Awakenings

Rating:
Summary: A great source for prayer focus and scripture insight...
Review: A collection of the gospel's "greatest hits" defies any writer to discover new ground. That being said, Keating has a rare gift. No astounding theological revelations are made. No profound implications for the dawning millennium are explored. Nothing of the sort. Instead, Keating does what he always does best. Utter simplicity and an everyman's viewpoint. The result? Straightforward fodder for thoughtful reading, centering prayer. At a time when the secular world is looking for the panacea of the hour in Buddhism, Sufism, and who knows what else; clarity in Christianity is like a much needed spring rain.

My best recommendation for you is this: If you find yourself in a spritual "drought", read this book. If you find yourself needing a mental 'something' you can't quite define? Read this book. You won't have to stretch your intellect in a remarkable new fashion, you will not fatigue from concentration and interpretation entanglement. And you know what? Sometimes it's just supposed to be that easy.

Rating:
Summary: Insightful Homilies
Review: Through this book Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk offers food for thought to the materialistically oriented world of today with 30 very insightful homilies. They are randomly selected homilies, based on the events in Jesus' ministry, his teachings and other celebrations in the Church. The endeavor to make the scriptures relevant to the everyday life of the faithful is indeed praiseworthy. This book would provide valuable spiritual reading and help for personal reflection on the Biblical texts as well as some resource for preaching.