Brief Book Review: Daily Readings with a Modern Mystic

Brief Book Review: Daily Readings with a Modern Mystic: Selections from the Writings of Evelyn Underhill

Author: Delroy Oberg, editor

Publisher: Darton Longman & Todd, and Twenty-Third Publications, softcover, 179 pages, including: Acknowledgments, Dedication, Chronology, Introduction, 13 chapters, an Epilogue, Notes, and Sources

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Authors 

Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), an Anglican by faith, was a British, 20^th century pioneer author, scholar, lecturer, retreat leader, and spiritual director. A prolific author, she was one of the first women in the 20^th century to study and publish works on mysticism and spirituality. She studied at King’s College, the University of London, and later lectured there, as well as at Oxford University, and the University of St. Andrews. The Roman Catholic lay theologian, Baron Friedrich von Hügel was her spiritual director.

The editor of this volume, Delroy Oberg, has written numerous articles about Evelyn Underhill’s life and work. She is a teacher and tutor. She has a BA, BEd and an MLittStud, with her thesis titled ‘The Spirituality of Evelyn Underhill.’ Oberg lives in Queensland, Australia. 

Contents

Each of the chapters focus on a theme or themes in the spiritual and mystical life, and Delroy Oberg provides introductions to the chapters. The chapters consist of citations from Evelyn Underhill’s works. The chapter themes and titles are as follows: 1 Saints And Mystics, 2 The Spiritual Life And Mysticism, 3 The Church, 4 Homeliness, 5 Time Given To God: Retreats, 6 The Eucharist, 7 Prayer, 8 The Stages Of Prayer, 9 Prayer And Belief, 10 Intercession, 11 War And Peace, 12 Letters Of Direction, 13 The Cross, 14 Epilogue is Oberg’s very brief summary sketch of Underhill’s spiritual and mystical life, and those that were “pleased” with Underhill’s life and works. 

Three Quotations

To stimulate the curiosity of readers of this short review, as an encouragement to read this volume, here are three quotations from Underhill’s works. 

The first one is from chapter 2, and comes from Underhill’s The Spiritual Life, pp. 30-32: “Indeed, if God is All and His Word to us is All, that must mean that He is the reality and controlling factor of every situation, religious or secular; and that it is only for His glory and creative purpose that it exists. Therefore our favorite distinction between the spiritual life and the practical life is false” (p. 28). 

The second quotation is from chapter 7, and comes from Underhill’s The House of the Soul, pp. 110-11: “For real prayer is simply the expression and the experience of Faith, Hope, and Charity, each penetrating and enhancing the other, and merging to form in us that state of energetic and loving surrender, in which our spirits have according to their measure communion with the Spirit of God” (p. 97). 

The third quotation is from chapter 13, and comes from Underhill’s The School of Charity, pp. 59-60: “Every Christian is required to be an instrument of God’s rescuing action; and His power will not be exerted through us except at considerable cost to ourselves. Muzzy, safety-first Christianity is useless here. We must accept the world’s worst if we are to give it of our best” (p. 171). Given “the world’s worst” today, there are infinite opportunities for every Christian “to be an instrument of God’s rescuing action”! 

Brief Book Review: Paul for Everyone: 2 Corinthians

Paul for Everyone: 2 Corinthians 

Author: Tom Wright

Publisher: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Westminster John Knox Press, paperback, 164 pages, including an Introduction, Map, and Glossary

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

At the time of this publication, Tom (N.T. Wright) was the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England. A prolific author and noted New Testament scholar, Wright was named by Christianity Today as one of the top five theologians in the world. He has written over thirty books, both at the scholarly level (including Jesus and the Victory of God and The Resurrection of the Son of God) and for a popular audience (including The Meal Jesus Gave Us).

Brief Observations 

In his “For Everyone” New Testament series, Tom Wright states that he has deliberately written “for everyone,” and not for religious and intellectual elites. Therefore he does not include footnotes and Greek words. Rather, there is a Glossary of pertinent words and phrases, containing simple descriptions of them. However, words that Wright has omitted, which this reader believes are very significant are: sin, evil, hope, joy, and thanksgiving. One wonders why he failed to include them?

His own translation of 2 Corinthians, which seems somewhat folksy, reminds this reader a bit of Eugene Peterson’s The Message. Yet one may quibble about the occasional passage, even though Wright does try to remain faithful to the original text in his translation. 

All-in-all though, this wee volume is a worthwhile read. Wright’s prose is easy to read, inspiring and insightful—he reminds me here a lot of the William Barclay commentaries, which perhaps inspired him. I especially appreciated his opening each segment with a down-to-earth contemporary example, which preachers and laity will appreciate for sermons and Bible studies. 

