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"As we look into the various aspects of our lives in the present world, society seems to be
falling apart. Any improvement made in the past was based on religious ideals. These meditations
will benefit society and individuals. They discuss weekday readings in ordinary time. Thoughts
for each day evolve from the liturgy of that day, mostly from the Gospel. Pertinent ideas from
the first readings, both for year one and year two, broaden the outlook.
Meditation is mental prayer involving
reflection that moves the will toward true fervor; thus, an interior action. Preaching also demands
that the preacher has internalized the material so well that it flows out in a convincing manner
and sways the audience. Seeds are planted; they need to be watered and then allow God to work with
the plant as it grows. Let Him take the person to the goal He has in mind.
In the first volume, Mark, in the first
nine weeks, shows a thirst for life. Scholars believe Mark wrote for a non-Jewish, Christian
audience. His approach is catechetical. His literary style is common Greek, so that ordinary
people could understand. His presentation is full of action... what Jesus did, not so much what He
said. Mark develops the ministry of Jesus by many miracle stories. The second period develops the
theme of Jesus' death and explains much to the disciples and to religious authorities. His death
is described best by the centurion who claimed this man was truly the Son of God. The third period
is a detailed account of Jesus' burial and resurrection. Mark pictures Jesus in the most human
manner, tired, hungry and full of emotions. He performs as a teacher, miracle worker and preacher.
The bulk of the book consists of the
daily presentations from three to five pages long, with an apt title for each day. It is a source
for several homilies or meditations for priests or lay people. Note the message given for the first
readings also. These demonstrate a different approach when the user comes back to the second year.
Daily tidbits and examples of meaty
ideas: Page 119: 'In Genesis, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden food and die; in the gospel their
children eat the heavenly food and live.' Page 126: The Fathers of the Church took Noah as a
figure of Christ; the ark as an image of the Church giving refuge to those who wish to be saved.
The Church, like Noah's ark, tries to do good wherever she is. Page 136: Some people are called
'upper crust.' When they baked bread in the middle ages, the bread stuck to the oven, so the cooks
sliced off the upper part first and gave it to the homeowners and guests. The bottom part went to
the servants and the animals. Page 161: Look out a window and see people. Look in a mirror and see
yourself. The silver on the mirror stops you from seeing others, you see only yourself. Page 168:
Jesus asked adults to become like children. Race, religion or culture do not concern children
playing together. Be open as they are to discover. Jesus embraced children in Mark; in Sirach God
makes tongues, eyes and ears. Page 179: We should give here and now. A pig says to a cow that
people love him, but I give more, bacon and ham (they even pickle my feet). The cow replied. But
I give while I am still living." --Jovian P. Lang, OFM in
Catholic Library World, June 2003
"These three volumes (Thirst for Life, The New Out of the Old, and Rejoicing
in Hope) are part of one continuous set of reflections on the Lectionary readings for the
two-year weekday cycle of Ordinary Time. Each volume concentrates on the selections from each of
the Synoptic Gospels, although the author also offers briefer comment on the accompanying first
reading for each of the two-year cycle of the weekday readings (from either the Old Testament or
the New Testament letters). The reflections offer deft summaries of the biblical message for each
passage along with succinct connections to human experience. These volumes could serve either as
solid spiritual reading to accompany the liturgical year or as a source of homily ideas."
--Donald Senior, C.P. in The Bible Today,
Jan/Feb 2003
"About everyday: Fine new 3-volume series that will be a great help to homilists, as well as
useful to individuals and groups rooting regular prayer in the liturgy and readings. Title:
Meditations/Homilies for the Weekdays of the Year by Brooklyn priest and veteran Catholic
University of America professor, Fr. Harold A. Buetow, PhD JD. Titles
available: (1) Thirst for Life: Weeks 1 through 9 of Ordinary Time - St. Mark, which also
includes coverage of the Epistles, as well as Old Testament books (Genesis, History and Wisdom),
with major focus on the Gospel. (2) The New Out of the Old: Weeks 10 through 21 of Ordinary
Time - St. Matthew, plus attention to 2 Corinthians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians, along with Old
Testament writings (Pentateuch, Historical, and Prophecy books); with major emphasis on the
Gospel; (3) Rejoicing in Hope: Weeks 22 through 34 of Ordinary Time - St. Luke; looking at
the Epistles, Book of Revelation, and Old Testament writings (History, Prophecy, and Wisdom), with
chief emphasis on the Gospel. Common to all three -- What the author calls "too much material"
to be used on any one weekday, since the material is condensed, useful year after year; when
possible, the First Readings (Year 1 and Year 2) are connected with the day's Gospel. Noted: The
text concentrates on the correct emphasis, relevance and human realities versus dwelling on
technicalities (source Q, J, E), or modes of speech. Each book carries helpful Introductions to
the Scriptures featured in that text." --Crux of the News, December
16, 2002
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