by Tom Arthur
Circle Books, Washington. 254 pages
This is a good read for a preacher. Tom Arthur gathered the best of a decade worth of meditations and offers them as a companion piece for the lectionary passages of Year C. Each meditation stands alone; together they offer a keen insight into the soul of a preaching pastor. The meditations reflect a wide range of audiences, as well as various places and times. Reading through this book is like talking all night with a dear friend about Scripture, preaching, congregational life and calling. Or, using this book as a companion for weekly sermon preparation is like having a wise and caring colleague always by your side. Every preacher needs a good conversation partner for serious talk about context, Gospel, preaching and the ups and downs of congregational leadership. Tom Arthur is such a partner.
In “The Year of the Lord’s Favor,” energy flows from the Gospel of Luke. Arthur pushes through the Gospel with sturdy scholarship, acute social-political analysis and frank confrontation with the hard facts of life.
As the Gospel stories unfold, we are persistently directed to return to the stark essence of our faith: on Epiphany 3 we are challenged by Jesus’ first sermon to consider the urgency within our Christian community; on Good Friday, Arthur asserts that Jesus’ story is our story; he redefines our privileged social location by commending a just hospitality that is willing to build a neighborly unity out of differences; with the account of Mary and Martha he describes how easily the church obscures compassion to the marginalized; finally, he concludes the year of meditations with the affirmation of Christ the King Sunday: “We preach Christ crucified.”
Tom Arthur does not dabble in Gospel-lite. Nor does he take his own life casually. Rather, by the range of subjects, the collection of contexts and times, and the breadth of literary illustrations, scholarly insights and everyday encounters, this author reveals his struggle to live, preach and trust the Gospel. There is laughter and sorrow on these pages. Anger and tenderness also appear. Within these meditations pet peeves are named and novel frustrations aired. At times a personal agenda flashes bright; but more frequently, the Gospel disarms all trite answers. Stories melt into poetry; poetry reveals Christ with us. Tom Arthur opens his life and we glimpse Jesus.
If you are looking for a shortcut to Sunday’s sermon, this book is not for you. There are few ready-to-preach sermons included. This book is written to stimulate your concentrated reflection. If you want to be a better preacher, more confident in your pastoral role and more authentic in your approach to text and congregation, then allow this book to be your instructor. On these pages you will meet a preacher who does not go easy on Scripture, community, context or self.
If you want a lasting read, buy this book. You may never borrow a quote from “The Year of the Lord’s Favor,” but I guarantee this book will serve you well.
KAY E. HUGGINS is a retired teaching elder newly relocated from New Mexico to Maryland.
