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.

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