The Passion and the Cross

'At bottom Rolheiser's book is a witness to the transformative, scandalous truth of the gospel whereby we are saved in the drama of God's love. Rolheiser is unflinching in his grasp of the hard wondrous reality of God's presence in the person of Christ. Readers will find here compelling testimony to the recurring power of Easter in the daily living of our lives.' Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological SeminaryWhen we think of Jesus' passion and crucifixion, we often think of his physical suffering and death. But the Gospels themselves do not emphasise Jesus' physical sufferings; instead, the Gospel writers want us to understand Jesus as a faithful lover of humanity, who undergoes moral and emotional suffering without resentment or bitterness. Drawing from Scripture, story, theology, contemporary culture and his own life, Fr Ronald Rolheiser – one of the most influential spiritual writers of our day – invites us to a new understanding of redemption, and offers profound insights into the meaning of our own loss and suffering.Ronald Rolheiser is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a congregation of both lay and clergy dedicated to serving the poor throughout the world. He is president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, and among the most popular and inclusive spiritual writers today. Although rooted in the Catholic faith, he is able to transcend denominational boundaries and religious language to appeal to both practising Christians and interested seekers. His previous books include Sacred Fire, Prayer: Our Deepest Longing and The Restless Heart.