About the Book

Evangelizing for Christ

Second Exodus is a powerful tool for evangelizing people from many backgrounds. Its extraordinary power comes from its emphasis on the Jewish origins of the Catholic faith. Second Exodus illuminates God’s vast providence for His wayward children in the continuous stream of salvation history from Eden to the Second Coming.

In particular, it is a book for inquiring Jews. I wrote it specifically for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and discovered after it was published that it worked as well with Catholics, Protestants, and atheists. So many Jews say, “This Jesus, He is for the Christians, not for us.” Second Exodus shows Jewish readers that the Catholic faith completes what they have already begun. I ask Catholics considering Second Exodus for a Jewish friend to be mindful of the principles of Catholic evangelization before giving it to a Jewish family member, friend, or business associate.

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What’s In the Book

Second Exodus begins by showing why it is reasonable to believe that God exists, that Jesus Christ is His Messiah, and that among the faiths that proclaim Christ only the Catholic Church has His direct authority, passed across the ages in the apostolic succession, to prepare His flock for eternal life in heaven. The third part, highlighting Catholic authority, has caused the entire book to often be called an apologetic because it contains a zestful defense of the Catholic faith and demolishes the core Protestant doctrines of sola Scriptura and sola fide.

It then introduces the reader to his covenant family. Our Father in heaven first, then Jesus, then the Holy Spirit. After that, it highlights the Blessed Virgin as queen of heaven, and after that the whole cloud of witnesses, all the holy angels and saints who live in heaven. It then leads the reader swiftly across the centuries to show the continuity of salvation history.

After that it introduces the reader to the means of salvation, the Seven Sacraments through which Christ continues to minister to His covenant family. Then it takes the reader for an exciting visit to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the re-presented Final Sacrifice, the fulfillment of the ancient Jewish sacrifices. It observes that the Catholic priest is the counterpart not of the rabbi but of the ancient Jewish priest. The deacon is the rabbi’s counterpart.

The Concluding Rite of the Mass establishes its continuity with the ancient Jewish Todah sacrifice. The seventy elders who went up with Moses to see God offered the Todah: Ex 24:11 “They beheld God, and ate and drank.” Twelve centuries later, twelve apostles beheld God, and ate and drank as Jesus prepared to offer His Todah sacrifice: Lk 22:19 “He took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it…” From the beginning, Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity has been called Holy Eucharist (Greek: eucharistia, thanksgiving.) Every time we participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the last words we speak are todah laEl, “Thanks be to God.”

Note: The book uses todah l’Adonai, which is also correct, but I've since learned that todah laEl is more idiomatic.

The Concluding Rite also sends us forth into the world to live the covenant we renew each time we receive Holy Communion. So the next chapter, called Mirrors of Christ, teach that “reality is cruciform,” and that we, God’s image and likeness, Gn 1:27 are to become mirrors reflecting Christ’s image back to the Father, to Jesus Himself, and to one another. In that context, it explains Catholic teaching on love, prayer, public and private revelation, absolute morality, absolute truth, grace, sin, forgiveness, judgment, holy days, charity, trouble and deliverance, and much more.

Then there is a chapter on life and death, focused on God’s admonition: Dt 30:19 “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.” It presents the Catholic idea of family as God’s chosen institution for the constant renewal of the human race through procreation and child raising. It highlights the marital act as God’s sacred gateway for the transmission of life, and shows how contraception profanes it. It shows abortion as “scorchingly evil” and how it leads to the culture of death. Finally, it returns to God’s admonition and pointedly observes that reverence for life is indivisible: “When we encourage killing for convenience, our words reach those who find us inconvenient.”

Finally, there is a stirring chapter on the spiritual war. “Every person considering baptism into the Catholic faith needs to know this: You are joining God’s forces in an epic war against Satan’s forces.” It reviews Satan’s battle plan and Christ’s battle plan, and gives reasons for hope. Second Exodus reminds us that Christ is far the more capable strategist, and suggests that, “The Church is following her Lord in His death and resurrection.” CCC 677 Jesus will lead His new and true Israel to reflect His Father’s glory. The Easter Vigil Mass, during which Christ’s light is distributed to all present, will be replicated in the world.”

Several holy priests have told me they believe that Second Exodus has an extraordinary role in salvation history. I have no idea whether there is anything to it. Gentle reader is welcome to review the coincidence of events and decide.

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