God for Us:
Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter Edited by Greg Pennoyer &
Gregory Wolfe
God for Us is a
wonderful collection of essays on the meaning of Lent and Easter written by a
great host of writers, including writers, priests, a poet, and
professors. The book is stunningly enhanced
by incorporating famous works of art throughout the chapters as a way of
illuminating the message or theme of the piece.
Each reading includes a few Scripture readings, identification of the
day of the church calendar, a short explanation, prayer, and work of art
depicting that chapter. Whether you
worship in a church with high or low liturgy, this book will expand your
appreciation for the Lenten and Eastern season which mirror the life of Christ.
The powerful reminder coming through in this book was the
fact that we are all on a journey.
Commenting on Shrove Tuesday and Lent, Richard Rohr writes, “Lent is
intended to lead us into an always hidden future and an always greater
opportunity, and it is in truth – a future created by God – but still unknown
to us. We now enter Lent with a new and
open horizon, ready to both expect and work for God’s ever new springtime.”
(6) There is a combination of feasting
and fasting that is part of the Lenten season that connects with this hidden
future. We don’t know the exact outcome
of the future but we work for the Lord with an expectant spirit knowing that He
is good and has our good in mind. The
dual nature of letting go of the things that hinder our worship and taking on
the practices that draw us near to God remind us that change is possible, even
in the time being. Richard reminds us in
his prayer of the eschatological dimension of our journey in his prayer,
writing, “May we never lose hope in the eternal spring that you have promised
to all of creation in a “new heaven and a new earth.” (7) This chapter includes Pieter Brueghel’s The
Peasant Dance which joyously illuminates the feasting side before the Lenten
season.
Luci Shaw picks upon the unique way the Bible uses narrative
and literary devices to reveal its Maker.
She writes, “How energizing it is that the Bible is pierced through and
through with metaphor, analogy, parable, simile, comparison. God is saying, “This is how I bring my truth
into your human reality.” (123) The
Mighty God is evidenced in very concrete metaphors and images. Rocks, forts, lions, and forts are just a few
of the ways God is described by the biblical writers. Based upon John 9, Luci brings out the story
of Jesus in a poem called The Sighting.
The initial lines are worth repeating, “Out of the shaem of spittle/the
scratch of dire, /he made an anointing.” (124)
The descriptors here bring forth the story of Jesus in his anointing
clearly and wonderfully, Even more,
recognizing the provocative way Scripture uses imagery and metaphor, this
language helps us along the way through Lent.
We groan at times at the demand of such a season but realize that in the
Lord’s Supper Jesus offers himself as the Bread of Life. We eagerly anticipate the rejoicing of
Resurrection Sunday as we look forward to the Supper of the Lamb. These images and concrete reminders help us
along the way in our journey of faith.
This collection of essays on Lent and Easter were a breath
of fresh air for me. The paintings
provided in each chapter were also remarkable expressions of way people have
envisioned the faith. I think all will
find something to resonate with in these pages, not least because they help us
on our journey of faith.
Thanks to Paraclete Press for the copy of this book in exchange
for an honest review.
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