Once I became aware of communion as both an orientation toward loving put into us by God and also as a goal that each of us is called to reach, I began to think about various relationships that I have and how I can possibly achieve communion through them.

I cannot remember the first time I heard of the philosopher John Macmurray. I think I had finished my own graduate studies and was teaching for a few years. If I had known Macmurray’s thoughts when I was in graduate school, I am certain I would have chosen his philosophy as the topic for my doctoral dissertation. 

When I first became interested in the philosophy of personalism several years ago, I quickly encountered the concept of communion that personalist philosophers discussed. For years I was not sure what they meant by “communion.” 

I have a strange relationship with Robert Johann’s book “Building the Human” (New York: Herder and Herder, 1968, pp. 192). It is a relationship that I don’t have with any other book. 

In last week’s column I quoted a statement from Father Ron Rolheiser in his book “Wrestling with God: Finding Hope and Meaning in Our Daily Struggles to Be Human” ( New York, Penguin, Random House, $22.00, pp. 198) in which he claimed that we should give to the poor because such generosity will make us healthy. 

I cannot remember when I became very interested in what philosophers, theologians and spiritual authors said about the mystery of love. Many years ago, it just seemed to happen that everything I taught or wrote was in some way or other related to the mystery of love. Quickly I learned that not only was the mystery of love a topic that greatly interested me but that it was a topic that seemed to interest just about everyone. Early on I learned that every person needed to be loved. This was the way we found ourselves as creatures of God. This was the way God created us. 

In last week’s column I mentioned that I was concerned that occasionally in silent prayer I have a feeling that might be a kind of emotional fear of God. I wondered if it was really fear or just awe, amazement and wonder at God’s proximity. 

When I think about my ideas or images of God, I find them very beautiful and attractive. These ideas I have learned from the scriptures and from the very best Catholic theology. I believe that I could spend the remainder of my life meditating on the meaning and mystery of God, Whom I believe in, and I could always go deeper because there is an infinite depth to the Infinite Love Who is God. 

Rereading Ronald Rolheiser’s “Wrestling with God: Finding Hope and Meaning in Our Daily Struggles to Be Human” (New York: Image, 2018, pp. 198, $22.00) has been a fascinating experience. 

In rereading Ronald Rolheiser’s exceptionally good book, “Wrestling with God” (New York: Image, 2018, pp. 198, $22.oo), I think I have learned an important lesson which I should have known previously. There are books that are so good that they not only can be read more than once but probably should be read more than once.