Hunger for Righteousness

"Mikhail helps us see the fast of Lent as a hunger for righteousness, glimpsed in the lives of biblical figures and saints we may not have heard of before. Whether we adopt the practices of Coptic Christians or not, her reflections help us deepen our own practice of Lent. She helps us move beyond the "give up" to the promise for those who hunger for righteousness. They shall be filled." -- Bob Trube,Bob on Books

“Farag Mikhail reminds us that fasting is about so much more than just food…it is above all, perhaps surprisingly, about intimate union with God. All intimacy begins with a deep yearning or desire, hunger. Being hungry or thirsty is a movement of ascent, a point of departure from which we learn to hunger and thirst for righteousness, or more properly speaking, the Righteous One. This beautiful book acts as a guide through this hunger in Lent, gently intensifying week by week our yearning for God.” – Rev. Assoc. Professor Daniel Fanous, St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College, Sydney, author of A Silent Patriarch: Kyrillos VI (1902–1971) and Taught by God: Making Sense of the Difficult Sayings of Jesus

"Phoebe Farag Mikhail’s recent piece about fasting and almsgiving challenged me to think not just about what fasting does for me and my body but also about what it might allow me to do for others. My family had already decided to stop eating out in March, and now we’ll be able to save that money to give to our local food bank." -- Kate Shellnutt,Christianity Today

"In the footsteps of ancestors and saints who have traveled hard paths before us, here is an accessible exploration of the words of Christ: 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.' We need not be righteous; we must only want to be. Farag Mikhail draws on a broad knowledge of history and literature, enriched by an intimate understanding of the Coptic tradition to offer wisdom and practical help. She lights the route to the proper posture of our Lenten journey using the thread of stories to proclaim the message of grace and the reminder that God works in our imperfections, our humility, our discomfort, our thirst, our hunger." –Sherry Shenoda, author of Mummy Eaters and The Lightkeeper: A Novel

"Phoebe's work is a poignant way to experience the days leading up to Easter. Where we hunger and thirst for righteousness, here is one way to be filled and guided." –Lisa Colón DeLay, host of Spark My Muse podcast and author of The Wild Land Within

"What is remarkable about Phoebe's newest book is its ability to serve as an inspirational theological treatise, a self-help guide (in the best possible sense) and an actionable roadmap for every Christian wishing to thrive from their Lenten journey. To my knowledge, this book is unique in the Coptic community of North America, written with understanding and sensibility towards our challenges but accessible and implementable by all Christians everywhere. Phoebe even goes a step further by enriching her book with a treasure trove of Early Church Fathers' quotes, anecdotes and stories from current authors, and historical episodes that empower readers to follow her 10-step guide to a transformational Lenten season.  The chapters are rich with content but concise, the prose is lyrical and profound, and the discussion questions at the conclusion of each chapter make this book an automatic choice for Church book clubs, women's ministry meetings, and part of any Lenten program. God bless Phoebe and reward her for writing this gem destined to become a classic of the Orthodox tradition." –Mireille Mishriky, author of the Philo and the SuperHolies series and The Super Secret Treehouse Bible Club series

“In the world we live in which is full of immorality and indecency, Phoebe’s book is a breath of fresh air on a subject not spoken of enough and that is righteousness. I highly recommend this book which is full of wisdom and takes a practical and engaging approach" –His Grace Bishop Suriel, Professor at Pope Shenouda III Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary and author of Habib Girgis: Coptic Orthodox Educator and a Light in the Darkness

“In Phoebe’s work, we’ve grown accustomed to moving personal stories that illustrate important spiritual concepts, and this new book is delightfully full of them, as she walks us through the spiritual growth we can strive for in Lent. It’s a must-read for Christians looking to connect the lives of the saints with their own modern-day struggles.” –Laura Michael, author and creator at Coptic Dad and Mom

"Focusing on Lent and its readings, Farag Mikhail transports the reader to a journey beyond Pascha, a journey to live as Christians throughout the year. She invites the reader to accompany her, through her personal reflections, to reflect on the world we live in through Christian eyes. She invites the reader to make pilgrimage to holy sites and ideas. Hunger for Righteousness is an engaging book and accessible writing. It is a good read."–Lois Farag, Professor Emerita of History of Early Christianity, and author of  Balance of the Heart: Desert Spirituality for Twenty-First-Century Christians.

"Phoebe Farag Mikhail has written a tremendously insightful travel guide to help Christians of any tradition ascend the ancient slopes of Lent with purpose, endurance, and resurrectional hope." –Nicole M. Roccas, PhD, Certified trauma-informed coach and author ofTime and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life.

"Farag Mikhail has gifted us by weaving together important ideas from scripture, excerpts from the Church Fathers, contemporary Orthodox and other Christian writers into a rich tapestry that reveals Christ. At the same time Farag Mikhail seamlessly moves from scripture to modern society with numerous allusions to classics of Western literature, sitcoms and movies such as Friends and Home Alone. In a manner fitting the theme, this work is not an “other worldly” spirituality. Rather, Farag Mikhail provides incisive criticism of our culture, like when she shifts from stories of rescue of prostitutes by monks from lives of the desert fathers to modern sex trafficking. The rich description of the history and practices of the Coptic Orthodox Church alone is worth the price of entry. But Farag Mikhail’s gift as a writer of Christian living shines through mostly in the practical advice on practicing righteousness. This enlightening work should be considered also as an introduction to essential spiritual exercises: forgiveness, almsgiving, Scripture reading, etc." —Fr. Sujit Thomas, St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church of Philadelphia