Preaching the New Lectionary: Year B - Softcover

Perhaps this publication was intended primarily for the preacher, but upon close examination it can be said to be of great value to other liturgical ministers as well. It would be a worthy addition to one's liturgical resource library.Forum . . . worth its weight in gold.Liturgical Ministry Preachers will find a fresh take on the Sunday readings and psalms, blending critical and literary insights in a new liturgical synthesis. . . . Anyone who takes this book up will discover new paths of prayer and reflection grounded in the Scriptures and the liturgical seasons.Michael Witczak, St. Francis Seminary, St. Francis, Wisconsin

Preaching the New Lectionary is unique. First, it employs a literary-liturgical way of interpreting all the readings of each Sunday and major feast of the liturgical year, including the often overlooked responsorial psalm. Second, it explicitly situates the interpretation of each day within the theology of its respective liturgical season. This theology is drawn from the specific themes of the readings that comprise that particular year rather than from more general themes associated with the season. The meaning of the entire season becomes the context for understanding the individual parts of it. Third, the lections are also read in sequential order from the first Sunday of that season to the last. This reading interprets the function of the literary forms, thus providing yet another way of interpreting the riches of the readings.

This way of reading and understanding the Lectionary has potential for liturgical ministry. It can quicken the religious imagination of homilists, thus providing fresh new possibilities for liturgical preaching. It offers creative insights for those involved in the liturgical preparation for the celebration of feasts and seasons. It can also act as a valuable resource for liturgical catechesis. The insights included in Preaching the New Lectionary contribute toward enhancing the liturgical lives of the faithful.