Gifts from Ben Myers

Back when I was posting my series on John Calvin (late Dec. '05/early Jan. '06), Ben Myers e-mailed me and asked me if I had a copy of The Schillebeeckx Reader. To be honest I knew next to nothing about Edward Schillebeeckx, O.P.. So obviously, I e-mailed Ben back and said "no." Ben explained that he had an extra copy and asked me if I wanted it. Well, I'd be a fool to turn down a free book, so I said I would love to have the copy.

A few weeks later I received the book, along with a pleasant surprise in the package. The surprise was a postcard with a picture of John Calvin that Ben had purchased at the Calvin Museum in Geneva. This was a great surprise and the postcard is displayed on the top of my desk in my study so anyone who comes into my study sees it.

Well, long story short, I finally finished all the books I had slated to read up to this point and as of the last 36 hours I have been reading The Schillebeeckx Reader. I am completely amazed that I have not read Schillebeeckx sooner. His work is so alive, so deep, so rich in theological content and meaning, and he writes in such a way that his words and content speak directly to the reader in a very moving and spiritual way. Putting it mildly, this book, so far, has been one of the better theological works I have read this year, and it is merely a "reader" with short excerpts of Schillebeeckx's works along with comments from the editor, Robert J. Schreiter. In fact, the book has been so good, I can hardly put it down. I just wanted to post my thoughts about this book so those of you who have an interest will get this work and read it. But also, I wanted to again thank Ben for such a great book!

By the way, Ben wrote a message on the back of the postcard and quoted these words from John Calvin: "Cor meum tibi offero, Domine, promte et sincere." ["My heart I offer to you You, Lord, promptly and sincerely"]