Rediscover Jesus

Yesterday in this space, I opened the floor for Matthew Kelly–featuring a chapter from Matthew’s new book Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation as part of the Dynamic Catholic blog tour. Today, my own thoughts.

Matthew Kelly’s popularity is, no doubt, due to the fact that his writing is so clear, so accessible, so upbeat and true. Rediscover Jesus follows on the heels of his best-selling Rediscover Catholicism, and offers helps to grow in holiness and in closeness to Christ.

It works like this: There are forty chapters. Each chapter is short–say, just two or three pages; and each chapter begins with a great and inspiring message, or a single-sentence description of an attribute of God. It’s easy to latch onto meditations like this:

God wants to empty your heart of judgment.
God loves even those who seem unlovable.
People are a priority for God.
Life is a course designed to teach us to love.
God has a mighty, awesome, wonderful transformation in mind for you.

Matthew skillfully leads you with examples from everyday life. Sometimes he leads you in a prayer like this:

Loving Father,
Here I am.
I trust that you have an incredible plan for me.
Transform me. Transform my life.
Everything is on the table.
Take what you want to take and give what you want to give.
Transform me into the person you created me to be, ,so I can live the life you envision for me.
I hold nothing back;
I am 100 percent available.
How can I help?
Amen.

And at the end of each quick chapter, Matthew offers a Point to Ponder, a Verse to Live, a Question to Consider, and a Prayer.

With forty chapters to read over forty days, it’s obvious that Rediscover Jesus would be a great meditation series for Lent or Advent. But why wait? Becoming the person that God created you to be is not some joyless enterprise, something barely tolerable and best postponed. St. Augustine once prayed, “Lord, make me pure–but not yet.” You, though? You have an opportunity to reach out to God, to embrace his great gift of holiness, right now! Don’t be afraid: Do it.

Matthew writes,

“You are holding this book in your hand at this very moment for a reason. I don’t know what God has in store for you, but I am excited for you.”

And so am I.

Rediscover Jesus will be available August 17, but can be pre-ordered right now.

And to get another perspective on what’s certain to be another Matthew Kelly best-seller, check out my friend and fellow blogger Pete Socks’ The Catholic Book Blogger tomorrow (Thursday) morning!

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You can pre-order your copy of Rediscover Jesus on either Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. Readers who pre-order the book by August 16, 2015, have a chance to win one of several prizes, including an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy with Kelly and those going on the Dynamic Catholic Pilgrimage to Rome this November. To learn more about this sweepstakes, visit DynamicCatholic.com/RediscoverJesus/entry. Anyone who pre-orders the book will also have access to an exclusive webinar with Kelly, during which he will talk about his writing process, why he decided to write Rediscover Jesus, and why he thinks this is the most important book he has ever written.