Reviews has called Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant “an engaging and multifaceted character” and “a consistently entertaining hero.” Lutheran Book Review calls Keating “the master of the theological thriller.”
In an article titled “If James Bond Became a Pastor” covering Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries series, author and columnist Gene Veith noted, “Mr. Keating knows how to tell an exciting story. And these books, like the James Bond novels, are ridiculously entertaining.”
Among other reviews and comments, Father Mike Coleman declared, “I am a Catholic priest and have thoroughly enjoyed each of these books. Edge-of-your seat excitement and very spiritually uplifting.”
Ray Keating is a novelist, an economist, a nonfiction author, a podcaster, a columnist, and an entrepreneur.
At this point, Keating has penned 17 Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries (with more on the way) – Warrior Monk, followed by Root of All Evil?, An Advent for Religious Liberty, The River, Murderer’s Row, Wine Into Water, Lionhearts, Reagan Country, Heroes and Villains, Shifting Sands, Deep Rough, The Traitor, Vatican Shadows, Past Lives, What’s Lost?, Persecution and now Under the Golden Dome. He also has begun the Alliance of Saint Michael series, with Cathedral.
Among recent nonfiction books are The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution, The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York and Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know.
In addition, Keating is the editor/publisher/columnist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and hosts three podcasts. He was a columnist with RealClearMarkets.com, and a former weekly newspaper columnist for Newsday, Long Island Business News, and the New York City Tribune. His work has appeared in many periodicals, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Post, Los Angeles Daily News, The Boston Globe, National Review, The Washington Times, Investor’s Business Daily, New York Daily News, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, TheHill.com, Touchstone magazine, Townhall.com, and Cincinnati Enquirer.
Pastor Stephen Grant and his wife, economist Jennifer Grant, are invited to a conference at the University of Notre Dame. While they look forward to speaking at the same gathering, unexpected dangers materialize, fueled by distorted, political impulses among some in the Church.
• Kirkus Reviews says Ray Keating’s books are “exhilarating."
• Lutheran Book Review calls Keating “the master of the theological thriller.”
• “I am a Catholic priest and have thoroughly enjoyed each of these books. Edge-of-your seat excitement and very spiritually uplifting.” - Father Mike Coleman
This is the 17th book in the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries series, so make sure you’re caught up!
Here’s a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year. First, enjoy the following chapter, which fits nicely for St. Patrick’s Day, as a sneak peek of the forthcoming book Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating. Second, pre-order signed editions of Under the Golden Dome.
Chapter 32
Before the “Faith and Freedom” conference officially kicked off after lunch on Wednesday, participants were invited to attend a morning Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Father Ron McDermott was the celebrant.
Stephen and Jennifer attended, with Father Tom Stone. But Grant found himself distracted prior to the start of the Mass.
Part of it was the beauty of the cathedral. There was so much to consider, particularly given the ornate Gothic Revival style. There was the baptismal font at the entrance and the magnificent pipe organ above it. The ceiling featured angels on a blue sky with stars, and a gold area above the sanctuary depicting Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, along with various prophets. In the distance behind the altar used during Mass stood the elaborate original altar with a tabernacle tower that Stephen found out had been inspired by Revelation 21:9 – seven angels with seven bowls, and the vision of the New Jerusalem. There was much more, such as the plethora of stained glass, and it was all a great deal to drink in.
In this case, he resisted applying an evaluative eye to see what might or might not sit right with various particulars of Lutheran theology. He decided that he was a guest in a Roman Catholic cathedral, and he would appreciate it as a guest.
But another part of Stephen did show up in the basilica.
Jennifer and Stephen had arrived early and wound up sitting toward the back of the nave on the right side looking forward. Normally, the pastor in Grant meant that when he was attending a service, he’d sit toward the front. However, the CIA operative in him – what he recently started referring to as the “Old Stephen” in his mind – wanted to sit in a position where he could see everything going on and everyone in attendance. Old Stephen won out after his early morning meeting with Paige and Charlie.
Stephen then witnessed an eclectic stream of people from his past, as well as some he had only met recently, arriving. They included Frederico Escalante, the former president of Creencia. Paige Caldwell, Charlie Driessen, and Chase Axelrod arrived separately, and spread themselves among the pews.
The odd trio of Pastor Malcolm Lawrence, Father Donald Roner, and Woodrow Stein came in as well, somewhat to Grant’s surprise.
What the heck is Malcolm Lawrence doing at a Catholic Mass?
Kathy Flaherty arrived with a man about her age, and three teenage girls.
