Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything by Scott Hahn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Scott Hahn is always a good read. I'm in the habit of reading his new book from Image every year and while this was published a few months ago it just begged to be read at Christmas. This is the Christmas Story explained: all the symbolism, the people, events and the accepted theories. As usual I find Mr. Hahn's books are best read slowly because they contain such profound enlightenment. This is an easy read (much easier than his last few books) and could honestly be read in one sitting if one had the day but I chose to take my time. What I found most amazing was reading this book the two weeks prior to Christmas and while doing so, attending some daily Masses, and coming across events in the Scriptures that I had read about here. Talk about light bulb moments! The day we hear Joseph's reply when he is told Mary is expecting we think back upon the three accepted possible reasons a righteous Joseph may have answered the way he did. The day we hear the Scripture for the Star of Bethlehem we think back to what Mr. Hahn told us of the theory presented by Saint John Chrysostom and accepted by Pope Saint Gregory the Great that the star was actually an angel. Not only that but the author explains why the Christmas story is written the way it is (or isn't) in each Gospel, why the New Testament starts with that 'boring' long list of heredity and oh so much more. I'm giving this book 4 stars because comparing it against Hahn's previous books it's somewhat simplistic and not quite as absorbing as he does repeat some information he has spoken of before. However, this book is most certainly exceptional in its field!
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