The Grace to Listen to the Lord's Words

Advent is the time of the promise, not yet the fulfillment. We are still standing in the middle of the whole thing, in the logical relentlessness and inevitability of destiny. To captive eyes, it still appears that the ultimate throw of the dice indeed will be cast here below in these valleys, on these battlefields, in these camps, and prisons, and cellars. Once keeping vigil, though, senses the other powers at work and can await their hour.

The sounds of devastation and destruction, the cries of self-importance and arrogance, the weeping of despair and powerlessness still fill the world. Yet, standing silently, all along the horizon are the eternal realities with their age-old longing. The first gentle light of the glorious abundance to come is already shining above them. From out there, the first sounds are ringing out like shepherds' flutes and a boys' choir singing. They do not yet form a song or melody--it is all still too far off and only the first announcement and intimation. Still, it is happening. This is today. And tomorrow the angels will relate loudly and jubilantly what has happened, and we will know it and will be blesssed if we have believed and trusted in Advent.

I originally found this excerpt in today's Meditation of the Day from Magnificat, Vol 13. No. 10. The author's name was Father Alfred Delp, S.J., a German Jesuit priest executed February 2, 1945 by the Nazis after suffering torture and imprisonment for fearlessly speaking out against their regime. I felt compelled to find out more about him, and discovered that this excerpt is from Advent of the Heart, a book of Fr. Delp's Advent sermons along with meditations that he wrote while he was imprisoned by the Nazis.

What a magnificent find. I recommend it highly. CLICK HERE to get a copy for yourself.

Buy This Book! Between Allah & Jesus: What Christians Can Learn from Muslims

I know, it's a touchy subject. Islam has a pretty nasty reputation here in the West, thanks to the political realities of our times. These political realities, however, shouldn't stop us from seeking out peace, and finding ways to dialogue with Muslims, and to better understand their beliefs and culture. How else will we ever succeed in evangelizing them?

Between Allah & Jesus: What Christians Can Learn from Muslims by Peter Kreeft (IVP Books, 2010) is a series of fictionalized conversations between a Muslim, a Secular Humanist, a fundamentalist Christian and a Catholic priest (and a few other minor "characters"), designed to discuss the broader philosophies and thinking behind the Muslim belief system. Within the conversations, Kreeft is able to discuss how these belief systems clash with the West, and where we all go wrong in our assumptions about each other.

If you happen to be looking for political commentary, look elsewhere. Between Allah and Jesus is about theology and spirituality, and how these are meant to be lived in practice. He does discuss politics, but only in a very narrow, controlled context of where religion and religious beliefs have a direct effect on politics. The point Kreeft is making here is a pretty gutsy one--every side is right in some ways, but very wrong in others.  For example, in his introduction Kreeft makes the following point:

There are two Islams in the world today. (1) There is the Islam of the Qur'an, which is one of the great religions of the world. It is a religion of peace (not of pacifism nor of aggression) and of divine justice (not of divine tyranny nor of divine intimacy). (2) There is also the Islam of the terrorists, who are murderers and assassins, especially murderers of their fellow Muslims.  Shiites and Sunnis hate each other for their "heresies" more intensely than either hates the West. (The London bombings deliberately targeted Muslim neighborhoods.)

 ...It is very tempting, if you see either if these two things, to ignore the other one. (Kindle Edition, Loc 118-120, 125)

Kreeft deals with these two points very effectively in the narrative as well by building some flaws and prejudices into each of the western characters, and giving his Muslim character, 'Isa, a chance to discuss them. He admittedly idealized 'Isa in both his knowledge and his practice of Islam, which is a smart approach, particularly because Kreeft in no way idealizes Islam. He presents Islam honestly, including those areas where it is fundamentally incorrect according to the truth of Jesus Christ.  At the same time he's taking on Islam's theological inadequacies, he also takes on Christians, who have become weak and ineffective in the material traps of Western culture.

One of Kreeft's strengths across his body of work is his ability to boil down what could be difficult theological ideas and lengthy psychological assessments into very accessible text. This work is no different. By using the context of conversation he was able to deliver complex information concisely without sounding too elementary, while at the same time delivered the harder truths without sounding too combative. He did use a few forced colloquialisms, and some of the conversations seemed a little unnatural, but as Kreeft explains in his introduction, this is not a novel, but a means of information delivery.

As to what exactly it is that we have to learn from Muslim spirituality, well, you'll have to read the book to find that one out for yourself.  I will tell you this much: it made me really think about just how well I practice my own Catholic faith, and what kind of reflection of my Catholic faith I am on the rest of the world.

You can purchase this book here.

I wrote this review of Between Allah and Jesus for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, your source for Oplatki and Advent Calendars. For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.

Buy This Book!

No work of fiction on the shelves is more profoundly relevant to Catholics in America today than Fatherless by Brian J. Gail. In his absorbing, realistic novel about Catholic life in America, Gail tackles some of the toughest issues of our age using hard, sometimes alarming facts that challenge the reader to seriously rethink society's conventional wisdom.

Fatherless takes a hard, honest look at a typical Catholic parish in America over the course of about a decade, beginning in the 1980s. The story begins with Fr. John Sweeney, a young priest about a year out of the seminary, assigned to his hometown parish and giving spiritual direction to three families regarding some very contemporary, very difficult issues. Fr. Sweeney offers them all the kind of guidance and advice that he thinks is correct for each of these families according to the world in which they all live. As all of their lives unfold in jarring reality over the next decade, Fr. Sweeney comes face-to-face with his timorous advice, discovering a new understanding of the Eternal Truth and his priestly vocation.

Gail and his wife of 40 yrs.

