"God is Not Fair and Other Reasons for Gratitude" (Daniel P. Horan)

TITLE: God Is Not Fair, and Other Reasons for Gratitude
AUTHOR: Daniel P. Horan
PUBLISHER: Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2016, (144 pages).

This is a Christian book with a strange title. Using a counterintuitive title to draw curiosity, it is also about learning not to see things from the eyes of individualism but through God's eyes. As long as we wear personal subjectivity and egoistical lenses, we will accuse God of being unfair for the most part. The key thesis of this book is that we need both open minds and open hearts in order to grow in faith. Gratitude is that key to cope with the harsh realities of life; the complex cultures around us; and to unlock the mystery of faith. Through a series of reflections from cultural symbols to modern icons of the world, readers are invited to reflect on what it means to live in a world that seems so unfair. For Christians, it is about living in an intersection of theology, scripture, culture, and relationships. Part One focuses on the Christian faith in the modern world. What do we make of the movie depictions of zombies and World War Z? In a world flooded by negative media depiction of priests, can we still find dignity in the priesthood? What are we going to do about slavery? Can nonviolence and the abolishment of capital punishment bring about greater good in the world of violence and evil? What about failures? Who and what is a saint all about? These issues and more are looked at from the eyes of faith.

"Sensing God" (Laurence Freeman)

TITLE: Sensing God: Learning to Meditate Through Lent
AUTHOR: Laurence Freeman
PUBLISHER: Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2016, (120 pages).

One of the most important periods of the calendar year is Lent. Beginning Ash Wednesday, it is a forty days period of focused meditation and spiritual awareness for Christians to remember how Jesus had fasted and prayed for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. According to Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk and Director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, a contemporary, ecumenical contemplative community:

"The forty days and nights of Lent are about simplification, purification, getting priorities reestablished and remembering that God, not my ego, is the centre of reality."

For each day, there is a specific verse from the Bible. There are instructions on how to meditate, notes on postures, tips on time and place, and practical examples of how to go about preparing our hearts for Lent. Simple steps are given to help us get into the flow of meditation. This includes breathing techniques, mind awareness, formation of habits, daily meditations, and brevity that suggests the need for moments of silence. At the end of each week, Freeman repeats the mantra to remind us that meditation is a continuous learning exercise.

Any devotional on Lent ought to be brief. It ought to be Word centered and prayer filled. It also needs to supply lots of space for individuals to be quiet and reflective. This devotional meets all of these aspects and for that reason, I recommend this for the use this Lent and for every Lent. Let this book guide you in praying and a deeper seeking after the heart of God.

For 2016, Ash Wednesday begins February 10th and Easter is on March 27th, 2016.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Franciscan Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"The Passion and the Cross" (Ronald Rolheiser)

TITLE: The Passion and the Cross
AUTHOR: Ronald Rolheiser
PUBLISHER: Cincinnati, OH, Franciscan Media, 2015, (128 pages).

We all like to be in control. We take pleasure in being in charge. We delight in making sure that things get done our way, according to our own preferences. What happens when things unravel and start to go out of our control? At that point, we become more aware of what it means to be helpless and totally dependent on circumstances beyond our control. Looking at the life of Jesus, if we can divide the life of Jesus in two parts, the first part would be how he ministers to others; teaches his disciples; rebukes the religious leaders; tells his parables; heals the sick; gives sight to the blind; prophesies about the future; proclaims about his impending death; glorifies God; and so on. Once at the Garden of Gethsemane, instead of him doing things to others, others do things to him. Soldiers arrest him; the Pharisees condemn him; Pilate charges him; people spit at him; the executioner kills him; and his disciples leave him. Rolheiser is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. A well sought after speaker and established author, he is also president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. his writings in this book is full of spiritual insights that helps us marvel at the ordinary with renewed perspectives.

"In God's Holy Light" (Joan Chittister)

TITLE: In God's Holy Light: Wisdom from the Desert Monastics
AUTHOR: Joan Chittister
PUBLISHER: Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2015, (144 pages).

Much have been written about the wisdom of the desert monks. Known for their short pithy sayings and simple stories, in the early common people from the urban centers would often make their way to the desert to learn from these desert fathers. Beginning in the third century, after the Edict of Milan which made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, many pious and religious individuals make their way to the deserts in order to escape the corruption and materialism happening at urban religious centers. In seeking a life of simplicity, they have abandoned worldly pursuits in order to seek God more intently. Many of them literally obeyed Jesus' call to the rich young man to sell all his possession, give away to charity, and to follow hard after Jesus. As the world dominates the church, many people especially the disillusioned would go to the desert fathers for spiritual advice.

In this book, a collection of 35 stories have been put together with a commentary from Joan Chittister, a Benedictine monk who has written a lot on all things spirituality and a respected voice for justice and peace. Each chapter can stand on its own. There is no necessity to read straight through from cover to cover in order to be touched by the wisdom in the pages. Imagine a room with thirty five doors in front of us. It does not matter which door we opened for every door opened will shine light on the path ahead and behind us. More importantly, it shines into our hearts to reveal our weaknesses and the need for us to remain humble. Here is how I would recommend the use of this book.

At the start, read the short story and pause. Do not be distracted by technicalities or words that you are not familiar with. Some of the things may appear quite bizarre like Serapion who gave away everything including the Word. It is not the things he did outside but what is motivating his outward actions that matter more. Slowly but surely, the unassuming and gentle advice given by the desert fathers help us see ourselves more clearly. When ready, go ahead to read Chittister's commentary on the story. There are lots of gems and insights which should stretch our mind and our learning. If we think we have understood the sayings of the desert monks, let Chittister show us another perspective or more. The stories and the lessons are easy to read. Letting the truth sink into our hearts is not so easy.


Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Franciscan Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.