Book - This Tremendous Lover by M Eugene Boylan

Summary

The gap between doctrines taught and the spiritual practice expected from lived experience remain a challenging gulf across all religions. Where economic accumulation is primed, then power derived from it by religious leaders spurns manufactured zeal to compel the faithful majority (at times by coercion) to conform. Sadly in every instance of such compulsion and its violent consequences among many, everything wrong with man remain on display. Christianity is not exempted.

In this book, what is presented is a raw post-kindergarten catechetical decision-oriented process for leading an embodied incremental Christian spiritual life. A life of the interior! It opens the windows of doctrines, theologies and mysteries in their meanings and how they should be lived according to a lively relationship between the faithful and the Holy Spirit. A Christian, the author wrote, is not just a follower of Christ in all things, but one who is in a growing relationship with Him. Since His kingdom is not of this world, a kingdom within each person, only a natural recourse to improved seeing and knowing of Him from the inside will suffice. One must see/know like Christ in other to live like Him in the community. Hence the natural must accept and become supernatural to see the supernatural and also see it in the natural i.e. all creation. The author never assumed, rather wrote for each person wherever they are, clearly denoting a common starting point for (baptised) beginners, the lapsed and the advanced. 

An important point is the role of a faithful as an intellectual explorer, not in the sense of pursuing academic excellence, but like a traveller on a foreign land who has to ask for directions particularly at intersections. Therefore doubts, curiosity and questions are integral factors for seekers of Christian spiritual experience. Rote learning is dangerous, self-sufficiency is lethal while ignorance is toxic. Faith cannot be imposed, love cannot be manufactured.

The most important element is the focus on simplicity of decisions and actions. Small is beautiful. One shouldn't take big bites because failure awaits, rather little steps produced better fruits. Above all, relationship with Christ is possible, can be developed, grown and sustained. The steps, conditions and favourable factors for this relationship and more are explained by the author.

This is one of the best books on Christian Spirituality in English Language. It contains nuggets of information, attractive recipe of processes and clarity of meanings behind doctrines, theologies and mysteries. It provides enhanced contours of the Crucified Jesus Christ for each person who desire Him as his/her Lord and Saviour. It is highly recommended.

Life is beautiful!