I have been reading a great book by a Spanish priest, Jose Pagola. The title is Jesus: An Historical Approximation and is translated by Margaret Wilde. Convivium Press, Third Printing, 2012.
I have read many books about Jesus but this one is probably one of the best I have ever come across and I want to tell my readers a bit about it. First, I will say something about the author today as I had not read him before.
Father Jose Pagola was born in Spain in 1937; he completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1962 and his studies in Sacred Scripture at the Papal Biblical Institute in Rome in 1966. He also studied at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem. In spite of his scholarship, he writes a book that is easy to read. Almost every page has some footnotes that are fascinating to read as he has done so much research. He wrote the book because he is convinced that "Jesus is the best we have in the Church and the best we can offer today to modern society."
Father Pagola writes with historical vigor using simple language to bring Jesus and his message closer to us today. He awakens a deeper desire for Jesus and I am really loving his book. It is well over 400 pages (more with the appendices) so I have only read a little more than half the book, but the author is really doing what he said he wanted to do and that is to "awaken an attraction, interest, and admiration for Jesus" and this can be the first step toward a more vivid, real, and profound relationship with Jesus.
I am planning to continue to share some of my insights from reading this book.
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