Lil Bean Book Recs: August 2018

One of my lifestyle changes for 2018 was to always have a book on my nightstand and to read 30 minutes minimum daily. This month I picked up the titles that grabbed my attention from the basket of books at the Adoration chapel.

Rediscover Jesus

Matthew Kelly is definitely one of my favorite authors concerning Christian faith. I picked up Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation and found golden nuggets throughout the piece, but it felt less developed than the other titles I've read by Kelly. This could be because of how much of his work I'm familiar with, but it didn't resonate with me in the same way. True, I was moved to write about some of the ideas he brought up, but it isn't a title I would pick up again like I would Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic or Perfectly Yourself.

That aside, this title touched on so many aspects of Christianity, from prayer to reading to sin, in a quick and easy-to-digest way. For those who haven't read this book, it may be a good starting place before diving into what I would consider Kelly's stronger works.

Eucharistic Adoration

Eucharistic Adoration: Holy Hour Meditations on the Last Seven Words of Christ by Charles M. Murphy follows the agony in the garden until His death on the cross. Murphy calls the reader to reflect on each of these sentences and what they mean for our day to day lives.

Adoration is something each person does differently. Some pray three rosaries, some participate in silent or contemplative prayer, others read, and there are even those really disciplined individuals who can sit in solitude and embrace the presence of God in the Eucharist. For me, I pray that day's mysteries (Sorrowful) and then read either the Bible or one of the Christian titles in the basket.

Because of books like these, I have other alternative ways to spend Adoration. Like in school when we performed research before we wrote our essays, it's wise to read works on Christianity so we are more prepared to form our own opinions, especially on Biblical passages that are more difficult to translate. However, it's imperative that we take a break from these interpretations to remember to form our own view of the Bible and its lessons like we do after performing research about topics.

I want to be able to pull Biblical passages from memory when encountering hardships in my life, not because someone else commented on it, but because I applied it to me and how I want to better myself in the future. Eucharistic Adoration is a great contemplative read and a quick title to read during Adoration sessions to set up the hour for your prayer.