My Lenten Reading 2015

Each year during the season of Lent I typically choose a devotional and a book to read, along with my daily use of the Liturgy of the Hours.  As I mentioned a few weeks back, I will be using Turning Around: Daily Lenten Reflections with The Message as a supplement to my daily prayer routine.  I am looking forward to starting that tomorrow with Ash Wednesday.  

The other book I will be reading is Fr. Donald Senior's Why the Cross?   The topic of this book seems timely, of course.  I have always enjoyed Fr. Senior's works, so this should be the perfect book for Lent.  Here is a short description of the book:

The meaning of Jesus's execution on a Roman cross is one of the most divisive issues in contemporary theological discourse because issues related to the goodness of God and the place of suffering in the Christian life are at stake. Although it is important to locate that discussion in the context of the range of New Testament perspectives on the soteriological significance of the cross, it is also important that we recover the meaning of the cross as a metaphor for discipleship. In the end, the event of Jesus’s death cannot be understood apart from the character of his life. This book will contribute to New Testament studies but also serve related discussions in theology and Christian formation.

I hope to comment, from time to time, about what I read, though not necessarily in an orderly fashion.  If you would like to join me in reading this book, let me know.  Those of you who are committing to some other kind of book or devotional, I would love to hear what you are doing this Lent.  

Now You Know Media

I am not sure how many of you are aware of Now You Know Media, but I plan to do some reviews of their recordings over the next few months.  I was first introduced to Now You Know Media while flipping through an edition of First Things.  There was an ad there for receiving Fr. Donald Senior's audio recording study on the Gospel of John at a great introductory price.  I decided to purchase it and found it to be a great 12 lecture walk through John.  The production quality was high and Fr. Senior's theological and pastoral explanations I ended up using in my own teaching.  Many of the conferences are more on the academic side.  In particular, those of you who are familiar with the scholars involved with books like The Catholic Study Bible or the commentaries from Little Rock will find some familiar faces.  There are a ton of conferences devoted to Scripture, with scholars like Fr. Senior, Fr. Felix Just, Sr. Dianne Bergant, Fr. Michael D. Guinan, Fr. Ron Witherup, as well as many others.  Many of these scholars are the most highly respected in their academic fields, but, perhaps, less known by contemporary Catholic audiences.  

There are also collections focusing on spirituality, history, and theology.  I have enjoyed each set that I have received and, like I said above, plan to devote some future posts, including reviews, about what they are doing at Now You Know Media.  

More about Now You Know Media:

Now You Know Media began in 2006 with the mission of bringing you the best in Catholic spirituality and scholarship. Since then, we have produced hundreds of audio and video programs, from Bible studies with leading Scripture scholars to life-changing retreats.

After searching the world for the best professors, authors, and retreat leaders, we record them in our studio and make their teaching accessible to you. Lifelong learners and inquisitive Catholics cherish these masterful lectures and retreat conferences. You can enjoy our audio programs in your home or car, and our video programs are perfect for visual learners as well as group settings.

On our website, you will find spiritual retreats, as well as courses on history, spirituality, saints, Scripture, theology, literature, and much more. Also, through our exclusive relationship with the Thomas Merton Center, Now You Know Media remasters and releases the moving talks delivered by renowned twentieth-century mystic Thomas Merton at the Abbey of Gethsemani. These archival treasures are now available for you to enjoy.

Our presenters hail from top universities and seminaries, such as the University of Notre Dame, the Catholic University of America, Georgetown University, Catholic Theological Union, Boston College, and the Franciscan School of Theology. They combine exceptional scholarship with engaging teaching styles.

Most of our Catholic courses also come with free study guides, including lecture outlines, suggested readings, and review questions. Each course is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Why The Cross?

Description:
The meaning of Jesus's execution on a Roman cross is one of the most divisive issues in contemporary theological discourse because issues related to the goodness of God and the place of suffering in the Christian life are at stake. Although it is important to locate that discussion in the context of the range of New Testament perspectives on the soteriological significance of the cross, it is also important that we recover the meaning of the cross as a metaphor for discipleship. In the end, the event of Jesus’s death cannot be understood apart from the character of his life. This book will contribute to New Testament studies but also serve related discussions in theology and Christian formation.

Reframing New Testament Theology is a series that fulfills the need for brief, substantive, yet highly accessible introductions to central questions and themes raised by study of the New Testament. A significant defining question will serve as the point of departure and will frame the discussion. Students will be drawn into an active, theological engagement with the New Testament and related materials by the subsequent analysis.

Why the Cross? is due out in November from Abingdon Press. 

Donald Senior, C.P., is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament Studies and President of Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

Fr. Donald Senior: "The Origin of the Messiah"

Fr. Donald Senior: "The Word of God: Source and Power of Preaching"

Fr. Donald Senior on the Gospel of Matthew

Fr. Donald Senior C.P. is a past president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America and was appointed in 2003 by Pope John Paul ll to the Pontifical Biblical Commission. Senior is the general editor of The Bible Today, and co-editor of the 22-volume international commentary series New Testament Message.He is author of numerous publications, including The Passion of Jesus Christ (Catholic Book Publishing, 1997), Jesus, A Gospel Portrait (Paulist Press, revised 1992) and Gospel of Matthew(Interpreting Biblical Texts; Abingdon, 1997).  He is also the general editor of The Catholic Study Bible published by Oxford University Press.  He recently retired as President of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.