The Spiritual Wisdom of Gospels for Christian Preachers and Teachers

John (Jack) Shea is a consultant with decades of experience in providing theological and formation services to parishes and faith-based organizations. He has published over twenty books of theology and spirituality (including Liturgical Press’s popular Spiritual Wisdom of the Gospels series), three novels, and three books of poetry. He lectures nationally and internationally on storytelling in world religions, faith-based health care, contemporary spirituality, and the spirit work movement. Visit jackshea.org to learn more.

Contents
Acknowledgments   vii
Introduction
     Working with the Mind: The Art of Jesus the Teacher   1
First Sunday of Advent
     Working and Watching   19
Second Sunday of Advent
     Beginning before It Begins   24
Third Sunday of Advent
     Looking for One You Do Not Know   29
Fourth Sunday of Advent
     Conceiving through Courage   34
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time / Second Sunday after Epiphany
     Finding the Thin Place   39
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time / Third Sunday after Epiphany
     Calling, Leaving, Following   44
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
     Creating and Crossing Boundaries   48
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
     Curing, Healing, and Serving   53
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
     Cultivating Compassion   58
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time / Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
     Carrying Our Mats   63
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Eighth Sunday after Epiphany
     Eating with the Bridegroom   69
Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time / Ninth Sunday after Epiphany / Proper 4
     Critiquing Traditions   74 
First Sunday of Lent
     Repenting and Believing in the Good News   79
Second Sunday of Lent
     Radiating Outward   85
Third Sunday of Lent
     Getting beyond Deal   90
Fourth Sunday of Lent
     Preferring Darkness   95
Fifth Sunday of Lent
     Dying before You Die   100
Second Sunday of Easter
     Resurrecting with Questions   106
Third Sunday of Easter
     Revitalizing Disciples   117
Fourth Sunday of Easter
     Loving Unconditionally   124
Fifth Sunday of Easter
     Abiding in the Big Picture   128
Sixth Sunday of Easter
     Living in the Love Chain   132
Seventh Sunday of Easter
     Uniting and Separating   137
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 5
     Belonging to the Will   143
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 6
     Growing Mysteriously   149
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 7
     Passing on Fearlessness   155
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 8
      Touching Our Loneliness   161
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 9 (Part 1)
     Overcoming Familiarity   169 
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time /Proper 9 (Part 2)
     Following Injunctions   173
Sunday between 10 and 16 July: Proper 10 (Revised Common Lectionary)
     Saving Our Lives   178
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 11
     Resting in Compassion   183
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 12
     Restoring Our Soul   188
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 13
     Adjusting Consciousness   195
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 14
     Being Pushed   201
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 15
     Receiving Communion   205
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 16
     Coming to Believe and Know   209
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 17
     Finding the Drivers   214
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 18
     Resonating with Strength   219
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 19
     Disappointing Our Fantasy   225
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 20
     Welcoming the Least  230
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 21
     Being Salted with Fire   234
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 22
     Restoring Original Consciousness   240
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 23
     Disowning Possessions   245
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 24
     Putting Others First   251 
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 25
     Begging for Sight   256
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 26
     Writing on the Heart   260
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 27
     Spotting Discrepancy   265
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 28
     Living In-between   270
Christ the King / Proper 29
     Foregoing Force   275
Scripture Index   279