Everyone has red hair. Husband and daughters, I assume.
Stephen also spotted assorted fellow conference speakers whom he knew only by reputation and their photos.
There’s a lot going on before this Mass.
As luck would have it, Jennifer and he happened to be sitting near a stained glass window featuring St. Patrick.
Kind of fitting at the home of the Fighting Irish. Geez, he even has a green halo.
Taking note of Patrick being clean shaven, Grant wasn’t sure if he’d even seen the patron saint of Ireland portrayed that way before. However, Patrick standing on and gripping a snake was not unusual, along with a few three-leaf clovers on the ground. But most striking for Grant was that the lower part of the window – or the medallion – showed St. Patrick baptizing an Irish nobleman.
After all, the point of celebrating St. Patrick is that he spread the Christian faith in Ireland.
Grant had read St. Patrick’s Confession, and he thought about how it opened, “I am Patrick – a sinner – the most unsophisticated and unworthy among all the faithful of God.”
That helped Grant get focused in a more appropriate direction, as did the start of the organ music. The congregation rose to their feet as the opening processional moved down the center aisle, with Ron in the final spot.
Finally, all worldly distractions were swept away for Stephen as all in attendance, including the University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, began singing one of his favorite hymns – “O God Beyond All Praising.”
In case you’re not completely caught up on Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant and Alliance of Saint Michael novels, the following is a complete list, with summaries and links to purchase paperbacks, Kindle editions and signed books.
• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel by Ray Keating
The Alliance of Saint Michael brings together men and women with varied backgrounds and talents to work covertly against the two most significant threats to Christianity and civilization at the dawn of the 1930s - communism and fascism. In Moscow, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is going to be obliterated to make way for the Palace of the Soviets. The Alliance of St. Michael readies itself for its first mission – find and salvage a rare item of great significance from the cathedral before the building is lost.
• Persecution: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
While the charge of “persecution” gets tossed about rather casually, Pastor Stephen Grant and some of his closest friends and associates get a close-up, bloody view of what it truly means to be a modern-day martyr. From the White House to the Vatican, and from Russia to the Middle East, the action is unrelenting and the suspense is palpable. Can Grant and his former CIA colleagues act in time to save innocent lives?
• What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story by Ray Keating
From the pages of his own journal, Pastor Stephen Grant tells a riveting mystery involving deception, betrayal, sacrifice and friendship, along with plenty of action and questions about what we truly can know about others. Grant takes us on a personal journey across decades and around the world, from Long Island to Vietnam. This is the second Pastor Stephen Grant story told from Grant’s own viewpoint, unfolding each day in the pages of his journal.
• Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story by Ray Keating
Torn from pages of his own journal, Pastor Stephen Grant tells about threats, murder and puzzling people from his past. It’s a compelling mystery involving action, unexpected turns, lost innocence, sought-after perspective, and twisted revenge. This is the first Pastor Stephen Grant story told from Grant’s own viewpoint, unfolding each day in the pages of his journal.
• Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
More than 500 years ago, two men – Jan Hus and Martin Luther – tried to bring about change in the Catholic Church. They suffered, with one burned at the stake. Could a modern-day pope transform these reformers from heretics to heroes in the eyes of the Catholic Church? Shadowy figures inside and outside the Vatican oppose Pope Paul VII’s efforts, and stand willing to do anything to stop him. For help, the pope turns to Stephen Grant, a Lutheran pastor, former Navy SEAL and onetime CIA operative.
• The Traitor: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
Stephen Grant – former Navy SEAL, onetime CIA operative and current pastor – looks forward to a time of prayer and reflection during a retreat at a monastery in Europe. But when he stumbles upon an infamous CIA traitor in a small village, Grant’s plans change dramatically. While a debate rages over government secrets and the intelligence community, a deadly race for survival is underway. From a pro-democracy demonstration in Hong Kong to the CIA’s headquarters in Langley to a monastery in France, the action and intrigue never let up.
• Deep Rough: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
One man faces challenges as a pastor in China. His son has become a breakout phenom in the world of professional golf. The Chinese government is displeased with both, and their lives are in danger. Stephen Grant – a onetime Navy SEAL, former CIA operative and current pastor – has a history with the communist Chinese, while also claiming a pretty solid golf game. His unique experience and skills unexpectedly put him alongside old friends; at some of golf’s biggest tournaments as a caddy and bodyguard; and in the middle of an international struggle over Christian persecution, a mission of revenge, and a battle between good and evil.
• Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story by Ray Keating
Beach volleyball is about fun, sun and sand. But when a big-time tournament arrives on a pier in New York City, danger and international intrigue are added to the mix. Stephen Grant, a former Navy SEAL, onetime CIA operative, and current pastor, is on the scene with his wife, friends and former CIA colleagues. While battles on the volleyball court play out, deadly struggles between good and evil are engaged on and off the sand.
• Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story by Ray Keating
As a onetime Navy SEAL, a former CIA operative and a pastor, many people call Stephen Grant a hero. At various times defending the Christian Church and the United States over the years, he has journeyed across the nation and around the world. But now Grant finds himself in an entirely unfamiliar setting – a comic book, science fiction and fantasy convention. But he still joins forces with a unique set of heroes in an attempt to foil a villainous plot against one of the all-time great comic book writers and artists.
• Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
Could President Ronald Reagan’s influence reach into the former “evil empire”? The media refers to a businessman on the rise as “Russia’s Reagan.” Unfortunately, others seek a return to the old ways, longing for Russia’s former “greatness.” The dispute becomes deadly. Conflict stretches from the Reagan Presidential Library in California to the White House to a Russian Orthodox monastery to the Kremlin. Stephen Grant, pastor at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church on Long Island, a former Navy SEAL and onetime CIA operative, stands at the center of the tumult.
• Lionhearts: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
War has arrived on American soil, with Islamic terrorists using new tactics. Few are safe, including Christians, politicians, and the media. Pastor Stephen Grant taps into his past with the Navy SEALS and the CIA to help wage a war of flesh and blood, ideas, history, and beliefs. This is about defending both the U.S. and Christianity.
• Wine Into Water: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
Blood, wine, sin, justice and forgiveness… Who knew the wine business could be so sordid and violent? That’s what happens when it's infiltrated by counterfeiters. A pastor, once a Navy SEAL and CIA operative, is pulled into action to help unravel a mystery involving fake wine, murder and revenge. Stephen Grant is called to take on evil, while staying rooted in his life as a pastor.
• Murderer’s Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
How do rescuing a Christian family from the clutches of Islamic terrorists, minor league baseball in New York, a string of grisly murders, sordid politics, and a pastor, who once was a Navy SEAL and CIA operative, tie together? Murderer’s Row is the fifth Pastor Stephen Grant novel, and Keating serves up fascinating characters, gripping adventure, and a tangled murder mystery, along with faith, politics, humor, and, yes, baseball.
• The River: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
Some refer to Las Vegas as Sin City. But the sins being committed in The River are not what one might typically expect. Rather, it’s about murder. Stephen Grant once used lethal skills for the Navy SEALs and the CIA. Now, years later, he’s a pastor. How does this man of action and faith react when his wife is kidnapped, a deep mystery must be untangled, and both allies and suspects from his CIA days arrive on the scene? How far can Grant go – or will he go – to save the woman he loves? Will he seek justice or revenge, and can he tell the difference any longer?
• An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
Advent and Christmas approach. It’s supposed to be a special season for Christians. But it’s different this time in New York City. Religious liberty is under assault. The Catholic Church has been called a “hate group.” And it’s the newly elected mayor of New York City who has set off this religious and political firestorm. Some people react with prayer – others with violence and murder. Stephen Grant, former CIA operative turned pastor, faces deadly challenges during what becomes known as “An Advent for Religious Liberty.” Grant works with the cardinal who leads the Archdiocese of New York, the FBI, current friends, and former CIA colleagues to fight for religious liberty, and against dangers both spiritual and physical.
• Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
Do God, politics and money mix? In Root of All Evil?, the combination can turn out quite deadly. Keating introduced readers to Stephen Grant, a former CIA operative and current parish pastor, in the fun and highly praised Warrior Monk. Now, Grant is back in Root of All Evil? It’s a breathtaking thriller involving drug traffickers, politicians, the CIA and FBI, a shadowy foreign regime, the Church, and money. Charity, envy and greed are on display. Throughout, action runs high.
• Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating
Warrior Monk revolves around a former CIA assassin, Stephen Grant, who has lived a far different, relatively quiet life as a parish pastor in recent years. However, a shooting at his church, a historic papal proposal, and threats to the pope's life mean that Grant's former and current lives collide. Grant must tap the varied skills learned as a government agent, a theologian and a pastor not only to protect the pope, but also to feel his way through a minefield of personal challenges. The second edition of Warrior Monk includes a new Introduction by Ray Keating, as well as a new Epilogue that points to an upcoming Pastor Stephen Grant novel.
