Opening the Treasure of the Scriptures

“Brother Richard reads the Bible with care and explains the Scriptures with the Scriptures. His grasp is open and surprising, even finding humor in the Holy Book. Among the biblical themes, Brother Richard pays special attention to joy and gratitude. Joy opens space for the Holy Spirit, and the human being becomes free, also to forgive. ‘Whoever knows joy, forgets himself or herself and dares to move forward,’ this book assures us.”


—Vesa Hirvonen, professor of systematic theology, University of Eastern Finland





“A beautifully written book that opens up biblical themes with deep theological insights grounded in pilgrimage spirituality. The author, himself a Taize brother, inspires us to join in the ecumenical journey towards reconciliation and unity which Christ wills for his church. A book for pilgrims on the ecumenical journey indeed.”


—Hermen Shastri, former general secretary, Council of Churches of Malaysia





“Brother Richard writes like a modern church father. His exegesis and theological reflection bring out the spiritual dimensions of the biblical text in a way that feeds the soul as well as the mind—a wonderful book that one can read with profit again and again.”


—Norman Russell, honorary research fellow, University of Oxford





“Dealing with biblical themes such as freedom, justice and mercy, joy and friendship, Brother Richard does not so much draw conclusions as invite us to think and search with him. This publication is especially relevant today as the outcome of the confrontation between open societies and authoritarian regimes depends on our ability and desire to distinguish truth from lies, humble humanity from archaic megalomania. Some humble biblical crumbs weigh far more heavily in the court of history than the shadows of twenty-first-century pharaohs.”


—Constantin Sigov, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy