BOOK BITES
FINDING GOD IN ALL THINGS by William A. Barry, S.J. Ave Maria Press, 1991. 140 pp. (BX2179.L8.B37).
William Barry is a prolific Jesuit writer on scripture, prayer and spirituality. He holds an M.A. degree from Fordham, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
FINDING GOD IN ALL THINGS raises the question of what kind of God does one find when one sins. Chapter one is entitled, “Can I Trust God?” The author’s affirmative answer is qualified by our willingness to present ourselves to God in all our brokenness. Barry sees the reign of God as proclaimed by Jesus: “God wants all persons to live as sisters and brothers of Jesus in harmony with the whole created universe.” (P. 39).
In Chapter three Barry, addressing the way God reveals sin to us turns to the founder of the Society of Jesus. “…Ignatius expects that God will reveal our sins and sinful tendencies to us in such a way that we will actually be consoled. On the one hand we are moved to tears of sorrow for our sins, but also to tears of love for a God who
has been so good to us even though he knows us through and through, knows that we have not lived up to his hopes and dreams for us.” (P. 51).
Easy to read, the book sheds light on Ignatian spirituality, which is not solely the domain of Jesuits. It offers a perspective for all Christians.
-- The Library Committee