Brief Review: Instrument of Thy Peace

Instrument of Thy Peace – Revised Edition

Author: Alan Paton

Publisher: The Seabury Press, paperback, 124 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

Alan Paton was a South African Anglican layperson, author, teacher, and anti-apartheid social justice advocate. 

Brief Observations 

In his Preface, Paton begins with the following sentence: “This book is written for sinners, and by one of them” (p. 7). In addition to sinners—that includes, of course, everyone—he states: “I wrote also for those who are inclined to melancholy, for those who are inclined to withdraw rather than to participate...[rather than] the building of a more just order of society” (p. 7). 

Paton wrote this volume, of his 21 meditations based on Francis of Assisi’s classic prayer, during the time when his wife of 39 years, Dorrie, was dying of emphysema. He believed: “I was given help to write it” (p. 8). 

Each of the 21 meditations begins with a quotation often from Francis’s prayer or one or more biblical passages. However meditation 17 begins with four quotations from newspapers focussing on the 1967 black riots in several USA cities. In most of the meditations there are other quotations from a wide variety of people and sources, including: excerpts from The Little Flowers Of St Francis Of Assisi, John Bunyan, William Temple, Alexander Paterson, Dag Hammarskjold, Paul Tillich, Ralph Hodgson, Lancelot Andrews, Julian of Norwich, the “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann, The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky, Reinhold Niebuhr, and several others. The meditations often end with a prayer by Paton, wherein he concludes with these or similar words: “And help me this coming day to do some work of peace for Thee” (p. 53).

In meditation 3, based on Francis’s petition: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love,” Paton provides readers with his commitment to social justice: “To be the instrument of God’s peace is not to confine oneself to the field of personal relationships, but to concern oneself also with the problems of human society, hunger, poverty, injustice, cruelty, exploitation, war” (p. 20). At the end of this meditation Paton prays this prayer, which highlights his faith, and complements his commitment to social justice, and how he was inspired and motivated by Francis’s petition: “Take all hate from my heart, O God, and teach me how to take it from the hearts of others. Open my eyes and show me what things in our society make it easy for hatred to flourish and hard for us to conquer it. Then help me to try to change these things. And so open my eyes and my ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for Thee” (p. 22). 

Some of the meditations also contain contemporary anecdotes and insights born out of Paton’s own life experiences. For example, a friend of his who was overanxious could have been thankful for the blessings in her life, rather than being preoccupied with what might happen to her. 

In a couple of meditations, Paton is very honest with his readers concerning the “sinner” part of himself. He admitted that he struggled with and fell short of Jesus’s teaching to love one’s enemies. When someone pointed out to him that as a Christian he could be more joyful, he admitted that there was more room in his life to grow more joyful. 

Although some of the illustrations and contexts may be dated, others, even if dated, are as relative and instructive today as they were in Alan Paton’s day. This is a devotional classic that readers may wish to read periodically to discover insights and inspiration. 

A Brief Book Review: Remembering: A Novel

A Brief Book Review: Remembering: A Novel

Author: Wendell Berry

Publisher: North Point Press, paperback, 124 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

Wendell Berry, lived and taught in New York and California before returning to Kentucky, where he has lived for decades, writing and farming on 75 acres in Henry County. He is a social activist, environmentalist, a supporter of sustainable agriculture, advocate of rural communities, and a Christian pacifist. 

Content

The novel begins with two quotes and a prayer. The two quotes are: “...to him that is joined to all the living there is hope...Ecclesiastes 9:4, and “Let the fragments of love be reassembled in you. Only then will you have true courage.” Hayden Carruth Following these quotes, there is a prayer which is reminiscent of at least two biblical texts from the creation narratives in Genesis, and Isaiah’s call in Isaiah 6. The prayer, in part, begins as follows: “Heavenly muse, Spirit who brooded on the world and raised it shapely out of nothing, touch my lips with fire and burn away all dross of speech, so that I keep in mind the truth and end to which my words now move....” This prayer is followed by 7 chapters: 1. Darkness Visible, 2. An Unknown Room, 3. Remembering, 4. A Long Choosing, 5. A Place Known and Dreamed, 6. Bridal, 7. The Hilltop.

Brief Observations

The novel begins with Andy Catlett—the main protagonist—a small farmer near Port William, Kentucky, who is angry and grieving about the loss of his hand in a farming accident, and whose relationships with his wife Flora and their children are strained. Andy leaves the farm for an agricultural conference. At the conference, he is upset with industrialized-large agribusiness farming which, he believes only exploits both the land and human beings. It is too focussed on analysis rather than the importance of relationships with humans and the land, and caring stewardship of the earth. 

