Meditations on the events and parables in the gospels demonstrate the relevance of these stories and events for contemporary Christians.

Thomas Keating is the founder of the Centering Prayer movement, an author, a teacher, and a monk who has worked for many years to foster understanding among the world's religions. A member of the Cistercian Order in the Benedictine tradition, he has served at monasteries in Colorado and Massachusetts and currently directs retreats in the practice of Centering Prayer, a cornerstone of contemporary Christian contemplative practice. He is the author of numerous books, including Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit; Manifesting God; Open Mind, Open Heart; St. Therese of Lisieux; and The Transformation of Suffering. He lives at St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.