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A review by sapphicpenguin
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas by Annie Dillard, Thomas Merton, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Absolutely blew me away. I knew from glancing at the included authors that I would enjoy this, but it was more meaningful than I could imagine. I received this book as a Christmas gift, and have just read it straight through, but next year I'll definitely be using it as intended for a daily practice from Advent through Epiphany.
This book includes sermons, poetry, essays, and even a transcribed group discussion--the earliest written in the fourth century, the latest in the twenty-first. I don't know where the editor falls theologically or politically, but I'm grateful for the great diversity of thought, and the multiple included liberation theologians/similarly radical thinkers. (I was at home as a leftist, but this wouldn't alienate people with more moderate beliefs.) Some authors were obviously more conservative/orthodox than others, but none were offensive to me, and I had common ground with and could find value in all of them.
I'm so grateful for this collection, and would recommend it to anyone who values/wants to experience the pattern of the liturgical year, and would enjoy some poetic, radical, theological, comforting, invigorating, disarming company.
This book includes sermons, poetry, essays, and even a transcribed group discussion--the earliest written in the fourth century, the latest in the twenty-first. I don't know where the editor falls theologically or politically, but I'm grateful for the great diversity of thought, and the multiple included liberation theologians/similarly radical thinkers. (I was at home as a leftist, but this wouldn't alienate people with more moderate beliefs.) Some authors were obviously more conservative/orthodox than others, but none were offensive to me, and I had common ground with and could find value in all of them.
I'm so grateful for this collection, and would recommend it to anyone who values/wants to experience the pattern of the liturgical year, and would enjoy some poetic, radical, theological, comforting, invigorating, disarming company.
Content Warnings
Two authors in this book were killed during the Holocaust--this is mentioned in their bios. Various authors reference things going on in their worlds, including war, oppressive regimes, racism, etc. No graphic content/excessive descriptions.