A former Madison Avenue advertising executive, Gail brings to this novel business insight and real world experience that adds to the believability to his story. It's a real page turner in spite of its being a little unpolished, specifically in dictated exposition rather than described, and a few instances of kitchy, sometimes corny dialogue. Also, the first few chapters left me a bit disoriented regarding the timeframe. These issues, however, are absolutely no reason to pass on this novel. What Gail lacks in style he makes up for tenfold in an impeccably researched plot that absolutely grips the soul. Gail echoes some of the late 20th & early 21st Centuries' greatest and most evocative Catholic writers whom he credits in his Bibliography: Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Christopher West, George Weigel, David Carlin, and several others.

Fatherless leave you with a better understanding of Catholicism and will ignite your desire for Eternal Truth no matter where you might be in your walk with the Lord.  In this relativistic world, it's more important than ever that we Catholics seek out Eternal Truth and cling to it with our very lives. I recommend that every adult Catholic read this novel, and pick up a few copies to pass along to friends and family.

You can purchase this book here.

I wrote this review of Fatherless for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, the largest Catholic store online. 

For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.

Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.

Buy This Book!

I got it only this afternoon and I absolutely devoured it.  The Gargoyle Code by Fr. Dwight Longenecker is genius. It's written as a series of letters (think Screwtape Letters, Dracula, etc.) -- a series of pride-soaked letters written by rotten, scheming, nasty little demons to each another about the various souls they're trying desperately to corrupt. It made me laugh out loud, yet still prompted me examine my faith and the condition of my soul.  It's an excellent book for the Lenten season.

Fr. Longenecker's book opens with a letter of introduction from heaven containing a challenge to read "as you would read a mirror".  Take this bit of advice to heart when you start reading it.  I, for one, identified with many of the struggles of those poor souls targeted by Slubgrip, Dogwart, Snoot, Grimkin and the entire hellish host. I would never have thought it possible to strike a perfect balance between clever, satirical humor and sound Catholic teaching. I enjoyed the scheming, lying, boasting and backstabbing among the demons, shedding a new light upon Jesus' words in The Gospel of  Mark: "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

I've never read The Screwtape Letters, but I just may pick up a copy. I'm going to need something else to read, since The Gargoyle Code is going to be passed around to all my friends starting tomorrow.

Clinging To Faith

"Do not let your hearts be troubled,” Jesus said. “You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”

Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:1-6

Some of the most profound ideas regarding spirituality and humanness I have ever read came from Henri J. M. Nouwen. His teachings, which stem from his intensely personal faith, begin with our Lord as "The Beloved", the one who is constantly, relentlessly calling us to Him. Nouwen taught that faith doesn't end with the individual's personal relationship with Christ. A real living faith is expressed outwardly in the life of a living community, the sharing of life's journey to the heart of their God; and in the manifestation of that community in outward expressions of love in ministry, either public or private. He taught that it's not in our strengths, but in our weaknesses that we can truly discover our unity, and that through loving of one another in these weaknesses we are able to know God.

A short book of “spiritual imperatives” to himself titled The Inner Voice Of Love: A Journey Through Anguish To Freedom (Doubleday, 1996), written during a six-month period of intense spiritual darkness, was never intended for publication. In this work, Nouwen explores his own weaknesses, the recesses of his fears, his struggles with faith, and presents them as "a source of consolation to see that light and darkness, hope and despair, love and fear are never very far from each other, and that spiritual freedom often requires a fierce spiritual battle." (from the Introduction, xviii) Sometimes the battle isn't with a demon, but with ourself.

The following excerpt is called Cling To The Promise:

Do not tell everyone your story. You will only end up feeling more rejected. People cannot give you what you long for in your heart. The more you expect from people’s response to your experience of abandonment, the more you will feel exposed to ridicule.

You have to close yourself to the outside world so you can enter your own heart and the heart of God through your pain. God will send to you the people with whom you can share your anguish, who can lead you closer to the true source of love.

God is faithful to God’s promises. Before you die, you will find the acceptance and the love you crave. It will not come in the way you expect. It will not follow your needs and wishes. But it will fill your heart and satisfy your deepest desire. There is nothing to hold on to but this promise. Everything else has been taken away from you. Cling to that naked promise in faith. Your faith will heal you.

The Catholic Vision For Leading Like Jesus

In a world of questionable ethics and shady business dealings, Owen Phelps, Ph.D., provides Catholics with a timely blueprint for honest, Christian leadership in his book, The Catholic Vision For Leading Like Jesus. Phelps addresses a real need within Catholicism, which is teaching Catholics “how to integrate their Christian faith with their lives as leaders at home, at work, and in their communities”.

Phelps perceptively explores what it means to be a leader within the context S3 Leadership: being a servant, being a steward, and being a shepherd. As I worked through this book I gained both insight and confirmation regarding my own ministries, as well as into my role in the workplace. Several chapters are dedicated to the concept of servant leadership, beginning with the embodiment of servant-leader that is Jesus, followed by a call to examine both our intentions and our actions, with some practical advice to incorporate into our daily lives.

Segments called “In the Family”, “On the Job”, “In the Community”, and “In the Church” are sprinkled through the chapters, along with diagrams, quotes and brief commentaries on various related topics. Phelps also includes at the end of each chapter “reflection questions”, which I think challenge the reader enough without being either too trite or overly confusing. I can easily envision a leader’s workshop or group study on this book. In fact, I’m recommending it to my Pastor in this capacity. The Catholic Vision For Leading Like Jesus is definitely worth the read to anyone in business, management or ministry.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on The Catholic Vision for Leading Like Jesus - S3 Leadership .