Just over a week ago, Fr. Dubay was in my hometown, giving a retreat at one of the local Catholic Churches. The topic was the same as that of this book: Gospel poverty. Due to my erradic work schedule, I was unable to attend the retreat. However, most of the people I know who attended, read this book long before the retreat, and all of them, unequivocally, have recommended the book. I began the book last Friday, and finished it last night. In short: I couldn't put it down.
I am not saying that I enjoyed this book, with it's "hard-as-nails" challenging, yet ever so true, message. If I were to say that I am not attached to my music and movies, to my clothing outfits, to my hairstyles, and what not, I would be guilty of one of the seven deadly sins: lying. Although, I, like most people, I'm sure, would claim to own my things, rather than my things owning me. However, upon reading this book, a reality known as conviction knocked on my door, and has contributed to the ongoing process of crumbling away the demonic sin from my life: pride.
I will say it again, as I said to my roommate last night: This book was a marvelous read (as it was marvelously written), and rang ever so true in my ears. Yet, it was anything but an easy read. I emphatically did NOT enjoy being convicted, quite simply because I, like most Americans, do NOT want to be told that I, in any sense whatsoever, am wrong. As the shoddy philosophy of our day goes: "It's not right to say that some things are not right." I denounce that philosophy, yet I live by it every day. This book helped reveal that to me.
I think a lot of Protestants would be wise to read this book, as many of the Churches have been poisoned by the health and wealth heresy. As I heard some preacher say on TV, "You can tell whom God has blessed by looking at the size of their houses, and the shiny hue on their cars, and the size of their bank accounts!" And of course, the whole congregation was all emotional, and in tears, with hands a-raised, and shouting, "Amen, Jesus! Praise You Jesus!" People that live on emotions, a movement dubbed as emotionalism, make me cringe.
Perhaps I'm being a wee bit too caustic; perhaps not. Regardless, America and the rest of this fallen world are precisely fallen, unsaved, and what not, precisely because people like me fail to live to the Gospel in all of it's radicality, day in and day out, 24/7. No, I take that back. It's not a matter of "failing" to live it, because to fail at something means that one is trying. For me to say that I try would again, in my estimation, make me guilty of that very same seven deadly sin I mentioned above: lying. I am Mr. Intellectual, and that is mainly all my faith is. This book has moved me in such a way that I am tired of the banal Christian life. What it really boils down to for myself, and probably most non-radical Christians, is fear of what people will think. Ultimately, shame. And, we would be wise to hark to the fore of our minds the words of Christ, "If you are ashamed of me before people, I will be ashamed of you before my Father in heaven."
Cocamo Joe
