"To begin to experience the divine presence within us is the first step on the return journey home," writes James M. Somerville. The author, editor of The Roll, a quarterly magazine on the contemplative life, maintains as a Christian that we are participants in the divine — "the offspring of God." Our roots are in eternity and our time on earth can best be spent in gratitude. "True contemplatives," he asserts, "are those who live habitually in the presence of God." He writes about the nature of meditation, the stages of spiritual growth, and the power of prayer.
In the second part of this illuminating work, Somerville probes the ministry of Jesus and emphasizes his rich inner life. He notes that the role of savior is "to help people discover their true identity and to act out the implications of their divine calling." Near the end of The Mystical Sense of the Gospels Somerville hurrahs the unity of the contemplative vocation in all of the world's religions. This fine book is a must-read for Christians attracted to the mystical path.