I wanted to love this book, but, despite it's obviously heart-felt origin, it read like unfocused ramblings and was often hard to follow. As an Anglo-Catholic, I was able to understand what some Christian may find confusing, though often it was not based in the theological teachings of the Church, but rather the author's personal views and opinions. Despite the author's rambling manner and frequent digressions, I appreciated someone who has sought to find Christ as often as possible in everyday life. I think that this book has potential pending better editing and professional/theological insight.

This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaway

What Jesus said and how you can live it is composed of short homilies by Mary Faderan on various verses in the gospels. The verses are from The Jerusalem Bible, version unknown. Faderan uses experiences in her life to explain her feelings about these particular verses, arranged in order: John, Mark, Matthew, Luke. (I never did figure out why this order!)

I guess I missed the message that this book was for Catholics only. Faderan uses examples of the Eucharist as if it were magic! ("...Jesus remains in our bodies for 15 minutes after Holy Communion." Really! Transubstantiation maybe? Most of us believe that Jesus remains with us always and that Communion belongs to everyone, not just Catholics.) She is also obsessed with people who don't go to church (i.e. Mass) and the secular world in general. She instructs us to pray to saints, but only those so approved. (Idolatry maybe? We pray to God only through his son Jesus, who is God in the Trinity.) She wonders at some folks being a bit put off by the crucifix but many of us wear a cross symbolizing the risen Christ - the empty cross. There are many more examples I can point out.

Needless to say, I was not impressed. The book needs some serious proofreading and, if she wants to appeal to a broader audience of Christians, a total rewrite. A shame, because some of the meditations are worth reading.

And, in the interests of disclosure, I am a life-long Anglican who believes in the 39 articles as a requirement for faith and the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. I use Forward day by day for my daily readings. ( )