The novel mentions several people—past and present, whom Andy knew of, remembered, cared about, and mentored him. One significant encounter he had was with an Amish farmer, who, Andy thought, lived more in harmony with God’s creation than the large industrialized farmers. 

The novel’s final chapter is a kind of vision for all of creation being restored and renewed, perhaps modelled after Isaiah’s vision of shalom. There is beauty and wonder in the natural world, and forgiveness and reconciliation for human beings. 

One critique of the novel for this reader is that there was too much description—albeit sometimes very poetic—and inadequate dialogue and engagement between human beings. 

In light of Berry’s own life, the novel seems somewhat autobiographical. 

A Brief Book Review: The Way of the Cross

A Brief Book Review: The Way of the Cross

Author: Richard Holloway, with a Foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie

Publisher: Collins Fount Paperbacks, in association with Faith Press, 121 pages

The Author

The Rev. Richard Holloway, born in Glasgow, completed his theological studies in Edinburgh, London and New York. He was ordained a deacon in 1959, and a priest in 1960, serving two parishes in Glasgow until spending a sabbatical year (1967-8) at Union Theological Seminary in New York. His other pastorates included Old St. Paul’s, Edinburgh, the Church of the Advent, Boston, and Vicar of St. Mary Magdalen, Oxford. He also served as Bishop of Edinburgh, and was elected Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1992. In addition to this volume, he is the author of several other books. 

Contents

This volume, in addition to 8 chapters, consists of Acknowledgements, Foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury, a poem called Crux by Bob Bridges, and an Epilogue. With the exception of the first chapter, at the end of all the others there are questions for discussion.

Brief Observations

This wee volume contains meditations on seven of the fourteen traditional stations of the cross, combined with commentary on biblical texts and various literary citations, including: The Return of Arthur; The Last of the Just; Murder in the Cathedral and Four Quartets; The Mystery of Suffering; Too Late the Phalarope; The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

According to Holloway, the Passion of Jesus has a multitude of meanings, both reveals insightful truths, and transcends human explanations. The Passion contains revelation and mystery, as well as the presence of evil and holiness. 

Some of the factors the author mentions in the trial and killing of Jesus are: envy, power and its abuse over against weakness and love, the fall and original sin, scapegoating the Jews, Jesus’s acceptance of and public association with women in contrast to the discrimination against women, the sin of self-deception. 

Holloway, without naming them, reflects on the familiar views of atonement—endeavouring to understand and respond to them morally and theologically. He speaks of Jesus in front of us, for us and in us—bringing us forgiveness and new life.

The volume’s short epilogue is titled “Resurrection,” which ends with a citation from C.S. Lewis’s, The Last Battle. 

This little work seems somewhat dated—published in 1986—and contains sexist language; and takes on the Passion that readers might argue about or disagree with.

For others, it may help them in their Lenten spiritual journey. 

Brief Book Review: The Heart of Christmas

The Heart of Christmas 

Author: Compiled by Sarah Bubbers, 

Publisher: Collins Fount Paperbacks, 143 pages, including Foreword, In Case You Didn’t Know, Acknowledgements, Crisis at Christmas

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Author

At the time of this publication, Sarah Bubbers had studied English at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, then was an editorial staff person of a London publisher—working on children’s books, religious books, and fiction. Then she became a freelance editor. Her twin baby sons were born during work on this volume.

Contents

The volume consists of four chapters: 1 Away in a Manger A Child’s Christmas; 2 Love Came Down at Christmas God’s Wonderful Gift; 3 O Come, All Ye Faithful Christmas Remembered; 4 See Amid the Winter’s Snow The Challenge of Christmas. 

Each of the chapters begin with citations from Luke’s and Matthew’s accounts of Jesus’s birth. The chapters then include several stories, poems, reflections, hymns, and “Kid’s Quotes” of seven year olds, such as: “Christmas comes so that we can have peace, love and hope all year round” (p. 43). And: “At Christmas I think about poor Santa who gets soot on him” (p. 43). 

Some of the “classic” Christmas stories appear in the volume—for example: “Carol Singing” from A Child’s Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas; “Christmas in Prison,” by Richard Wurmbrand; and “Christmas at Mole End,” from The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame. 

There are other inspiring, humorous, and insightful stories by contributors from a variety of backgrounds, including: clergy, politicians, writers, broadcasters, actors, and so on. One of my favourite reflections is “Christmas in Israel,” by Walter Barker, who also provides a brief description of the Jewish Hanukkah festival. 

Under the title “In Case You Didn’t Know...” Bubbers provides biographical sketches of this volume’s contributors. 

