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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 248.4
EAN num: 9780385510080
ISBN number: 038551008X
Label: Image
Manufacturer: Image
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 256
Printing Date: February 20, 2007
Publishing house: Image
Release Date: February 20, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 284966
Studio: Image
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Spiritual leader and peace activist John Dear guides readers on the path to finding peace within, and bringing harmony to a world torn by hatred and violence, through following in the footsteps of Jesus.
John Dear’s efforts on behalf of social justice and world peace have won him international admiration and spurred features in the New York Times, the Washington Post, NPR’s All Things Considered, USA TODAY, and the National Catholic Reporter. Seen by many to be the spiritual heir to the Berrigan brothers, Dear believes that the key to the spiritual life is not just finding inner peace, but also bringing that peace to bear on the outside world. In his latest work, Dear uses the Gospel account of the Transfiguration, inviting readers to shape their lives along the story of Jesus and to continue his mission of love and peace. These practices have sustained him through his work with the homeless in Washington, D.C., and New York City, as a human-rights advocate in Northern Ireland and Iraq, and on his many missions for peace in war-torn places around the world. Dividing the lifelong pursuit of peace into three distinct parts—an inner journey, a public journey, and the journey of all humanity—he delves into the challenges of learning to love ourselves as we are, diffusing the hatred we feel toward others, and embracing the choice to live in peace.
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Rated by buyers 
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You know, I'm not sure what's so "radical" about Father John Dear or why he has to be so "exceptional", though he certainly is both. If we took the message of the Gospels seriously I think we would all more or less follow in his footsteps. It is a sad state of affairs indeed that a man who supports peace and opposes violence of all kinds is seen as some kind of leftist pariah: this is what Christ demands of us. Not once in this beautiful book does he co-opt Jesus for political purposes or anything of the sort--he is only asking us, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer did in a widely celebrated book for every denomination that sees Christ as the Alpha and the Omega and to stand alone before God.
Like Daniel and Phillip Berrigan before him, Father Dear is not content to say morning mass, eat the dinner of local parishioners, and spend all day debating about the variations in daily liturgy. He wants to do something, to suffer as Christ did for the sake of justice, come what may. Not everyone interprets the Gospels in the same way, of course, and I'm glad: were that not the case, the fanatics would run absolute riot and turn God into some kind of Orwellian nightmarish dictator. But I have yet to meet one person of any intelligence who has read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John without understanding on some level that now it is time for us to be transfigured in mercy, for peace and benevolence to capture our hearts, and to do as little harm as possible. If a person claiming to be Christian, Catholic, Protestant, etc does not have the quality of gentleness bestowed upon us by Christ they have either not read the Gospels or are warped.
There is no apostasy here whatsoever, no hubris or hijacking of traditional theology or the Catholic faith. In his account of
Jesus' Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, Dear writes: "When the male disciples see Jesus on MT, they realize he is not just a wise man, a philosopher, or a nonviolent revolutionary: he is the Light of the World, the Son of God." Whatever EWTN fans may object to here, this is simply another ultra-committed Jesuit who wants to live Christ's message unto death and exhorts us to do the same; in their fervor for God, these men often lose sight of the obvious fact that some people are simply not capable of doing so in such a rigorous and passionate way. If there's one problem I have with Dear's philosophy of *absolute* nonviolence, it would be this: what do we do when the subsequent Stalin or Hitler comes around? What about that scenario?
And though I hate to think of it, this is also a fantastic read for the most apolitical person around. Dear has sections on how to grow closer to Christ in daily life, extensive personal experiences with some famous peacemakers, and an inspiring account of his departure from conventional fratboy to iron clad Jesuit. A book one cannot safely miss.
Rated by buyers -
In following the non-violent Jesus it is helpful
and also very comforting to connect with those who have been traveling the
path for a long time and know it well. John Dear knows the way and
shares it with us in TRANSFIGURATION. He's been studying Jesus for
years and is convinced that Jesus is totally non-violent but never passive.
And so, John lives his life focused on fitting his life story into that of
Christ's. He invites us to do the same. He's a man of prayer and
contemplation and he publicly stands up for peace and justice and risks
arrest. He knows that Jesus does not bless war and nuclear weapons or
killing anyone for any reason. He knows that Jesus really did command
his followers to put down the sword and that he meant it.
Don't miss the opportunity to read TRANSFIGURATION and to reflect upon
the questions and comments John offers. Following his recommendations for studying Jesus' life, along with daily prayer and meditation, will surely lead to personal transfiguration and contribute to the transfiguration of the world.
Rated by buyers -
John Dear's book of Transfiguration is not for those faint of heart.
