Hunger for Righteousness: A Lenten Journey Towards Intimacy with God and Loving Our Neighbor

by Phoebe Farag Mikhail

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Matthew 5:6

How do we hunger for righteousness? Readers are given a fresh opportunity to reconsider the words of scripture and liturgy from a modern perspective as they explore the familiar traditions and practices of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Farag Mikhail presents stories of modern and ancient Christian heroes – some familiar, others less well-known – who come alive in a contemporary and relatable way, as readers prepare for, and participate in the spiritual practices of Lent.

With surprising and challenging reflections, familiar concepts of almsgiving, prayer, fasting, repentance, reading of Scripture, forgiveness, and pilgrimage are given fresh insight. Questions at the end of each chapter prompt thoughtful actions to enhance the Lenten journey and invite the reader to draw closer to God and share the love of Christ with their neighbors.

Readers searching for a lively and invigorating way to rededicate themselves to the spiritual journey of Lent, are treated to a captivating blend of biblical truths and cultural context. Farag Mikhail offers historical and theological insights to apply to our everyday lives as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the Resurrection.

If we pay closer attention to the earliest Christian Lenten traditions, we'll discover how Lent was a period during which individuals who wanted to become Christian prepared themselves not for personal transformation, but to join the body of believers, the communion of saints, through baptism. By examining our liturgical prayers and Scripture readings developed over centuries, we'll discover the ways Lent has always been a time for individual repentance, yes, but first for giving and forgiving, for mending relationships and building new ones, for fighting injustice, and for growing in intimacy with God communally, not just individually.
—Introduction, Hunger for Righteousness

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2025

Reviews

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did write this book so I guess I'm a little biased, but I am so proud of how this book has come together. I'm also honored that people will be using this book during Lent, and pray that its contents are as edifying for my readers as they have been for me writing them.

[Traci Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Phoebe takes her own experiences in the Coptic Orthodox church, and makes them feel like a completely universal Christian experience. I don't recognize the names of the saints, the church leaders, or many of the places, but I can relate to the discipleship experiences. Those are mine too.i learn from her as the friend she is. This book will stay on my list of lenten/eastertide recommendations for years to come.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Drawing upon Coptic and other church tradition, explores how Lent may be personally and communally transforming.

I grew up in a Protestant tradition that did not observe Lent. But I lived in a Catholic neighborhood where the conversation before Ash Wednesday was a discussion of “what are you giving up for Lent?” For most, it was something like candy, or perhaps more narrowly, chocolate. I was never quite clear why God needed people to give up chocolate, or other things during this time. For many of us as adults, that is the extent of our knowledge of Lent. Phoebe Farag Mikhail, who has been shaped by the Coptic Orthodox tradition, fasting, and what one fasted from wasn’t a choice. But what her community abstained from reflected a deeper longing, a corporate hunger for righteousness. She writes of this in her introduction.

If we pay closer attention to the earliest Christian Lenten traditions, we’ll discover how Lent was a period during which individuals who wanted to become Christian prepared themselves not for personal transformation, but to join the body of believers, the communion of saints, through baptism. By examining our liturgical prayers and Scripture readings developed over centuries, we’ll discover the ways Lent has always been a time for individual repentance, yes, but first for giving and forgiving, for mending relationships and building new ones, for fighting injustice, and for growing in intimacy with God communally, not just individually (pp. 13-14).

This book is designed to be read and meditated upon and applied during the weeks before and during Lent. One chapter covers each week, as well as a final chapter on Easter. The first week “trains us for the climb” in preparation for Lent by considering Jonah and the Ninevites through practice of the three day Jonah fast. Subsequent chapters consider:

Abraham, reckoned righteous by God, who negotiated with God for Sodom.
St. Abraam of Fayoom, a nineteenth century ascetic who gave generously to the poor.
The faith that moves mountains, including the mountain of forgiveness.
Abba Serapion and the challenge to grow as repentant readers of Scripture.
St. Paesia, a trafficked woman, her turning from despair, and the ways we wrongly judge others.
The righteousness of Tamar, more determined to perpetuate her husband’s family than Judah.
The righteous faith of Abraham again, in the sacrifice of Isaac.

