Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love

by Mariann Edgar Budde, Michael B. Curry (Foreword)

A menudo pensamos en la fe cristiana como una obligación o como un conjunto de creencias que debemos seguir. Si seguimos esta idea podemos perder de vista lo más la invitación a experimentar una relación amorosa y personal con Dios. Esta es una relación en la que podemos confiar, en la que podemos encontrar protección y tierra segura sobre la cual pararnos. Mariann Edgar Budde comparte sus pensamientos sobre cómo el lector puede llegar a conocer - a recibir - a Jesús más profundamente, practicando el Camino del Amor. Ella comparte historias bíblicas, la sabiduría de la tradición cristiana y sus propias historias personales de crecimiento espiritual a través de las siete prácticas que nos han sido dadas con antelació cambiar, aprender, orar, adorar, bendecir, ir y descansar. So often we think of the Christian faith as an obligation or as a set of beliefs that we must hold. With this outlook, we can lose sight of what is most the invitation to experience a loving, personal relationship with God. It's a relationship we can trust, where we can find refuge and solid ground upon which to stand. The Way of Love set forth by the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop Michael Bruce Curry is the journey of a lifetime. It's a way of knowing God, receiving and sharing Jesus' love, and being a blessing to the world. Mariann Edgar Budde shares her thoughts on how the reader can come to know―to receive―Jesus more deeply in practicing the Way of Love. Through the seven practices that have been put before to turn, to learn, to pray and to worship, to bless, to go, and to rest, she will share biblical stories, wisdom from the Christian tradition, and her own personal stories of spiritual growth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Faith, Religion, Spirituality

128 pages, paperback

Published September 17, 2019

Reviews

[Cathryn Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those short books—just 128 pages—that is so profound, so valuable, and so beneficial that it has the potential to change your life.

Written by The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, this book outlines the seven steps needed to live in "the way of love." The steps are simple and obvious, but that doesn't mean they are easy. Together they form a spiritual rule of life—daily practices that create a way of being in the world while helping us to pay attention to and respond to the presence of God. Each of the steps individually are rather small; the strength is in the whole.

They seven steps:
1. To turn: Turn your gaze, your mind, your thoughts, your attention to Jesus.
2. To learn: Commit to daily learning about Jesus's teachings, most likely by reading the Bible.
3. To pray: Develop a daily prayer routine.
4. To worship: Join a community of faith and fully participate in Sunday worship.
5. To bless: Go into the world and do what you can to make it a better place.
6. To go: This is a challenging call to leave what is familiar to better understand the experiences of another. Show up in the places where love is most needed.
7. To rest: Create your own sabbath practice for rejuvenation physically and spiritually.

The secret sauce of this impressive little book is not in the recitation of the seven steps, but rather in the concrete, easy-to-follow ideas of how to integrate the seven steps into your life. For example, when you first wake up and before you check your phone, find a way to turn your attention to Jesus. It can be as short as a few seconds. Can't figure out when to pray in your busy day? Do it while you drive or walk the dog. If resting is a challenge because you enjoy being productive, set aside just 15 minutes for quiet time or take an afternoon and do something you truly enjoy, something that makes your heart sing.

Bonus: An appendix includes a detailed and pertinent lectionary for following the way of love—collects (prayers), psalms, and Bible readings.

This is a magnificently written book that is gentle, inspirational, and thoughtful. It really could change your life.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes

When we speak about the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of God, we are speaking of God’s active work in our lives; of God’s way of leading us, guiding us, forming and shaping us; of God’s power and presence to comfort and encourage us and to make us the people God wants us to be. The Spirit is the voice of God whispering, wooing and beckoning us. And in listening to this voice and being shaped by this power, we find that we become most fully and authentically human.

I think that many Christians live Spirit-deficient lives, a bit like someone who is sleep-deprived, nutrient-deprived, or oxygen-deprived. Many Christians haven’t been taught about the Spirit, nor encouraged to seek the Spirit’s work in their lives. As a result, our spiritual lives are a bit anemic as we try living the Christian life by our own power and wisdom.

The primary goal of the Way of Love is for us to grow in our love for Jesus as we experience his love for us. The second is to grow in our capacity to love others as Jesus loves.

