[[Hi Sister Laurel, Good Lent to you! I'm getting a kind of late start on asking you about resources for Lent, but I did want to do that. What are you reading for Lent? Do you have any suggestions for readers here? If there's something I could bring to my parish, I would love to do that. There are a few of us who are going to meet as a group, so we need something to use as a focus. Any ideas? Thanks!]]
You are not getting started too late, though; if you are going to order books, you will miss a few more days. I have three books to recommend. The first two are daily readings (only the second is Scriptural) with accompanying reflection and discussion questions. The third is a new book by NT Wright that is a sequel of sorts to his wonderful Surprised by Hope. So, here they are:
1) Morley, Janet, The Heart's Time, a Poem a Day for Lent and Easter. Morley has another similar volume for Advent through Epiphany Haphazard by Starlight, which I used last Advent. It is wonderful -- rich, insightful, with well-chosen poems! You don't need to read the entry for every day, and can stay with any poem that really speaks to you for as long as it nourishes. This book for Lent and the first week of Easter seems the same to me.
Morley begins with a poem by a known poet, follows that with an analysis of the poem, and finishes each offering with a reflection question for the day. (I notice she uses two of e.e. cummings' poems, including "i am a little church", and "i thank you god", both personal favorites of mine.) I've used this book for the last several days, and it really is one of those books that screams FEAST!! --- even in a season of fasting. It could certainly work for some parish groups, as well as for priests and religious looking for personal Lenten resources for retreat
2) Wright, N.T., From Wilderness to Glory, Lent and Easter for Everyone. Wright takes a Scripture lection for each day (Monday through Saturday), and supplies a commentary on it. This is followed by several questions for reflection or discussion. One problem here is that Wright does not have the Sunday readings in this volume. (I'm sure you can find a similar volume by Wright for Lent/Easter, and this year, (Year A) which will be similarly formatted and focus on the Sunday readings.) I would recommend this for parishes, for small groups during Lent, for Bible study groups, etc.
3) Wright, N.T., God's Homecoming, the Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal, This is a new book (2025) about the New Testament story of God coming to recreate heaven and earth and dwell with us here. It stands contrary to the idea that the NT is all about how it is we are saved and go to heaven. It also deals with the idea of an immortal soul in what will be a very surprising way to most folks. As Wright begins, [[Most people imagine that the point of Christianity is "to go to heaven when you die." . . . They are all wrong. The point of Christianity is not that we should go to heaven. The point of Christianity is that Heaven [God's own life and dimension] should come to us." and again, "When (the early Christians) spoke of salvation, they were not talking about people being saved from the present world. They were talking about the creator God's plan of salvation for the present world -- with themselves, as rescued and repurposed human beings, playing an important role in that project." (GH, pp 3-4)
I recommend this especially for study groups already familiar with Surprised by Hope, or for anyone wanting a fresh and more Biblically accurate approach to the Cross of Christ and what was achieved there, as well as what the mission of every Christian is now. I thought perhaps one needed to read Surprised by Hope first, but now that I have nearly finished this book, I have to say reading God's Homecoming first is just fine. The content of the books overlap, but their purposes differ. In some ways, this book is an easier read than, Surprised by Hope. Go for it!!!
Have a terrific, fruitful, and surprising Lent!! (I find God always surprises me during Lent!!)
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