Sauntering Through Scripture

Sister Genevieve Glen, OSB, is a nun of the contemplative Benedictine monastery of St. Walburga, where she has taught in the formation program and conducted retreats in the retreat house. She has also given retreats in many Benedictine monasteries of women and men. She is a poet, hymn text writer and essayist who contributes regularly to Give Us This Day. She co-authored the 2016 issue of Waiting in Joyful Hope with Jerome Kodell, OSB, and is the author of Not by Bread Alone 2017, Waiting in Joyful Hope 2018-19; and Sauntering Through Scripture: A Book of Reflections (2018) published by Liturgical Press.

This gentle book encourages us to encounter the people and stories of the Bible in our own lives. Glen has a gift for making us see even familiar stories with fresh eyes. As a monastic she is immersed in scripture, day in and day out, and this book strikes me as one fruit of that life. Glen invites us all to share in the wisdom she's gleaned.Kathleen Norris, OblSB Author of Dakota: A Spiritual Geography and The Cloister Walk

• Contents  Introduction 11  PASSAGESBefore the Fire 16Exodus 3:1-5Unzip that Tent! 18Numbers 11:10; Psalm 106:25In Our Town Tonight 20Luke 2:4-7The Ax at the Root 22Matthew 11:2-6; Luke 7:18-23Learner 25Luke 2:52Too Small 27Micah 5:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12Ordinary 29Matthew 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6: Luke 4:16-30The Logic of Paradox 32Luke 14:28-33The Company of Sinners 33Matthew 9:10-11; Mark 2:16; Luke 5:29-32The Paralytic: A Portrait in Miniature 35Matthew 9:1-8The Other Nine 37Luke 17:12-19Sheep, Goats, and Shock Therapy 39Matthew 25:31-46Finders Keepers 41Luke 15:1-32By Pickaxe or Angel 45Matthew 27:57–28:15What the Tomb Proclaims 48Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20The Bifröst 50Luke 18:8Long-Fingered Light 53Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20Ghost 55Luke 24:36-37  PEOPLEThe Call of St. Matthew: A New Creation 58Matthew 9:9-13On the Brink: Zacchaeus 59Luke 19:1-10A Daughter of Abraham 61Luke 13:10-13Barn Builder 63Luke 12:13-21At the Pharisee’s Dinner Party 65Luke 7:36-50Martha and Mary: Disciples of the Lord 69Luke 10:38-42; John 11:17-27The Woman Taken in Adultery 72John 8:2-12The Widow: Two Small Coins, So Many Questions 77Luke 21:1-4The Bethesda Story: The Man at the Pool 78John 5:1-14Judas: Mirror and Mystery 82Matthew 26:14-16The Cup: James and John 84Mark 10:35-45Sarah 86A StorySalt Tears 89A Prose PoemPalace Slave 90A MemoirThe Rich Young Man 94A MemoirSt. Lawrence of Rome 96A Memoir  PRAYERS AND PSALMSHail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina) 102In Paradisum 104Anima Christi 106Perpetual Light 108O Wisdom 110Tower of Ivory, Pray for Us! 112Blessing of Work 114Night Prayer for the Sick 116A Prayer for All Seasons 118Lamb of God: A Prayer of Fragments 120Magnificat 122Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary 124Psalm 24: The Meeting 126Psalm 81: God in the Storm 132Psalm 121: Travel Prayer 137Psalm 130: Prayer for the Dead (De Profundis) 139