A Still More Excellent Way
How St. Paul Points Us to Jesus

Joseph Durepos • 2758-5 • $10.95

Read reflections sampled from this book

A Still More Excellent Way provides readers with an inspiring introduction to the spiritual and moral wisdom of St. Paul through fifty-two brief selections from the apostle's writings. Each Scripture selection is accompanied by a story, reflection, or meditation that offers testimony to the unmistakably Christ-centered message of Paul. Paul evangelized in the first-century Roman world, but Durepos uses plenty of twenty-first-century pop-culture references to make the material highly relevant for today.

For those who are searching for the meaning of the Christian faith, as well as for those who have long heard the words of Paul in Sunday morning readings but have never reflected on them personally, this small but eloquent volume will serve as an indispensible tool for personal reflection and Christian growth.

Meeting St. Paul Today
Understanding the Man, His Mission, and His Message

Daniel J. Harrington, SJ • 2734-9 • $12.95

The teachings of St. Paul permeate just about everything Christians believe and practice, but many of us know very little about this great apostle of the Church.

In Meeting St. Paul Today, one of the most respected scholars in the Catholic faith, Daniel Harrington, SJ, brings Paul and his teachings to life. Harrington, writing with great respect for the apostle and his ministry, covers three main topics in this helpful and highly readable book for any discerning Christian. First, he describes what Paul was really like, from his days as a Pharisee to his arduous years as a missionary. Second, he helps readers interpret Paul's letters through literary, historical, and theological lenses. Finally, he thoughtfully surveys the specific purpose, major points, and other compelling particulars of each epistle.

Romans
Amazing Grace

The letter to the Romans is the longest of St. Paul’s letters. He devoted much of it to sharing his deepest reflections on what Jesus means for men and women, resulting in his most carefully composed statement of faith.

He focuses on the points he thinks are most important for the Romans to understand, including insight into the mystery of Christ. In his letter to the Romans, Paul also speaks about the frustrations of struggling with sin, our need for God’s grace, God’s merciful love, and the splendor of life with Christ. Readers will discover that his words have not lost any of their freshness in the twenty centuries since St. Paul’s first readers in first-century Rome heard them.

1 Corinthians
Living as Christians

St. Paul’s reflections in his first letter to the Corinthians mark the beginning and end of a journey, the beginning being life today and the end being the kingdom of God. In the letter, Paul tries to help the Corinthians make a connection between Jesus and themselves by leading them back to the basics of their faith, with particular focus on the last supper, Jesus’ death on the cross, and his resurrection. In embracing Paul’s teachings the Corinthians were challenged to outgrow their self-centeredness and reorient their lives toward God and toward other people. Many Christians face these same challenges today. The themes of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians offer an opportunity for personal reflection as we ponder our next steps in our life’s journey to God.

2 Corinthians
Power in Weakness

What happens if we cross the boundary of our comfort zone? The apostle Paul was not a man to hole up inside his comfort zone. His goal was not to keep himself safe and secure but to make God’s love known. Day after day he felt weaknesses, and in the process made the discovery that our weaknesses are precisely where we encounter the power of God. This discovery of St. Paul’s is given special emphasis in his second letter to the Corinthians. This guide encourages us to learn how to cooperate with God’s power in human weakness, especially when we find ourselves far outside of our comfort zone.

Galatians
Free in Christ

In reading St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we must go back into the past and witness a dispute over an issue that is no longer relevant in order to find a living message for ourselves today. The Galatians were being persuaded that freedom from sin and personal transformation was unavailable to them outside the Mosaic Law. Paul’s response was that only in the Spirit can we experience freedom and grow in love. To read Galatians with understanding is to move toward a deeper grasp of what Jesus meant for us and of what it means to experience the transforming love of the Spirit that God places within us when we believe in Jesus. The Galatians were tempted to lose sight of Jesus and the Spirit within themselves. In our own way so are we. Thus we need Paul’s letter as much as the Galatians did.

Philippians
A Letter to Friends

St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a letter between friends about their relationship with their mutual friend, Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus can be nourished by observing how Paul and the Philippians relate to Jesus and to one another—how they pray for one another, how they are sensitive to one another’s feelings. We can find in this letter not only instruction about Christian beliefs but also an instructive picture of how Jesus was reshaping their lives. Paul’s letter to the Philippians poses a challenge to us. The Christians in Philippi were deeply committed to advancing the gospel, even at great personal cost. Most of us would admit that we do not live at their level of faith and self-sacrificing service to others. Through his letter to the Philippians, Paul urges us to set Jesus as the goal of our lives.

Colossians/Philemon
New Life in Christ

St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians addresses his concern that Colossian Christians may be adhering to teachings that threaten to compromise their Christian faith. Paul tells his readers that some of the things they are gravitating toward may look impressive but aren’t Christianity. At best, they are weak imitations, mere shadows of Christ. In his letter Paul begins by preaching the gospel and clearly outlining Christian teachings. He also offers his readers guidelines for behaviors they should practice and avoid, and for relating to members of their household. The letter to the Colossians, paired with the letter to Philomen, draws a connection between Christ’s superiority over all the competing spiritualities and the way a Christian should run their household. In applying the profound truths of God’s actions toward us to our lives, we can impact all of our human relationships.

1 and 2 Thessalonians
Stand Firm in Faith

The Thessalonians were facing interior battles—spiritual, mental, and emotional—and St. Paul realized that they needed encouragement to stand firm in their conversion. Because no Christian is completely free from adversity, the letters of Paul to the Thessalonians have much to say to us all. Sooner or later, doubt, confusion, temptation, opposition, and other adversities will come our way. When that happens, we can turn to the enduring messages in these letters, for they are written to us as well. Whether two-thousand years ago or today, God speaks to Christians through St. Pauls's words to bring wisdom and hope.