[Paula Cappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I found that the messages from Bishop Budde kept repeating in my thoughts. The main idea of this book is to grow in love. Grow in love for Christ and for others in the world. This year, 2020, is certainly a time for us to focus on this path. Thinking of God as a presence is not new to Christians, or to Catholics like myself. But Bishop Budde takes us on a journey that goes beyond thinking of God as a presence. The concept goes quite deep into faith in ourselves and into the deep love of Jesus, and extending that to all humanity. One of the best things in this book is the concept that “for faith to be authentic, it must be freely chosen, not out of fear or coercion, but in response to compelling love.” Here Budde calls this a “grace upon grace” and this takes some time to really absorb. She invites us to take this journey, 7 steps to the Way of Love. And it’s so simple: Turn to Christ, Learn Christ’s teachings, Pray each day, Worship with your community, Bless everyone, Go with Jesus and listen deeply, Rest in God’s grace. On this 7 step journey (I read one step each day), there is power in love.. Closing the book brings you into this circle of light and stays with you a long time. This book is a blessing. You might recognize Bishop Budde as the diocesan bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC. Highly recommended. Paula Cappa is an avid book reviewer and an award-winning supernatural mystery author.

[Paula Ackley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, a little background. I belong to the congregation of Christ Episcopal Church in Budd Lake, New Jersey that Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde mentions in Chapter 1, To Turn. I did not know Rev. Richard Constantinos well as he retired soon after my family joined the church. I have never met Bishop Budde but I know her mother Ann who was an active member of the congregation until she moved in with her daughter for health reasons. A more proud mother you could not find the day Mariann was ordained as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C. with her mother and members of our congregation present for the ceremony.

Each year for the five Wednesdays in Lent our church has a potluck supper with a book or scripture study and discussion afterwards. This year due to COVID 19 the potluck suppers were in the comfort of our own homes and the discussions were held on Zoom. This year our priest chose Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love and members of the congregation here in New Jersey as well as members who had moved away (North Carolina, Arizona) participated. A chapter was done each week and when Lent was over I made sure that I read the last two chapters. This review is long overdue.

Our discussions were lively and animated. I think I got more out of this book because I had read it out loud to my husband and because of the discussions with people I knew and loved and who knew and loved me. I don't know if I would have gotten as much out of the book if I had just read it on my own. There was a very strong feeling of connection, faith and the power of love. Seven simple yet profound steps in this journey to love. This guide is a blessing to anyone, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.

[Elizabeth Weiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

As inspiring as Bishop Budde is in person

I bought this book after being so inspired by a sermon, and the persona, of Bishop Budde last year. Her book is inspiring in a somewhat different way—she combines the calm insight of a bishop with the warmly human acknowledgement of her own struggles to achieve the ideal she aims for—and the ever-present awareness that Jesus walks with us at *all* times, no matter where we are I. The journey. Her pragmatic translation of Bishop Curry’s Way of Love is a book I will return to in multiple years.

[Conrad Gempf · Rating 5 out of 5]

As will be the case for many people, the first time Bishop Budde came to my attention was when she publicly asked Donald Trump to be merciful to people, especially children, with whom he disagreed. Her latest book was recommended to me, especially the audio version, but it wasn't available in the UK, so I got this older book instead. I expected it to be about Jesus in the first century, but it's much more about living in the 21st century in a Jesus-centered way, centered around practices or disciplines or 'ways of being.' I thought it was great.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is a gem. The body of the book is divided into seven parts. They are short enough to read straight through. Then I paused to think about what I had read. Anyone new to prayer or ever feels stuck in their prayer life will find it helpful. I had to stop myself from underlining bits that jumped out at me. I will re-read it later this year and then share it with someone.

Recommended.

[James S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, simple, wise, accessible, personal, biblical, practical, inspiring, sustainable, upbuilding. Worth reading not least in order to evaluate one’s own journey on “the way of love”.

I read the Swedish translation, Liv i Kristus: Kärlekens väg (2025).

[Linda Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book, however enjoy listening to Bishop Budde more than reading her books.

[Mary Nuttelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical guide to a deeper understanding of what it means and how to be a better Christian.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful book written by the one Bishop willing to tell it like it is.

[Beth Shorten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A balm to soothe the soul of chaos. I chose to read this slowly and try to take it all in. I know I will go back and re-read passages as I continue on my spiritual path.

[JA · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 highly recommended for everyone