At a recent lunch with some friends, the conversation turned to what we were reading. One friend, who happens to be a priest, recommended Barking to the Choir by Father Gregory Boyle, the founder of 
Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, a gang intervention program. Some of you may remember his Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.
I picked this book for my February reading not only because of my friend’s recommendation, but because of a recent homily in which my pastor said something to the effect of “Jesus doesn’t call us to save the world–He’s already done that. He calls us to comfort it.” There aren’t too many gang members in my life, but there surely are people I find difficult to love because of what I perceive as swagger and attitude.
I’m looking forward to a few chuckles and a lot of opportunities to feel humbled in reading this book.
