Recent Reads

A little fodder for your summer TBR lists

We’ll start with two new exciting titles from Brian Zahnd and Tish Harrison Warren.

Here’s part of my endorsement for What Grows in Weary Lands:

“What Grows in Weary Lands is poised to become a modern spiritual classic and another must-read offering from one of the brightest spiritual writers of our day.”

I reviewed Zahnd’s book for Christianity Today. You can read that here.

A little taste:

“Swiss theologian Karl Barth said no theologian can function without wonder—and if capable of astonishment, even “a poor theologian … is not lost to the fulfillment of his task.” The same applies to believers. We may struggle mightily, but if we cultivate wonder in our life with God, we’re far from hopeless. Many of the chapters Zahnd offers are a training ground for increased wonder, encouraging primers on receiving and rejoicing in the beauty of divine presence in the tangible grime and glory of this world.”

I’ll say straightaway that “triumph” in the subtitle is doing a lot of rhetorical work. The book narrates Jackson’s final months, with insights drawn from medical records, court documents, and interviews. It’s as tragic as you’d expect, and probably only fascinating to MJ fans or those interested in the curse of celebrity as both a societal and self-inflicted malady.

This features 4th century lectures from St Cyril to those preparing for baptism — including five lessons in mystagogical catechesis. Yeah, I dare you to work that phrase into a convo this weekend.

Mystagogy is essentially instruction in the sacraments given to the newly baptized after their baptism. The mysteries of the faith — eucharist, baptism, chrism, liturgy — are most explained after they are experienced. And the experience happens after baptism, when one is united to Christ, dying to sin and made alive in him (cf. Rom 6). Read St Cyril to experience a bishop’s heart, to be refreshed in the wonders of God’s grace in baptism and communion, and to be challenged to think about how we might better more and prepare people for life in the kingdom.

Listen to how Cyril fuses sober preparation and divine grace in this exhortation to those soon to enter the waters:

Let us never our minds; let us brace our souls; let us prepare our hearts; the race is for our soul, our hope about eternal things. God is able, who knows your hearts, and perceives who is sincere, and who is a hypocrite, both to preserve the sincere, and to give faith to the hypocrite; nay even to the unbeleiver, if he give Him but his heart.

My reading roundup is light on novels because getting acquainted with this tome. Verdict forthcoming.

Would love to hear from you.

• What’s an interesting title you’ve read recently?

• What are you excited to read this summer?

• Based on what I’ve listed, got a recommendation for your boy?