Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent

by Richard Rohr

Rohr's meditations on the daily readings of Lent are not for the sake of mere information, or even for academia (although the author hopes it will satisfy both), but for the sake of our transformation into our original "image and likeness," which is the very image of God. What always and finally matters for all of us is encounter!

Father Rohr begins each meditation with a single title or phrase that sums up the point. Then he offers the meditation followed by key passages from the readings. He ends each meditation with a Starter Prayer that invites you to self-disclosure and to enter the wondrous divine dialogue with clarity, insight—and holy desire!

"There are two moments that matter. One is when you know that your one and only life is absolutely valuable and alive. The other is when you know your life, as presently lived, is entirely pointless and empty. You need both of them to keep you going in the right direction. Lent is about both. The first such moment gives you energy and joy by connecting you with your ultimate Source and Ground. The second gives you limits and boundaries, and a proper humility, so you keep seeking the Source and Ground and not just your small self."—From the Introduction

The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Faith, Christian, Christianity, Devotional

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2010

About the author

Fr. Richard Rohr is a globally recognized ecumenical teacher bearing witness to the universal awakening within Christian mysticism and the Perennial Tradition. He is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fr. Richard's teaching is grounded in the Franciscan alternative orthodoxy—practices of contemplation and expressing itself in radical compassion, particularly for the socially marginalized.

Fr. Richard is author of numerous books, including Everything Belongs, Adam’s Return, The Naked Now, Breathing Under Water, Falling Upward, Immortal Diamond, Eager to Love, and The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation (with Mike Morrell).

Fr. Richard is academic Dean of the Living School for Action and Contemplation. Drawing upon Christianity's place within the Perennial Tradition, the mission of the Living School is to produce compassionate and powerfully learned individuals who will work for positive change in the world based on awareness of our common union with God and all beings. Visit cac.org for more information.

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful readings and meditations for Lent

[Ľudmila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zamyslenia na každý deň pôstu podľa príslušných liturgických čítaní. Ponúkajúce úplne nový náhľad a kontext. Prívlastok na obálke "Fascinujúce stretnutia so Svätým písmom" nie je vôbec prehnaný.

[Dave Zovak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rohr always takes me deeper than I would go on my own.

As a long time Christian and Christian worker, I must confess that I can lose touch with the wonder and depth of scripture and the Christian seasons. I don’t like this tendency in myself, but it’s still a repeated pattern.
Reading these daily devotions has helped me get past my shallow habits and re-discover the amazing love, grace, and mystery of God during this powerful season of Lent.
Thanks, Richard, for your wisdom, honesty, and skill at describing the workings of the heart and mind as we journey with Christ.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how he made me look at very familiar scripture in a different way and challenged me to really look at my life.

[Erin Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful daily short lessons, scripture readings and a starter prayer for each day of lent.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

More shallow than I wanted for such an important season like Lent. I felt like it sadly lacked a lot of meaning and "wonder".

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Richard Rohr is a skilled writer. That’s why it’s two stars and not one. However, Rohr adds too many insights from other world religions for me to believe that he believes or even professes the central teachings of Christianity. Probably the most confusing Lenten devotional I’ve ever read. It exposed me to a few readings from the apocrypha that I’ve never had the opportunity to read, and I suppose it gave my own convictions a good challenge/workout. I’m sorry I trusted the reviews. The central teaching of Christianity is Christ and Him crucified FOR us. Rohr somehow tries to lessen the payment for sin and makes it more about our own journey toward pacifism and social justice. If that’s not works righteousness, I don’t know what is. I found little comfort in Rohr’s scriptural interpretations and musings on life, and was disgusted by his disdain for anything in the book of Jeremiah (sorry, God doesn’t need our approval to inspire His Holy Word) and his constantly referring to Isaiah (and sometimes God!) as a woman. I feel I gave this book (more than) a fair chance and having done so, feel even better having placed it in the pile of items I’ll soon donate to charity. If it falls out of the pile and into the trash, perhaps that’s an even more charitable gesture.

[Terre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Food for Thought During Lent

Richard Rohr is a gifted author of books on a variety of contemplative Christian prayer, bringing meaning to the Scriptures in simple language. These short guided meditations on scripture are a perfect companion for a rich Lenten journey suitable for any Christian. Each day’s readings are introduced and particular elements are highlighted, drawing out meanings by applying Biblical history, anthropology, and other social sciences, and then providing a bridge to prayers based upon the verses.

