Bright Evening Star: Mystery of the Incarnation
“Christmas,” says Madeleine L’Engle, “should be a time of awed silence.”
In Bright Evening Star, Madeleine L’Engle reflects upon the mystery of Jesus’s Incarnation. L’Engle’s characteristic conversational tone, coupled with her immense knowledge of theology, make this a captivating and thought-provoking read. She has a clear reverence both for God and for the art of story itself.
Originally published in 1997.
New 2018 edition, with a foreword by Addie Zierman!
Genre: Adult nonfiction
Audio Excerpt
Reviews
“In what is part spiritual autobiography and part theological treatise, L’Engle writes with her familiar, felicitous prose. Throughout, she reflects on “God’s rejection of power,” describing the Incarnation as a radical, marvelous paradox. At book’s end, readers may agree with L’Engle that ‘the Incarnation is so far beyond our factual comprehension as to be laughable,’ yet her writing will also have broadened their understanding of this mystery.”
-Publishers Weekly, 2001
“‘Perhaps it is Jesus’ sense of the precariousness of all life, or the infinite value of a sparrow or a child or a woman, that made people follow him wherever he went,’ writes Madeleine L’Engle in this book. In this blend of memoir and meditation upon her journey with Jesus, the prolific Christian author affirms the power of faith and imagination.”
-Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
“L’Engle’s analysis of the Incarnation is part autobiography and part theography. It’s a wonderful story of choosing love over power and truth over fact. I enjoy L’Engle’s voice and her openness about her own feelings and beliefs, along with the stories she shares about family, friends, and loved ones… This book is well-written and interesting, whether you’re a Christian, a fan of L’Engle, or both.”
-Jenny, Goodreads, 2013