The Messenger

By Joseph F. Girzone

Book Overview

From the bestselling author of Joshua and A Portrait of Jesus comes a moving, eye-opening parable about a messenger sent to reawaken faith, love, and compassion in a world that has strayed from the lessons of the Gospels. In this Image paperback original, Joseph Girzone once again weaves a story that will transform readers' understanding of Jesus' teaching and change the way they put that teaching into action in their own lives. The Messenger is the story of the Kingdom of Light created by God on Earth. This kingdom started as a small community and grew to encompass vast numbers of people of every race and nation, transcending the boundaries of all worldly realms. But with the passage of time, the message of peace and forgiveness, love and joy, preserved in the book, is forgotten, overwhelmed by the selfish interests of its leaders. Watching over his people, God resolves to send a special messenger to renew the spirit of compassion and freedom among the rulers of the world. Francis, who became attached to God as a young boy and never lost the beauty and joy of that friendship, is entrusted with the precious mission. As Francis travels throughout the United States, Girzone brings to life the conflicts, hostility, and pain of our times and points the way toward peace and understanding. With humility and a strong sense of purpose, Francis teaches leaders to break through the crushing letter of the law and restore its spirit, to reunite groups torn apart by prejudice and hatred through love, and to show compassion to the less fortunate by welcoming them back home to the kingdom. Under the guidance of a new ruler well versed in the book, fear and skepticism give way to the sharing of ideas and the bringing together of people of different beliefs. And the miracle that begins in one part of the world soon spreads, touching the hearts and of transfiguring the lives of the people across the globe.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385495145
• ISBN13: 9780385495141
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Image
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent book

Like all of Girzone's books, he did not disappoint. This book is excellent and easy to read. He makes Jesus real. The book was purchased used and arrived in perfect--like new--condition. I highly recommend this book and seller.

vert good

Another fine book, by Jospeh Girzone. Some people critize his writng style, but in truth it's really good and easy to read. It's simplistic and in terms anyone could understand, which is wonderful. All the books in the series are well worth reading. They all rank up high on my list of favorite and mmost read books.

Not As Good As Joshua

I have enjoyed all of Father Girzone's Joshua books, but this one is a bit of a disappointment. It begins as an allegorical tale about nameless people who come to worship "the kingdom" with its rules and power structure, more than "the King," which we soon learn, is Jesus. Then the story seems to become barely fictionalized autobiography. "Francis" is a former priest who is now world-famous for his writings and teachings about Jesus, yet many in the church despise him, particularly those in the church power structure. The message is basically the same as that in the Joshua books--Jesus came to set us free from mindless rules and regulations, so that we would learn to love one another. But in this book the messenger is not Jesus, but (apparently) Girzone, fighting against a heartless church establishment. The writing is not polished, sometimes repetitive, and it wanders unpredictably between history and allegory. A good editor could have made the book more consistent and more coherent. I enjoyed the book, and it's easy enough reading, but not of the same quality as the Joshua books.