[Bri McKoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally go through weightier devotions for Lent but I really loved Rohr's approach. The daily readings are short but not without amazing insight and thought-provoking revelations. I appreciated the "starter prayers" at the end of each day: Rohr does not write out a full prayer but rather starts us off with a few sentences of a prayer that we can then pick-up and make our own. I will be going through this again!

[Adam Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read several of Richard Rohr books; this is my favorite by far. Staying at least somewhat connected to the scriptures kept him from going too far astray (most of the time). But his problem with authority continues to be very obvious to me, as is his tendency to make everything into a dualistic us/them issue (while simultaneously condemning dualism). On the positive side, the nudge to stay with the daily scriptures throughout Lent was definitely a plus.

[Margie Dorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful Lenten walk

I’ve always appreciated the writing of Richard Rohr, and this particular writing may now become my favorite set of readings to use for walking through this Lenten church season. But I was so shocked when I got to the end and there was no reading for Easter Sunday! To me, you cannot have a Lenten walk without including Easter. I need to find a good one now for this season.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good devotional

I love Richard Rohr. This is a simple daily devotional of short readings for the Lenten Season. There is nothing too theologically innovative here and it probably doesn’t go as deep as most of his books, but this is not the purpose of this book intended as a supplemental companion to the Lenten Journey rather than a road map.

[NIGEL PEARCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

To walk through lent with Richard Rohr is extraordinary ... Especially this year with Covid-19 I need to be reminded of the "liminal Space" between Ash Wednesday and Resurrection Sunday. This is the place of transformation. With his daily meditation, scriptures, and prayer, I will never be the same.

[Sara Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is risen indeed and so have I yet again!

I am almost 78 and have just found Richard Rohr right before Lent and the pandemic. I am beyond blessed and grateful. So many new rich insights. Even death is rich and resurrection is beyond amazing love. I may go back and read this all over for another April/May lenten celebration.

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love Richard Rohr and get so much from his writing, but this wasn’t my very favorite because each day felt a little random. I suspect this is because he was following the assigned scriptures from the lectionary. He was able to beautifully tie things together on most days, but I think they may have limited the scope a bit.

[Martha Templeton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Lenten Study

Rohr gives insightful commentary on the wonders of Holy Week and the reality of applyingThese truths of Scripture, walking in grace in our own lives, ample enough for ourselves and for others. I loved the dual scriptures from Old and New Testaments, and I loved the invitations to prayer. It was a beautiful way to start each day.

[Rendi Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful series of daily readings for Lent

Several in our congregation read through this together this year. I found the devotional thoughts to be very challenging and stretching, and they fit well with the daily lectionary readings. Highly recommended.

[Jim Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

I enjoyed the in-depth yet concise daily narrative, and the starter prayer. I found this devotional an inspirational way to begin my day as I prepared myself for Holy Week and Easter.

[Jennifer Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, I’m a huge fan of Rohr. It was interesting to read him in a more devotional setting, but it was nice seeing as I struggle to find devotionals that aren’t cliche and silly. I loved the thought-provoking lessons even if I didn’t connect with them all the time.

[Teresa Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Contemplation

This book has been an excellent Lent companion. If you want to feel closer to Jesus, grow on faith, and expand your perceptions of Christ. This is the book for you.

[Susan Marrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine companion for the Lenten journey, with insightful meditations on the daily Scriptures for year A. Occasional particularly Roman Catholic interpretations did not substantially take away from the overall helpfulness of the readings for me.

[Catrina Berka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is also a re-read for me. Each day has assigned Old and New Testament readings from the liturgical calendar, followed by Rohr’s short reflection and guided prayer. I enjoyed reading it as part of my daily Lenten devotion.

[Pam Melancon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A BLESSING FOR YOUR LENTEN JOURNEY!

Don’t miss this precious Lenten work! An enlightened view of our scriptures we may have thought we knew. Every day brings new insights and challenges.

[Daniel Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenging and thoughtful

Typically devotionals lose my interest quickly. This one held it. While there were things that I struggled with, I appreciate gaining some different perspective in familiar passages.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read quite a bit of Rohr and usually am mind-blown throughout. This one didn’t have the same effect. There were small moments, but nothing really hit hard. Overall, it was good though. Solid 3/5.

[Scarlett Pierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
It’s spotty. Some days were really good, other days were a little too literary and not enough solid teaching.

[Heidi Scheeler-brandenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect Lent devotion

No matter where you are in life this will change your mind about so many preconceived ideas about Christ and his purpose here on earth, and yours.

[Betty Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope

[Pixismiler · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s an okay book. I do like that it pulled from the prophecies and the NT. Will likely read again next year.

[Jeanne Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devotions for Lent. Wonderfully contemplative. Written from Catholic perspective, but adaptable to any Christian.