What I appreciated most, however, is that the book’s royalties went to help a London charitable organisation called Crisis at Christmas, which began working in the field of homelessness in 1967. Moreover, the authors and publishers shared their works free of charge. 

This wee volume is ideal for families celebrating the true spirit of Christmas. 

Brief Book Review: The Forgotten Touch

The Forgotten Touch: More Stories of Healing

Author: Nigel W.D. Mumford

Publisher: Seabury Books, paperback, 135 pages, including Acknowledgments, Forward by Russ Parker, Prologue and Epilogue

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Author

At the time this volume was published, the Rev. Nigel Mumford was born and educated in England, a former marine and now an Episcopal priest, and Director of the Healing Ministries of Christ the King Spiritual Life Centre in Albany, New York. He is also the author of Hand to Hand: From Combat to Healing. On his website, he is described as: an international speaker, author and founder of By His Wounds, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit, organization, focusing on Christian Healing. Nigel is also Priest Associate for Healing, at Galilee Church in Virginia Beach, VA.

Contents

The main body of this volume is divided up into Part One God’s Healing Grace and Part Two Sharing In The Ministry Of Healing. Part One contains eight chapters. Part Two contains four chapters. Each chapter begins with a biblical text. 

Brief Observations

Mumford himself shares autobiographical stories, including how God called him into ordained ministry after having served as a soldier in the British military. He began to focus on praying for healing and healing ministry when his sister, a ballet dancer, was healed of Dystonia. Mumford also tells several stories in the book of others being healed. 

He points out, among other things, that: there are different kinds of healing, it is not always what people expect, it may not be instantaneous, in addition to prayer and faith in God, it also may involve medical personnel, science and technology.

Mumford admits that there are cases where healing doesn’t happen. He addresses five blocks that prevent healing: unforgiveness, inner vows, unworthiness, occult involvement, and negative attitude. 

He goes on to identify ten major ingredients for healing, which are connected with listening, loving, and praying. He also discusses twelve ways to prepare for and introduce a healing ministry in a parish, as well as seven pitfalls to watch out for in a healing, prayer team ministry, and a checklist for a healing service. 

Aside from the sexist language, and a wee bit of questionable biblical, theological and practical presuppositions, some clergy and laity with an interest in healing ministry might find this volume helpful. 

Book Review: Archbishop Oscar Romero: A Shepherd’s Diary

Archbishop Oscar Romero: A Shepherd’s Diary

Publisher: St. Anthony Messenger Press & Novalis, hardcover, 542 pages, including: Foreword, Introduction, A Note From the Translator, Maps, The Diary, Afterword, Glossary, and Index

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Author(s)

Oscar Arnulfo Romero, who was installed as archbishop of San Salvador on February 22, 1978 and assassinated while celebrating mass on March 24, 1980, depended upon three other people, in particular, who were instrumental in publishing his diary. This diary is based on several recorded tapes, covering only the period from March 31, 1978, to March 20, 1980—four days before he was murdered. The three other people contributing to this volume are: Irene B. Hodgson, who translated the diary into English, and at the time of the diary’s publication was associate professor of Spanish at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has also translated the works of liberation theologians, including Jon Sobrino and Enrique Dussel, and Chilean poet Javier Campos. She has travelled extensively in Central and South America. Thomas E. Quigley, who wrote the Foreword of this volume, and at the time of the diary’s publication, served on the U.S. Catholic Conference for Latin American Affairs. James R. Brockman, a Jesuit, who wrote the Introduction of this volume, and was the author of Romero: A Life, and was editor-translator of Romero’s The Violence of Love. 

Brief Highlights from the diary

Already in his April 3, 1978 diary entry, Archbishop Romero was, in his view, falsely accused by other bishops of: subversive, violent preaching; which provoked violence among the peasants against the abuses of the authorities. Already, too, in his April 20, 1978 diary entry, a Dr. Salcedo had written some articles against Romero, which were paid advertisements. Romero suspected that they were written on behalf of the government and/or the economically powerful. 

The diary contains a lot of repetition concerning Romero’s routine schedule and duties as the archbishop. For example, there are many diary entries about: administrative issues, personnel issues, visits to parishes where he confirmed parishioners, met with priests, nuns and laity, officiated at funerals, short summaries of several of his sermons preached, visits and meetings at seminaries, visits and meetings with national and international ecclesiastical leaders, government leaders, and journalists, mention of his radio talks and interviews, his trips to Rome and highlights of his time there, comments about the tension between various political groups and the El Salvadoran government, celebrations of various feast days, his concern for and contribution to one or more pastoral letters concerning faith, the church and politics, you get the idea. 

