Musings from the High Desert

Fr Gabriel turns to his great love, Biblical studies, and discusses two books from the mid-20th Century that were and continue to be deeply influential in his life. These were written by the British scholar C. H. Dodd, who was called the greatest New Testament scholar of his era. Dodd's books were small—Fr. Gabriel calls his writing "concise, clear, and succinct"—but they were of great importance to many Bible students. These two books are The Apostolic Preaching and Its Development (1936) and According to the Scriptures (1952). In the first of these, Dodd traced the roots of New Testament documents, not through theology primarily but through the need for preaching texts. In the second, Dodd gives a thorough presentation of major Old Testament passages shared by early writers to substantiate Jesus as Messiah.

Fr Gabriel turns to his great love, Biblical studies, and discusses two books from the mid-20th Century that were and continue to be deeply influential in his life. These were written by the British scholar C. H. Dodd, who was called the greatest New Testament scholar of his era. Dodd's books were small—Fr. Gabriel calls his writing "concise, clear, and succinct"—but they were of great importance to many Bible students. These two books are The Apostolic Preaching and Its Development (1936) and According to the Scriptures (1952). In the first of these, Dodd traced the roots of New Testament documents, not through theology primarily but through the need for preaching texts. In the second, Dodd gives a thorough presentation of major Old Testament passages shared by early writers to substantiate Jesus as Messiah.

After some notes to explain the genuine meaning of Inter-Religious Dialogue, Fr Gabriel turns to a 2010 book by the Dalai Lama, Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come Together, which is about 40% autobiography, 40% interpretation of world religions, and 20% program for compassionate relationships between religions. The Dalai Lama attempts to move us beyond violence into understanding.

After some notes to explain the genuine meaning of Inter-Religious Dialogue, Fr Gabriel turns to a 2010 book by the Dalai Lama, Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come Together, which is about 40% autobiography, 40% interpretation of world religions, and 20% program for compassionate relationships between religions. The Dalai Lama attempts to move us beyond violence into understanding.

The Psalms are the beloved hymnbook of Israel and the Church. They are also the inspiration for much of the prayer life of the church, both east and west. In this broadcast, Fr. Gabriel explores the literary structure of the Psalms, which helps to explain their winsome and enchanting power. He explains the different categories of Psalms and reads some of his favorites.

The Psalms are the beloved hymnbook of Israel and the Church. They are also the inspiration for much of the prayer life of the church, both east and west. In this broadcast, Fr. Gabriel explores the literary structure of the Psalms, which helps to explain their winsome and enchanting power. He explains the different categories of Psalms and reads some of his favorites.

In this broadcast, Fr. Gabriel discusses one of his favorite books on spiritual care from the Lutheran tradition. He has cherished this book for some forty years now and used it in his former teaching life at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. It is titled The Hammer of God and was written by the Rev. Bo Giertz, a biblical scholar, parish priest in rural and urban settings, and Bishop of the Diocese of Gothenburg, Sweden. Though this book comes from another tradition, Fr. Gabriel knows that you will find in its story and content good news for your heart and mind.

In this broadcast, Fr. Gabriel discusses one of his favorite books on spiritual care from the Lutheran tradition. He has cherished this book for some forty years now and used it in his former teaching life at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. It is titled The Hammer of God and was written by the Rev. Bo Giertz, a biblical scholar, parish priest in rural and urban settings, and Bishop of the Diocese of Gothenburg, Sweden. Though this book comes from another tradition, Fr. Gabriel knows that you will find in its story and content good news for your heart and mind.

In this segment, Fr. Gabriel muses momentarily on his own intellectual history of reading, and then discusses one of his all-time favorite books, which he has read many times: Fr Alexander Schmemann's For the Life of the World.

In this segment, Fr. Gabriel muses momentarily on his own intellectual history of reading, and then discusses one of his all-time favorite books, which he has read many times: Fr Alexander Schmemann's For the Life of the World.

In this follow-up to the introduction to New Paths, Fr Gabriel gives an overview of the six units of the course itself—Holiness, Covenant, Rejection, Conflict, Hope, and Encounter—and invites listeners to discern how and where they might utilize this course in local congregations.

In this follow-up to the introduction to New Paths, Fr Gabriel gives an overview of the six units of the course itself—Holiness, Covenant, Rejection, Conflict, Hope, and Encounter—and invites listeners to discern how and where they might utilize this course in local congregations.

In this episode outside the current theme of books, Fr. Gabriel talks about the backing institutions and the rationale for a new adult course for Christian churches on Israel, past and present and, to some extent, future. This course has been in the making for over a year and Fr. Gabriel has been on the development team. You are encouraged to check out the website. In the next episode, Fr. Gabriel will discuss the content of the course.

In this episode outside the current theme of books, Fr. Gabriel talks about the backing institutions and the rationale for a new adult course for Christian churches on Israel, past and present and, to some extent, future. This course has been in the making for over a year and Fr. Gabriel has been on the development team. You are encouraged to check out the website. In the next episode, Fr. Gabriel will discuss the content of the course.

This week, Fr. Gabriel looks at the work of Boris Pasternak, the great Russian poet whose one novel, Doctor Zhivago, was made into a movie in the mid-sixties, and both book and movie remain enduring classics. Fr. Gabriel spoke about the novel at the Branigan Library in Las Cruces on the occasion of the publication of a new translation. A written copy of this essay is available on the church website.