We conclude on the note of Resurrection. Mikhail considers the pilgrimage accounts of Egeria enroute to Jerusalem during Roman times. Egeria walks the way of Jesus passion, and we read of her joy in God and rest in the risen Christ.

Each chapter offers questions for reflection and application. Two appendices offer further resources including the Great Lent Lectionary of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

Mikhail helps us see the fast of Lent as a hunger for righteousness, glimpsed in the lives of biblical figures and saints we may not have heard of before. Whether we adopt the practices of Coptic Christians or not, her reflections help us deepen our own practice of Lent. She helps us move beyond the “give up” to the promise for those who hunger for righteousness. They shall be filled.

_____________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic second book from Farag Mikhail and a wonderful lenten companion. I think it is theologically deeper than her debut, but at the same time easy to read, drawing upon biblical figures and saints from church history that one can easily identify with. She skillfully weaves together stories, contemplation, patristic and modern commentary, historical/cultural context, analysis, spiritual virtues that we should take care to cultivate during Lent, and practical ways to incorporate it all. I thought the themes throughout the book were especially well done, coming up time and time again in a harmonious way.

This book is one of the best of the modern Coptic tradition. The stories and saints are largely Coptic, yes, but it's also the essence of the writing - steeped in simple storytelling, habits, and practices to learn from, and drawing upon the examples of the saints. You'll learn a lot about specifically Coptic Orthodox culture within Orthodoxy, not just from the content, but from the way it's presented. It's like listening to a lecture in a Coptic Orthodox church.

And yet I think the strength of this book lies in the fact that the author is an obvious doer of the faith and practices she discusses in this book, not merely giving us nice writing. Paraphrasing another contemporary author, "the first rule of Christianity is that you have to do Christianity." Read it this Lent as a worthwhile companion on your journey.

[Stephen G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Protestant, I appreciated learning more about the lenten season from an Orthodox perspective through Mikhail's book. Mikhail is an engaging writer and uses personal anecdotes, teaching from Scripture, and church history to explain the journey of Lent. She highlighted aspects of Lent like almsgiving and preparation that would enrich any Christian's Lenten journey. The book also includes two helpful Appendixes, one that contrasts the various lenten seasons, and another that provides scheduled Bible readings for the season.

My one complaint is that the content of the chapters seemed a bit arbitrary to me. I couldn't quite understand how the content connected from chapter to chapter. Perhaps it's because I'm not Orthodox, but it wasn't obvious to me why she chose the various passages and examples from church history for each chapter.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tasoni Phoebe is writing from the Coptic Orthodox perspective, as that is what her life of faith is lived in, I believe that this book is applicable to all Eastern Orthodox Christians, and can also be useful to our Protestant and Catholic friends who might want further understanding of fasting and the Lenten season in the Eastern Christian churches.

Each chapter also ends with questions for reflection and discussion, making it an excellent choice for book clubs, or spiritual groups to read together during the season.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” Matthew 5:6

The book is broken into 3 parts: Hunger and Thirst, Righteousness, and Filled.

Overall, I will return to sections of this book throughout Lent for reminders about the meaning of this fasting seasons and places to look for spiritual inspiration (saints and biblical examples).

[Sherry Shenoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the footsteps of ancestors and saints who have traveled hard paths before us, here is an accessible exploration of the words of Christ: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” We need not be righteous; we must only want to be. Farag Mikhail draws on a broad knowledge of history and literature, enriched by an intimate understanding of the Coptic tradition to offer wisdom and practical help. She lights the route to the proper posture of our Lenten journey using the thread of stories to proclaim the message of grace and the reminder that God works in our imperfections, our humility, our discomfort, our thirst, our hunger.

[Ben Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the author wrote this from a Coptic perspective, I found it to be a very engaging and welcoming read from an Eastern Orthodox perspective, and she is welcoming to those from all different strains of Christianity. Very enlightening and uplifting read during Lent.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and beautiful journey through Lent and toward "intimacy with God and Loving our Neighbor." Mother Phoebe provides important examples of saints and suggested practices to make our pilgrimage transcendent.

[Wendy Gierhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book! I learned much about the tradition and especially loved Ch. 7 on St. Paesia…. What a treasure to read during Lent.

[Nancy Noble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great book from Paraclete Press - I enjoyed learning about different saints that I didn't know anything about, as well as a Coptic Christian perspective.