In some respects, Romero was a very conservative Roman Catholic. For example, in his June 29, 1978 diary entry, he writes: “Rome is the home of everyone who has faith and a true sense of Church. Rome is the homeland for all Christians (p. 77).” This would likely be regarded by many non Roman Catholic Christians as extremely incorrect, and even offensive! 

On the other hand, Romero was also a strong advocate for Christian base communities, social justice and human rights, and liberation theology. For example, in his May 29, 1979 diary entry, he states: “It is spiritually filling to see the Church decide to identify with the people and to confront—or be forced to confront—governments that do not understand the people. The necessity of choosing, as Puebla advised, the option for the poor is a recognized fact and is gaining ground in a Church that is trying truly to be the Church of Jesus Christ (p. 242).”

In his June 1, 1979 diary entry, Romero mentions that he had “received telephone calls threatening me with death and a card with the swastika of the UGB (a rightist terrorist group), the White Warrior Union...(p. 245).” They threatened to kill him if he continued to preach sermons advocating for the poor and oppressed, human rights, and social justice. He responded by saying that in good conscience, he could not remain silent about the increasing injustices and violence in El Salvador. 

As a prophetic voice Romero spoke out against the growing evils in his nation. The following July 7, 1979 diary entry is a moving example of his pastoral compassion and prophetic commitment. “At my residence a suffering mother was waiting for me, along with her son’s wife, to tell me that her son, a fifth-year medical student, has disappeared. ...I understood the depth of her pain and promised to do everything I could. Tomorrow in the Mass I will mention this new case of injustice (p. 280).” 

In Romero’s February 2, 1980 diary entry, he provides a short summary of the speech he gave on the occasion of receiving an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Louvain, Belgium. “In summary I talked about what faith can do in the area of politics, the task of our archdiocese in its commitment to the country and, in the second part, how our faith becomes enormous, the mysteries become deeper through these same political realities when we are conscious of the preferential option for the poor (p. 473).” 

Romero mentions that his sermons were getting increasingly longer, and he sees this trend as his need to be an advocate for the poor of his country. In his February 17, 1980 diary entry he states: “The homily lasted for an hour and forty-five minutes. I talked about...Jesus Christ, who committed himself to the poor. I illuminated the reality of the country to condemn the selfishness of the rich who insist on maintaining their privilege....(p.491).”

With the growing violence and hardening of positions of the government, the political right groups and political left groups, Romero offered that the church be a mediator between the various groups to bring about an end to the violence and a just, peaceful country. Tragically, the violence grew worse. In Romero’s March 16, 1980 diary entry he states: “Today I highlighted the repression, which has not ended but, instead, is getting worse. It is causing great pain and the Church must denounce it (p. 528).” In short, in the face of evil, oppression and injustice, Archbishop Romero believed that it was necessary for spiritual leaders to speak the truth to power, as did Jesus, and the biblical prophets of old.

On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Romero was assassinated while celebrating a memorial Mass at the Divine Providence Hospital. 

This is an important volume to learn something of the faith, leadership role, and personality of Archbishop Romero, even though it is rather tedious to read. 

Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian Clergy Retreat

On March 21, 2023, Anglican, Lutheran, and Moravian clergy gathered at Moravian Camp Van Es, for a retreat and the opportunity to get to meet one another.

This was the first—to the best of my knowledge—such historic event of its kind, here in Alberta. It was organized in anticipation of the acceptance and signing of the proposed document: One Flock, One Shepherd: Lutherans, Anglicans and Moravians—Called to Walk Together in Full Communion later this year. 

The schedule of the retreat was as follows: 

1. Welcome & Worship

2. Break

3. Panel Conversation with Bishop Steve London (Anglican), Bishop Larry Kochendorfer (Lutheran), and the Rev. James Lavoy (Moravian)

4. Lunch

5. Small Group Breakouts

6. Communion & Closing

The small groups were given the following questions for discussion: An introductory Who are you? Name; your current ministry context; One Word describing your Hope/Prayer/Vision for the Church today. Then three addition questions: 

1. 3 most significant priorities our churches are being called to respond to in our place and time. In our group, I suggested that the churches continue with the process of truth and reconciliation actions to improve and, by God’s grace, heal our relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

2. Brainstorm 1-2 new ideas each for something you would like to see our churches begin to do together rather than separately (either at the parish/congregational level or the diocese/synod/district level).

3. Share 1 new personal commitment you each feel called to make towards living out our full communion partnership in your ministry context over the next year.

One thing I learned at the retreat was that Moravians have been in Labrador since 1750! One of their missionaries translated the Bible into an Inuit language.