The chapters lead the reader up the mountain to "eavesdrop" on Jesus' encounter with Moses and Elijah. Like Peter, the reader cannot settle into comfort and ease. One is challenged to surrender to being disturbed by the God who speaks "cloud talk" and
desires us to listen to Jesus. John's words call us all to live a life of nonviolence through commitment to contemplative prayer. The book is interspersed with questions for personal reflection and steps for pondering one's journey on the road to nonviolence.
Encountering this book, you will never be the same if you are an "observer" of life.
John says it well when he writes: "To follow Jesus on the path of transfiguring nonviolence, we have to leave our lofty heights, comfortable safety, and private spiritualities and go with him down the mountain into the world of war, where we must confront the structures of violence head-on. The real discipleship journey beings now, after the Transfiguration, as we follow Jesus on the road to Jerusalem."
Rated by buyers -
Transfiguration
Transfiguration is the latest book from the Jesuit peace activist and spiritual leader John Dear. The entire book is a meditation on the story of the Transfiguration. It is a must read for all Christians, especially those involved in working for peace and justice.
Father Dear speaks of moments of transfiguration in our lives, times when we go up the mountain to be affirmed by the Father and come down ready to take up the cross and live the nonviolent Gospel of Jesus. Our lives are a walk with Jesus. Like Jesus, we proclaim nonviolent peace and justice. At times, we are affirmed and consoled by the Father, "You are my beloved son or daughter." The Father tells us to listen to Jesus.
When we listen to Jesus, we hear, "Love your enemies." "Love one another as I have loved you." "Put away your swords." "Pray for those who persecute you." "Feed the hungry. Give drink to the thirsty. Clothe the naked. Shelter the homeless. Care for the sick. Visit the imprisoned. Declare a year of jubilee for debt relief." When we listen to this and try to make it a reality in our lives and in our world, we take up our crosses, go forth from the mountain, and walk with Jesus to Jerusalem.
Father Dear reminds us that we must be prayerful people. We must contemplate the nonviolent teachings of Jesus every day. Contemplation is not the prayer of the Pharisees--words piled upon words. It is resting in the presence of God and listening to what God is telling us. Action without contemplation is futile. I pray daily for a more peaceful heart because I really need one and that is where it all really begins. I cannot make my heart more peaceful. Only Jesus can gift me with a peaceful heart.
He also reminds us that Jesus was nonviolent but not passive. Jesus actively resisted the evil of the empire and the Temple cult that surrounded him and oppressed him and his fellow Jews. He willingly absorbed the evil of crucifixion rather than retaliate in violence. He showed us that the only way to true peace and justice is by the suffering of the cross. We take up our crosses when we enter into the suffering of the poor and oppressed, the victims of all the structural violence in our world.
One of the main points I got from my very first reading of the book (I will ponder this book many times!) is that we must let go of fear as we come down from the moments of transfiguration to work for peace and justice. In 2005, Father Dear personally taught me to let go of fear and cross the line at the Nevada Test Site to protest nuclear proliferation on the sixtieth anniversary of Hiroshima. I will never forget the moment when I walked into the barb wire holding area. Father Dear immediately came up to me and asked me, "Are you doing all right?" He is a powerful activist and a very sensitive, compassionate man. More recently, while I was reading the book, I let go of fear and signed up for a study mission to Israel and Palestine which now has been postponed. But, I will go. In the meantime, I am going to Ireland and to Northern Ireland this summer in order to study peacemaking there.
I also learned from the book that life is a series of transfigurations. That is what energizes us for our work. Each transfiguration brings us to a deeper awareness of the nonviolent Jesus. I am retired now and my wife and I spend a lot of our time working for peace and justice.
I fondly recall the moments of transfiguration in my life where the Father encouraged me to follow his nonviolent Son--a retreat at Agnes Scott College with Father Emmanuel Charles McCarthy over twenty years ago, a retreat with Father John Dear at Kirkridge Retreat Center, and a retreat with Father Daniel Berrigan and Elizabeth McAllister also at Kirkridge. These gentle giants proclaim the nonviolence of Jesus to a world and a country that wants to have nothing to do with what they are proclaiming. However, they have taught me that being faithful to nonviolence is what it is all about. We live with hope beyond hope that Jesus will transform us and our world into the New Heaven and New Earth as promised.
I encourage you to read and reread the book. The Questions for Reflection that are scattered throughout the book give readers ample opportunity to contemplate the truth of Jesus' nonviolence and apply it to their own lives.
As Christians, our "weapons" are the towel and the bowl. We are to wash one another's feet. We are to serve not be served. We are to love one another as Jesus has loved us. We are to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors.
J. Patrick Mahon, Ph.D.
Rated by buyers -
John Dear does not just write a book-he lives what he writes Has the gift of urging us to do the same. He hits the mark for me. Contemplation in action, a burning desire to live the life of one who is Peace. Thank you.
Jane
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