This contains the first good explanation of the parable of the talents for me. ( )

Sermons: Biblical Wisdom for Daily Living by Peter J. Gomes. Epiphany-OviedoELCA library section 3 B; Christianity. Gomes, former minister of Harvard Memorial Church (he recently died), is widely acclaimed as one of the best theologians in America. This is his first major collection of sermons in which he draws upon biblical wisdom to guide us through the year and enrich our daily lives.
Part One has sermons for the liturgical church year – three for Advent, one for Christmas, and so on, straight through to Pentecost and the Trinity.
Part Two discusses what the Bible has to say about a range of issues and ideas such as patriotism, happiness, identity, miracles, friendship, love, perfection, frustration, wisdom, behavior, mystery and so on. Out of the struggle of dealing with frustration, for example, we find what is most important to us, and the struggle can bring us to a new level of emotional and spiritual growth. Reverend Doctor Gomes is eloquent, compassionate and grace-filled, and ever sensitive to our needs and worries. He offers the tools we need to understand the wisdom of the Bible and the happiness and spirituality it can bring to our lives. If you read no other book this year, read one of Gomes’. His writings give you real food for your soul to grow on, and can help you live a good life of wisdom, fulfillment, grace, compassion, faith, love and hope. And we all need big helpings of that. Can I please have another helping of food for my soul? Thank you, Dr. Gomes. ( )

You don't have to be a christian to enjoy these sermons from the pulpit of Memorial Church, Harvard College, but it helps. The Reverend Peter J. Gomes is short on cant, hell fire, and theology but is long on wisdom, inspiration, and love of God. Not that he couldn't bore us to death with theology, as many preachers do. He's the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard divinity school. Son of a cranberry farmer in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He has more decency and common sense than I have found in any one preacher. Listen to him on WHRB FM in the Boston Area or on the internet at HTTP://WWW.WHRB.ORG on sunday mornings 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. eastern standard time in the USA. Warning: his sermons are addictive. ( )