My contact with Moravians over the years reminds me of my appreciation of their emphasis on and gift of music—their hymnbook contains many wonderful hymns. When I was a chaplain with the Bethany Group, I enjoyed several engaging conversations with a resident who was a retired Moravian professor—and who played the saxophone and sang in choirs.

All-in-all, the clergy retreat was an instructive and inspiring one—I look forward to similar events in the future. 

Brief film review: The Holly and the Ivy

Brief film review: The Holly and the Ivy

Over the years, the Reverend Julianna, my wife, and yours truly, have enjoyed watching a host of classic films on the Turner Classic Movies channel. We appreciate being able to watch movies without far too many commercial breaks on other channels. 

Recently we watched “The Holly and the Ivy,” a 1952 black & white British film, 80 minutes long. It was  directed by George More O'Ferrall, produced by Anatole de Gunwald, and is based on the 1950 play of the same name by Wynyard Browne. 

The story mainly takes place on Christmas Eve, and Gregory family members are arriving at the parsonage in the remote village of Wyndenham in rural Norfolk. Ralph Richardson is the parson, the Reverend Martin Gregory, who is a widower. Celia Johnson is Jenny Gregory, the parson’s daughter who is in love with a Scottish engineer, David Paterson, and wants to marry him, but believes she cannot because she feels duty-bound to look after her dad. David feels a great deal of urgency to marry Jenny, and take her with him, as he is about to leave for a five year job in South America.

The Reverend Gregory’s two other children also arrived home for Christmas—daughter Margaret, and son Michael. Both of them are in a rather strained relationship with their dad. They feel that because their dad is a parson, they could not share certain details of their lives with him, for fear that he would judge and reject them. 

Eventually there is a confrontation between the Reverend Gregory and son Michael, in which the latter is honest with his dad. A heart-to-heart conversation between daughter Margaret and her dad reveals how much she has suffered because of the death of the man she loved, and the death of her four-year-old son, who died of meningitis. 

The Reverend Gregory, instead of rejecting and judging his children, surprises them by showing them empathy, and sharing his own regrets about the past, as well as his struggles as a parson. 

It is a heart-warming story, and underscores the importance of reconciliation, communication, and compassionate family relationships. I also appreciated how the film addresses the continuing stereotypical, prejudicial, and false view (even today) of many towards clergypersons—that they are too ‘holy,’ self-righteous and judgemental of others, living sheltered lives, and therefore to be avoided because they lack empathy towards, and understanding of people living in “the real world.” 

Brief Book Review: The Spirit Of Counsel

The Spirit Of Counsel: Spiritual Perspectives in the Counselling Process

Author: Martin Israel

Publisher: A.R. Mowbray & Co. Ltd., paperback, 192 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

At the time of publication, the Rev. Dr. Martin Israel lectured in pathology in the University of London at the Royal College of Surgeons, he was also an Anglican priest, and author of several books.

Contents

The contents include a Forward, sixteen chapters with the following titles: 1 The Way of the Spirit; 2 Illuminated Self-Love; 3 Self-Discovery and Illumination; 4 The Path of Counsel; 5 Bearing One Another’s Burdens; 6 The Way of Unknowing; 7 Psychic Communion and Counselling; 8 The Discernment of Spirits; 9 Counselling Towards Liberation; 10 Discipline in the Service of Freedom; 11 The Counsel of Perfection; 12 The Need to be Wanted; 13 The Identity Crisis; 14 Matters of Life and Death; 15 Counselling for Death; 16 Intimations of Joy; and a short conclusion, titled: The End of Counsel. 

Brief Observations

This reviewer struggled with the Rev. Dr. Israel’s style and language of prose; finding it difficult, obscure, and in places too abstract and elitist. In short, it was not an easy read, and perhaps the author had in mind as his audience professional counsellors and physicians. Moreover, this volume would have been far more accessible, I believe, had the author shared more concrete examples from his own life experiences. Another irritating factor is the author’s sexist language. That said, I’d like to conclude with three quotations, which may awaken the curiosity of some readers to check out this volume. Two stars out of five.

“As I grow in love, so the full burden of human suffering becomes known to me. I become increasingly available to all the world’s pain, which has to be borne in love before it can be transfigured by the power of the Holy Spirit (p.49).” 

“Without forgiveness there is no love, without love no growth, without growth no continuing life (p. 168).”

“The more experience one has in the various disciplines of life, the less dogmatic does one become (p. 171).” 

