A couple weeks back I bumped into a parishioner couple at the hospital, and one thing led to another and eventually they asked if I could suggest a title or two for Lenten reading.  Not that my tastes in spiritual reading may work for everyone, here are a few suggestions:

The Only Necessary Thing—Living a Prayerful Life, by Henri Nouwen: a gathering of wonderful passages from this gentle, thoughtful spiritual teacher of our own time.  As individual little units it can be dipped into a little at a time.  Not to be speed-read.

Song of the Sparrow—New Poems and Meditations to Pray By, by Murray Bodo: an older book recently revised and added to by a Franciscan priest and English professor, full of gentle and intelligent thoughts on prayer that can be read in small pieces.

The Reason for God, by Timothy Keller: for those people who struggle with intellectual obstacles to faith, one of the best books I have ever read.  The author is a Presbyterian pastor of an up-and-coming church in New York City.  Was a NYTimes bestseller in 2008.

“The Grand Inquisitor,” a chapter from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky: a dramatic parable (a story told by one of the characters to his brother in this massive 19^th century novel) that is actually a long meditation on this Sunday’s gospel of Jesus’ Temptation in the Desert.  My choice for something to be added to the Bible whenever we decide to get beyond the original seventy-three.

There.  Hope that helps.  We have so many thoughtful, well-read people in the parish.  I think I will ask a few of them to share their best recommendations in the area of the spiritual life in the near future.  And I would never have thought of that if that parish couple hadn’t bumped into me at the hospital.