Essay: Anger, Judgment and Forgiveness
The Book of Sirach, in the Hebrew Bible, was written about 2,300 years ago, but its admonitions are far from old-fashioned: “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner [...]
Poem: Shadow of the walking bird
Shadow of the walking bird Patrick T. Reardon In those days, judgement was in the howl throat of every woman and man. I was at the bottom [...]
Book review: “Hark!” by Ed McBain
It’s a wedding — actually, it’s two weddings — and everyone’s having a great time, laughing and dancing and smiling — except Steve Carella. He felt no joy. This is [...]
Poem: At the hill tomb
At the hill tomb Patrick T. Reardon At the hill tomb, she finds nothing. She tells the guys, and they run to find folded blooded linen. She sits [...]
Book review: “Lincoln and Religion” by Ferenc Morton Szasz with Margaret Connell Szasz
It may seem strange that the question of Abraham Lincoln and religion is a “thing” in historical circles. This, after all, is the president who mentioned God often in his [...]
Book review: “Biblical Prose Prayer: As A Window to the Popular Religion of Ancient Israel” by Moshe Greenberg
Moshe Greenberg was a Philadelphia-born rabbi and Bible scholar who, in mid-career, had a bee in his bonnet. Excuse the homey metaphor, but it seems fit for a homey insight [...]
The 27 books — A remembrance: Father Dom Grassi and the endless ripples of a book recommendation
The list of ripples, three years after a book recommendation “How to Read the Bible” by Harvey Cox — https://patricktreardon.com/book-review-how-to-read-the-bible-by-harvey-cox/ “The Book of ‘Job’: A Biography” by Mark Larrimore — https://patricktreardon.com/book-review-the-book-of-job-a-biography-by-mark-larrimore/ “The [...]
A remembrance: Father Dom Grassi and the endless ripples of a book recommendation
My friend Dom Grassi died this week, and I remember him with a deep fondness for many reasons. He loved being a priest, and he loved giving homey homilies. In [...]
Poem: Communion (a psalm of Hambone)
Communion (a psalm of Hambone) Patrick T. Reardon Burn tomb. Seed stump. Wind, breath, spirit. Hambone stands his ground at the gold altar. [...]
Essay: We like doing good…and that’s hopeful
The guy sitting in the window booth of the bagel shop, surrounded by six or eight odd-size bags and packages, could have been an aging hipster. It was that sort [...]