Book Review: Stories by Willimon

Stories by Willimon

Author: William H. Willimon

Publisher: Abingdon Press, paperback, 251 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Will Willimon needs no introduction to many preachers and professors of homiletics—especially here in North America. In addition to his life as a preacher and professor, Willimon is also a prolific writer, having published over 65 books, and thousands of periodical essays, and blog posts. He has also served as a popular keynote speaker at numerous clergy study conferences. 

Contents

This volume consists of a Forward; Part One: Sowers; Part Two: Seeds; Part Three: Senses; Part Four: Secrets; Story Title Index; Scripture Index, Theme Index; and Credits. The volume is a collection from a variety of Willimon’s writings from various sources over the years.

Willimon’s writings include—among other genres: sermons, theology, humour, prophetic exhortations, satire, fiction, personal reflections/autobiography, lament, and more. 

The following examples, one from each part, hopefully inspire readers of this brief review to purchase or borrow this volume from the library.

In Part One: Sowers, here is a brief citation from Willimon’s advice to someone who, in a letter, asked him how to preach like him. The piece is titled “So, You Want to Preach?” Willimon advises: “So, you want to preach? Fall in love with words. Collect clichés and burn them. Read all the plays (sonnets too) of Shakespeare. Poach from the poems of Yeats, consume the short stories of O’Connor. Fall in love, and out again. Be in pain. Get lost. Roam. Come back home. Get saved. In sin, be bold. Gape at your people when doing visitation. Listen to their lives, their lies, their dreams, their hopes. Keep notes. Listen. Attend one of our first-rate theology schools (pp. 20-21).” 

In Part Two: Seeds, Willimon tells a brilliant parable titled, “Teach ‘em a Lesson.” The parable’s main character is a successful, yet merciless business leader, chair of his church’s board, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary. After he dies, God the Judge commands: “Forgive him! It’ll teach him a lesson (p. 50).”

In Part Three: Senses, Willimon, in a sermon he preached at Duke University Chapel on December 7, 1986, titled “Jews and Christians, All in the Family,” re-tells Luke 15:1-32. He concludes: “The younger brother had succeeded in locking out his brother, he had the whole house to himself, but alas, he had locked out his loving father as well (p. 122).”

In Part Four: Secrets, Willimon humours readers in his piece titled “Feedback,” in which he shares from his collection of responses to his writing. “Criticism of liberal theology won me this fusillade: No Dr. Willimon, we will not march back into the dark ages of narrow-mindedness, bigotry, and closed thinking. If I had my ways, you would be banished from the pages of every church magazine, defrocked and silenced. Just imagine what he would do to me if he weren’t open-minded” (p. 208). 

For preachers—and others—who love stories, this volume will humour, inspire, offend, encourage, critique, challenge, instruct, affirm and more. 

Book Review: 100 Views from This Seat

Author: Leroy Seat

Publisher: 4-L Publications, paperback, x, + 200 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

The Rev. Dr. Leroy Seat served as a Baptist pastor, he earned his PhD in theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and was a Baptist missionary in Japan from 1966 to 2004. His doctoral dissertation was titled “The Meaning of ‘Paradox’: A Study of the Use of the Word ‘Paradox’ in Contemporary Theological and Philosophical Writings with Special Reference to Søren Kierkegaard.” He was full-time professor at Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka, Japan from 1968 until his retirement in 2004. Professor Seat served as Chancellor of Seinan Gakuin from 1996 to 2004. He also taught as an adjunct professor at Rockhurst University from 2006 to 2014. In his retirement years, since 2009, Dr. Seat has been a blogger at: The View from This Seat: Reflections about Life, Love, Light, and Liberty (the 4-Ls).

Contents

100 Views from This Seat contains a selection of 100 out of his 800 blog posts, with a wide variety of topics, dating from 2010 to 2020. Indeed, as a blogger myself, that is how I came upon Professor Seat’s blog, occasionally leaving comments on his blog posts. The book is divided into the twelve months of the year, each month includes eight or nine blog posts that were not chosen in any particular order. The blog posts address serious religious, ethical and political subjects. 

In Appreciation

One of the factors that has always annoyed me about the academic world is, among some academics—certainly not all of them!--a sense of superiority and snobbery. In reading Professor Seat’s blog posts, I have been delighted to learn that that is not the case! I truly appreciate his clear, concise and hospitable prose, which reflect his academic learning as well as his faith. Even though he, at times, addresses controversial issues, he avoids engagement in character assassination and other disrespectful commentary. 

In this review, I have chosen to focus on three blog posts, which hopefully stimulate readers to purchase this volume, and/or visit Professor Seat’s blog. 

One of his blog posts is titled Baptist with a Small “b,” (pp. 29-30). He cites the Schleitheim Confession, which, among other things, referred to a rejection of violence and capital punishment. Over the years, Dr. Seat grew increasingly uncomfortable within the Baptist denomination because of their movement further to the right politically. In July 2012 he and his wife became Mennonites. 

