THE TEARS OF THINGS Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage

Drew Jackson gives a serviceable rendering of Father Richard Rohr's latest book, an exploration of the Hebrew prophets--their anger, their grief, and their compassion--and how their messages apply not only to the ancient Israelites, but also to today's world. He calls them "radical change agents, messengers of divine revelation, teachers of a moral alternative, and deconstructors of every prevailing order." Prophets encourage "holy disorder," which Rohr likens to the late John Lewis's concept of "good trouble." Rohr offers many examples of prophetic writings using a variety of scriptural translations--whose citations are awkward when read aloud. Additionally, Jackson's impassive delivery, his sameness of tone and pitch, allows the listener's attention to wander, making Rohr's intellectually and spiritually challenging text difficult to fully appreciate. S.G. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]