Somewhere between a skewering of the religious right, and a
profound statement of faith, THE MESSIAH OF MORRIS AVENUE is
a funny, heartfelt, twisted and insightful account of the
Second Coming.
Written as a memoir by one his followers, the book is the
story of José Francisco Lorcan Kennedy - who just happens to
be the returned Christ, here to "refresh the message" and
clear up some confusion.
The book is, at it's heart, a surprisingly plausible answer
to the question, "What would happen if Jesus came today?"
As is to be expected, some people aren't too happy with
him... and you can work out the rest of the story.
For a book that has as its central premise something so
profound, MESSIAH is a suprisingly breezy read. For all
that it is dealing with profound questions and issues, it is
a terribly funny book. From the blatantly one liners - the
cross at death row inscribed with "Christ died for your
sins!" on one side and "Now it's your turn!" on the other -
to the more sly account of a traffic jam caused by an SUV
jack-knifing - the book is quite funny. This really
shouldn't be surprise coming from a National Lampoon alumni,
but it is refreshing nonetheless. Nor should it be a
suprise that nobody is safe from being attacked, from the
right wing to the left, Catholic to Protestant. What is
surprising is how easily the author shifts from profound to
humorous, seemlessly moving back and forth. And his humor
is not used without purpose - where there is real sting is
when his barbs have a little too much truth in them for comfort.
If the book can be said to have a weakness, it is that it
paints the villains a little too broadly. The right-wing
fundamentalists take a severe beating, caricatured in to a
villainous rabid, foaming distortion. Alas, this probably
isn't as much of a distortion as I would like.
For all it's humor, THE MESSIAH OF MORRIS AVENUE treats
Christ and his message with profound respect, even
reverence. It is actually a very insightful book, and even
if you don't agree with the book's understanding of God,
there is no denying that it is heartfelt. I heartily
recommend this book, and will do so to my pastor, next time
I see her.
Tony Hendra's Father Joe became a new classic of
faith and spirituality--even for those not usually inclined.
Now Hendra is back with a novel set in a very reverent
future where church and state walk hand in hand. Fade-in as
Johnny Grecoa--a fallen journalist who nurses a few grudges
along with his cocktails--stumbles onto the story of a young
man named Jay who's driving around New Jersey preaching
radical notions (kindness, generosity) and tossing off
miracles. How better, Johnny schemes, to stick it to the
Reverend Sabbath, America's #1 Holy Warrior, than to write a
headline-making story announcing Jay as the Second Coming?
Then something strange happens. Died-in-the-wool skeptic
Johnny actually finds his own life being transformed by the
new messiah. Alternately hilarious and
genuinely moving, The Messiah of Morris Avenue brings
to life a savior who reminds the world of what Jesus
actually taught and wittily skewers all sorts of
sanctimoniousness on both sides of the political spectrum.
Writing with heart, a sharp eye, and a passionate
frustration with those who feel they hold a monopoly on God,
Tony Hendra has created a delightful entertainment that
reminds us of the unfailing power of genuine faith.
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