The Daily Message: Through the Bible in One Year, by Eugene H. Peterson. Message, 2008.

The books of the  Bible do indeed give a panoramic picture of the ways God has related with God's children throughout the ages. But if one undertakes the work of trying to get the whole picture by reading page after page, there may be some large gaps by reading single books in the Bible. Peterson  strives to give a related picture by "storying" the Bible in a more chronological manner, and arranges the book for daily reading for a year, often paraphrasing the text. The author believes  that his method will give the reader ideas and concepts in context.

When I picked up this book and tried my luck of reading one chapter a day, I was confused for my habit had been to read book after book. For some, the chronological method may provide the  inspiration they were seeking. However, after just completing a retreat on the Psalms, I was more interested in the poetry the author provides at the end of each day's reading, offering delightful paraphrases of the text.

During retreat, I often tried my hand at paraphrasing some psalms and  poetry in the Bible, as I made every effort to make the reading pertinent for my world today.  I found Peterson's sections on the paraphrased psalms pertinent and meaningful, sometimes even amusing, and an invitation to be creative with the Word of God.

Either way of reading this book will provide daily inspiration, and the two questions at the end of each chapter give pause for personal  reflection or group discussion. 

(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.)



Registration is now open for the 2013-14 session of SpiritLife, which is sponsored by Heartland Center for Spirituality in Great Bend, KS. Friday night accommodations are available for those who would like to come in a day early.

See http://heartlandspirituality.org/spiritlife for more information about the program and registration.

SpiritLife  presentations are also available online, but for personal enrichment only.

- http://shalomplace.com/inetmin/spiritlife/

St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153): August 20

Man of the century! Woman of the century! You see such terms applied to so many today-"golfer of the century," "composer of the century," "right tackle of the century"-that the line no longer has any punch. But Western Europe's "man of the twelfth century," without doubt or controversy, has to be Bernard of Clairvaux. Adviser of popes, preacher of the Second Crusade, defender of the faith, healer of a schism, reformer of a monastic Order, Scripture scholar, theologian and eloquent preacher: any one of these titles would distinguish an ordinary man. Yet Bernard was all of these-and he still retained a burning desire to return to the hidden monastic life of his younger days.

In the year 1111, at the age of 20, Bernard left his home to join the monastic community of Citeaux. His five brothers, two uncles and some 30 young friends followed him into the monastery. Within four years a dying community had recovered enough vitality to establish a new house in the nearby valley of Wormwoods, with Bernard as abbot. The zealous young man was quite demanding, though more on himself than others. A slight breakdown of health taught him to be more patient and understanding. The valley was soon renamed Clairvaux, the valley of light.

His ability as arbitrator and counselor became widely known. More and more he was lured away from the monastery to settle long-standing disputes. On several of these occasions he apparently stepped on some sensitive toes in Rome. Bernard was completely dedicated to the primacy of the Roman See. But to a letter of warning from Rome, he replied that the good fathers in Rome had enough to do to keep the Church in one piece. If any matters arose that warranted their interest, he would be the first to let them know.

Shortly thereafter it was Bernard who intervened in a full-blown schism and settled it in favor of the Roman pontiff against the antipope.

The Holy See prevailed on Bernard to preach the Second Crusade throughout Europe. His eloquence was so overwhelming that a great army was assembled and the success of the crusade seemed assured. The ideals of the men and their leaders, however, were not those of Abbot Bernard, and the project ended as a complete military and moral disaster.

Bernard felt responsible in some way for the degenerative effects of the crusade. This heavy burden possibly hastened his death, which came August 20, 1153.