Posted March 10, 2010 Book: Things Hidden Scripture as Spirituality Author: Rechard Rohr St. Anthony Messenger. Cincinnati, OH. 2010. pp.238 An Excerpt from the Jacket: In this exploration of central themes of Scripture, Richard Rohr transforms the written word, discovering in these ancient texts a new an vital meaning, relevant and essential for modern Christians. He uncovers what the Bible says about morality, power, wisdom and the generosity of God in a manner that demands a life-changing response from believers. Rohr offers his readers a Christian vision of abundance, grace and joy to counteract a world filled with scarcity, judgment and fear --- a vision that can revolutionalize how we relate ot ourselves, others, and the world. An Excerpt from the Book: Let me describe the effect of presence in this way. The mystery of presence is that encounter wherein the self-disclosure of one evokes a deeper life in the other. There is nothing you need to 'think" or understand to be present; it is all about giving and receiving right now, and it is not done in the mind. It is actually a transference and sharing of Being, and will be experienced as grace, gratuity and inner-groundedness. Thus there is always a great leap of inner authenticity that is associated with true mutual presence, because in being received graciously, we are able to receive ourselves at an ever-deeper level yet recognize that we are both part of something Greater --- Being itself. It gives one great happiness and deep joy. We really are socially contagious human being, but we settle for "human being." It is at the being level that life is most vitally transferred. It's no surprise that we Catholics speak of Eucharist as the "Real Persence." It is on that level that life and energy are transferred. That's what happened to each one of you when you first fell in love --- that's why falling in love is so exciting. Suddenly the very eyes of the other receiving me, delighting in me, enjoying me and looking at me --- make me feel like me, and my best me! For believers, that is also what happens when they apprehend the "Real Presence" in the Eucharist.We move to a deeper level of Being ourselves when we genuinely receive the being and gaze of the Self-Giving Jesus. It reminds me ofwhat they told me in some Hindu temples in India, "You come here not to gaze at God, but to let God gaze at you." Table of Contents: 1. Information is not necessarily transformation 2. Getting the "who" right 3. People who have faces 4. The boxing ring 5. Good power and bad power 6. The razor's edge: knowing and not knowing 7. Evil's like 8. The resented banquet 9. The mystery of the cross 10. Mutual indwelling