God with Us: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, by Edward Sri

In the last few years, the popular TV series, The Chosen, has reawakened interest in the personality of St. Matthew the Evangelist. The show highlights Matthew’s attention to detail and casts it as a quirky aspect of his somewhat literal reading of life. Be that as it may, it is certainly the case that Matthew’s unique way of seeing and reporting Christ’s life on earth provided the Early Church, and us, with a rich understanding of God’s perfect fulfillment of his promises to save his people.

“Meticulous Matthew,” as Sri styles him, writes “the Gospel that most clearly makes connections between the Old Testament and Jesus.” Sri explains how Matthew, from the very start of his Gospel with its puzzling and lengthy genealogy of Jesus, is focused on showing how an encounter with Jesus the Messiah is truly an encounter with God and an invitation into his kingdom and reign.

Recommended for anyone trying to learn more about Scripture, and for groups looking to make a standalone Scripture study on one of the Gospels. 

An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

“A devout life,” according to St. Francis de Sales, “is a lovely, a pleasant, and a happy life.” This wonderful classic of spiritual direction always surprises new readers with its wisdom and accessibility. Based on the holy priest’s letters to a young relative, this book is a guide to discipleship for everyone, penned in an era that was inclined to think that only the clergy and religious need worry about such things. Bishop de Sales’ pastoral heart, however, knew that those who must live in the world needed practical spiritual advice about how to remain on the path to heaven in the midst of the demands and distractions of making a living. Plus ça change! (The more things change, the more they stay the same!) Drawing on Scripture, the lives of the saints, and his own pastoral observation, this compelling saint persuades his readers not only that they are made for holiness, but that this is within their reach.

Recommended for anyone seeking solid spiritual direction and for those feeling overwhelmed by the eclipsing of faith in the modern world.

Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft

As Dr. Peter Kreeft admits himself in the introduction to this small volume, there are thousands of books on how to pray … Refreshingly, however, he does not present his sterling theological and philosophical background as a reason for picking up this book. It is a book, he claims, that could have been titled Prayer for Dummies. Don’t be deceived into thinking this beginner’s manual on how to pray is either simplistic or shallow. Kreeft explains how prayer is the most perfect response to the reality of who we are before God. If we believe that this life truly is a preparation for the life to come, then we need to begin a conversation with God. He notes that the only advice Jesus ever gave about prayer “was not a method but a structure” (the “Lord’s Prayer”). Kreeft, too, gives us three simple structures for prayer, and a host of wonderful observations about actually praying. A quick and inspiring read.

Recommended for those who are eager to learn how to pray, for those who have lost a daily prayer habit and need encouragement, and for the Marthas of this world who are hearing Jesus talk to them about the “one thing which is necessary” and know it is the time now to sit at his feet.