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"What Jesus Meant," by Garry Wills. Viking, 2006.
- http://tinyurl.com/2s7665

For a long time Scripture scholars have tried to tell the world just what Jesus meant when he spoke and did certain things in the Bible. Garry Wills takes a different approach and may lay to rest many concepts which readers will find different, even alarming. "Was that what Jesus meant? How does that fit into our world today? Are we being true to His life and works?" Wills proposes many difficult questions.

To answer his own son's question, "Will I go to hell if I sin?" Wills responded, "All I can say is that if you're going there, I'm going with you." Is the incarnation God's way of saying that no matter what horrors we face or hells we descend to, he is coming with us? "Human freedom and perversity have led the sheep astray, have condemned the prodigal son to his own degradation, and only the Shepherd and the Father can send for his rescue." Jesus shed his blood with and for us, in our defense, not as a libation to an angry Father, but as a Lover, he sacrifices for us. The cross is a sign of God's love, not his anger. Jesus was sent to express, vindicate, and extend the love of the Father.

- Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman, O.P.  for this review.

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Saint of the Week

- August 20th. St. Bernard.

He was born in 1090 near Dijon, of a noble family. In 1112 he joined (and induced others to join) the monastery at Citeaux the heart of the Cistercian reform. At that time Citeaux was poor and far from flourishing; it was Bernard's influence which was to save it and strengthen the whole Cistercian movement. . . Bernard's life is something of a paradox, since although the Cistercians practised seclusion, he was increasingly drawn into the world of church politics. though always as a mediator - e.g. in obtaining recognition for the Order of Knights Templar. He was one of the foremost preachers of the Second Crusade; its failure, though not his fault, was a grave disappointment to him. He was also somewhat at odds with the 'mainstream' Benedictine Reform, of Cluny. At the same time he is a distinguished writer and theologian; his reflections on the Love of God; on the Song of Songs, and his praise of the Virgin Mary have never lost influence. He favoured in particular the development of mystical prayer within the ordinary monastic cycle. A larger-than life figure, not without his faults, he led the Cistercian expansion to a total of some 500 houses; he died in 1153 and was canonised in 1174. In 1830 he was named a Doctor of the Church.

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Web Site of the Week
- by Diana Murray

E-courses at Spirituality and Practice by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ecourses/

 The “E-Courses” website is one of many resources for spiritual journeys on the Brussat’s homepage. They run as 40-day retreats which focus on methods used in the world's religions and the simple things along life's sacred journey.  Each email contains a thought-provoking quotation and a related practice.  The user is encouraged to reflect on the quote and work on the practice. Most of the e-courses are “on-demand”.  However, at specified times, the Brussat’s offer several new, “current” courses with access to a private Practice Circle where participants can dialogue.

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Joke of the Week

A psychiatrist's secretary walked into his study and said, "There's a gentleman in the waiting room asking to see you. Claims he's invisible."

The psychiatrist responded, "Tell him I can't see him." 

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Mr. Smythe had been giving his second-grade students a short lesson on science. He had explained about magnets and showed them how they would pick up nails and other bits of iron. And now it was question time....

"Class," he said, "my name begins with the letter 'M,' and I pick up things....What am I?"

A little boy on the front row said, "You're a mother."