Once again, I am leading a book study. This time the book is Jim Sano's novel "Self Portrait", the 3rd 4th book in the Fr. Tom series. It is a mini-book study over 4 evenings - Feb. 13th, Feb. 20th, March 5th, and March 19th - covering 8 chapters during each meeting.
To help us with our discussions, I came up with questions for us to reflect on and prepare to share during the meeting. The questions are:
- Which character struck you the most in the chapter? Why?
- Which character reminds you of yourself or someone you know? How?
- Do you empathize or sympathize with any of the characters in the chapter? Which one? Why?
- Were there any teachings or references to the Catholic faith that you picked up in the chapter? If yes, what is it and what were your thoughts?
- What do you find most compelling about the chapter? Why?
Below are my thoughts on chapters 29, 30, 31, 32.
Which character struck you the most in the chapters? Why?
Billy learns that being his true self is freeing, especially when he attends Mass because there is no need to hide our shame and guilt from God. He knows us better than we know ourselves and, like the woman caught in the act of committing adultery (John 8:1-11), He does not condemn us but shows us unconditional love. Moreover, in Chapter 31, Melina Green (Kenny's mom) donated her liver and kidney to Mary because of what Patrick meant to Billy and Mary but also to her son, Kenny. Moreover, Melina knew what it meant for Billy to forgive her son.
Which character reminds you of yourself or someone you know? How?
Once again, Billy because, in forgiving Kenny, he "asked Patrick what he wanted". For the rest of us, we ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" and we try to follow that discernment to the best of our abilities. Moreover, in Chapter 30, Kenny is doing his best to turn his life around with the help of Billy and Sean. And, as Kenny says, he is giving himself a chance to make the most of his new lease life.
Do you empathize or sympathize with any of the characters in the chapters? Which one? Why?
In Chapter 30, we find that Mary needs a liver transplant and a kidney transplant as soon as possible. Yet, despite the odds being against her, Mary and Billy did not let it dampened their Christmas spirit. This certainly was because of the strength of their faith. Moreover, as we find out in Chapter 31, Fr. Tom has great compassion for Billy and Mary and, with the help of others, he was able to coordinate the first annual Isabella Stewart Gardner's Annual James Gerard Quinn and Patrick William Quinn fundraiser, which raised more than enough money for Mary to have her surgery.
Were there any teachings or references to the Catholic faith that you picked up in the chapter? If yes, what is it and what were your thoughts?
In addition to the teaching about the woman caught in the act of committing adultery (see above), in Chapter 30, Billy says that Fr. Tom might have given him the perfect engraving for Patrick's tombstone: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13). In Chapter 32, Billy and Kenny teaches us about unconditional love and forgiveness because of their love for Patrick.
What do you find most compelling about the chapters? Why?
In Chapter 29, I find Billy and Mary most compelling in their decision to make Sean officially their "adopted son." They never saw him as a "replacement" for Patrick but truly loved him as a son and he loved them as his parents. At one point, Sean almost slipped and called Mary. . .mom. Moreover, in Chapter 30, Billy takes Sean to Patrick's grave, which was Sean's first time and Mary tells him to think of Patrick as a brother he had loss, like Billy lost his brother, Jimmy.
Previous chapter(s):
Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16 https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/02/lenten-book-study-self-portrait_28.html
Chapters 17, 18, 19 https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/03/lenten-book-study-self-portrait.html
Chapters 20, 21, 22, 23 https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/03/lenten-book-study-self-portrait_5.html
Chapters 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/03/lenten-book-study-self-portrait_76.html
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