A second, informative blog post, titled In Praise of Toyohiko Kagawa (pp. 101-102), is one of my favourites. Even though I have previously read about Kagawa several years ago, I found it interesting that he, among other things, developed trachoma while living among the poor, was involved in founding the first Japanese labour unions, and visited the U.S. in 1941 as a peace activist, attempting to avert war in the Pacific. 

The third blog post I appreciated was titled, Remembering Søren Kierkegaard, who influenced Professor Seat. He mentions Vernard Eller’s book, who “emphasized that real Christianity must include “radical discipleship,” to use Eller’s words.” (p. 170) Professor Seat highly recommends Charles E. Moore’s book, Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Søren Kierkegaard, which highlights Kierkegaard’s thought, is a compilation of certain exerpts and aphorisms, and enlightens readers on the practical living out of the Christian faith. 

Conclusion

As a “retired” pastor and professor, Leroy Seat continues to be an active blogger, writing about a variety of contemporary issues. I encourage readers of this review to purchase this volume at Amazon for the reasonable price of $5.95, and to visit his blogsite here.

Brief Book Review:The Beatitudes and Woes of Jesus Christ For The Slow Savouring of Serious Disciples

 

The Beatitudes and Woes of Jesus Christ for The Slow Savouring of Serious Disciples

Author: Joseph R. Jacobson

Publisher: PageMaster Publishing, 2020

103 pages, paperback

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

About the Author 

The Rev. Joseph R. Jacobson formerly served as a Lutheran pastor, and as a bishop of Alberta and the Territories Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church In Canada. Later, he became a Roman Catholic, and has served in that denomination as a priest. Rev. Jacobson and wife Carolyn were married for fifty-two years and nine months when she died in 2018. They have two children and eight grandchildren. He is the author of several books, both fiction and non-fiction. 

Dedication 

Rev. Jacobson has dedicated this volume: To the Chinese Christians of our own time who along with survivors of the gulag and the jihad are giving the whole Church a fresh vision of what it means to be called "disciples of Jesus." 

Introduction 

In his Introductory Comments, Rev. Jacobson states that: i) contrary to what many believe, the beatitudes and woes are stark; ii) they are descriptive not prescriptive; iii) and they describe discipleship. As stark, ground rules of Jesus for all would-be disciples, the beatitudes and woes, according to the Most Rev. Dr. Donald Coggan, a former Archbishop of Canterbury--cited by the Rev. Jacobson--"They terrify me." (p. 3) They can "terrify" us precisely because we cannot live up to the beatitudes, and the woes in Luke's Gospel all too often describe us. Yet, paradoxically, the author points out: the beatitudes cannot save us, and even though they are stark, we are graced by them insofar as they remind us of the state we are in--we are "Blessed." Originally, Rev. Jacobson wrote these twenty-four private meditations for each day during the season of Advent in 1997, revised them in 2014, and decided to publicly share them by publishing this volume in 2020. 

Structure and Content 

The author has employed a brilliant and creative method of writing these meditations. Each meditation has a two-fold message. First, each meditation begins with the words: "N.___________________________, child of God," (reminiscent of our baptismal covenant) and spoken to the reader directly by God the Father. Second, each meditation concludes with a conversational prayer-response to each particular beatitude and woe, beginning with the words: "Dearest Father." In both sections of each meditation, the author often refers to--in some meditations--several additional biblical passages, complementing the beatitude and/or woe. 

Here is a fragmented example: N.__________________________, child of God, I call you to hunger and thirst for righteousness. I do not need disciples who pay it eloquent lip service. (Matthew 15:7-8) I need disciples who pay it daily life service. (p. 32) Dearest Father, give me a fierce appetite for Your righteousness alone. Show me what it is. Show me how it works. Show me why the world needs it so desperately. Show me how much You want the world to have it. Show me Jesus and never let anything come between us! (Romans 8:38-39) I want to see my craving for anything but Your righteousness for what it really is: Deadly poison served on a silver platter. (pp. 34-35)

Over-all, I found this little Advent devotional book edifying. However, I do have a couple of critiques. My first critique is that the author does focus on total depravity in several of the meditations. In the present time, when the COVID-19 pandemic is causing many to be in a state of depression, these meditations may have an unintended adverse effect on some readers. My second critique is that the author most likely should have identified the painting on the front cover of the volume as well as the painter: The Sermon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch, in Frederikborg Castle, Copenhagen. 

That said, I would recommend this little volume to those readers who are looking for meditations for the Advent season.