Meditations on ordinary life as part of a larger story “We human beings are creatures of time and space,” writes Frederick Bauerschmidt. “We have no choice but to find ourselves at a
Meditations on ordinary life as part of a larger story
“We human beings are creatures of time and space,” writes Frederick Bauerschmidt. “We have no choice but to find ourselves at a particular place in a particular moment.” Fortunately, as Christians, we worship a God who became embodied and lived among us—the timeless Word who became the Word in time. Thus, it is no contradiction for us to expect to find our stories in the larger story of God’s ongoing dealings with the world.
This truth is nowhere more evident than in preaching, which, of necessity, speaks to particular occasions. Throughout these thirty-eight homilies, Bauerschmidt finds the truth of Scripture refracted through the lenses of current events from the past decade—including the coronavirus pandemic—as well as the seasons of the liturgical year and momentous individual occasions like baptisms, weddings, and funerals. His advice and examples will help preachers heed Paul’s urging to be on point and persuasive “in season and out of season.” All readers will be joyfully reminded of how beautiful the world is when seen in its larger context, illuminated by the light of eternity.
The Michael Ramsey Prize Longlist (2023)
Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt is professor of theology at Loyola University Maryland and a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, assigned to the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. His other books include The Love That Is God: An Invitation to Christian Faith.
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Table of Contents
Introduction: Preaching the Particular
Part One: News Cycles
1. The Fear Gauge (October 12, 2008)
2. Love (May 17, 2009)
3. Who Sinned? (April 3, 2011)
4. Uprising (May 10, 2015)
5. War on Mercy (December 6, 2015)
6. Speaking Your Mind (February 12, 2017)
7. Protest (September 10, 2017)
8. Inbound (January 21, 2018)
9. Hear, O Israel (November 4, 2018)
10. Insurrection (January 10, 2021)
Part Two: Culture Happens
11. Superheroes (July 8, 2012)
12. The Mayan Calendar (December 2, 2012)
13. The Reckless Shepherd (September 11, 2016)
14. The Keepers (November 5, 2017)
Part Three: Church Life
15. The Gospel of Life (October 4, 2009)
16. Sede vacante (March 3, 2013)
17. Nasara (August 17, 2014)
18. Family (October 4, 2015)
19. Manna Gathering (August 4, 2018)
20. Grand Jury (August 25, 2018)
21. Saint Oscar Romero (October 13, 2018)
Part Four: Feasts and Festivals
22. Mary and the Fire-Folk (August 15, 2010)
23. Scarcity and Abundance (June 2, 2013)
24. Immortal Diamond (March 27, 2016)
25. Witness Protection (May 8, 2016)
26. Security Strategy (December 24, 2017)
27. Hope for Everything (January 13, 2019)
28. Church Fires (April 21, 2019)
Part Five: Corona Time
29. Social Distancing (March 15, 2020)
30. Inhabiting Suffering (April 10, 2020)
31. On Not Returning to Normal (April 12, 2020)
32. A New Nearness (May 24, 2020)
33. “I Can’t Breathe” (May 30, 2020)
Part Six: Beginnings and Endings
34. Theo, Mary, and Ruby (May 2, 2010)
35. Restless Hearts (January 21, 2014)
36. Of Whales and Fleas (October 8, 2016)
37. Current (June 29, 2019)
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