God, Where are You? Rediscovering the Bible

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 20, 1995 by William C. Graham

According to Belongia, "readers looking for the quiet, ethereal Mary who hovers in the clouds best stay away from McKenna's Mary who is inspired by the author's journeys to Mexico and Latin America. McKenna sees a strong and determined Mary, living in solidarity with the poor and struggling against injustice. This Mary's feet are planted firmly on the ground and on the side of the poor."

McKenna's "meditative style" takes the reader from the annunciation to Calvary, "all the while weaving scripture, story and tradition into a portrait of Mary that is both new and faithful to tradition," Belongia says. "She includes Native American legend, Jewish stories and Greek myth, providing a welcome reminder that incarnation is a daily reality rather than a one-time event."

Belongia makes the point that McKenna "is a storyteller with a passion for justice, and this book is marvelous prose. It is an excellent choice for reflection on Marian celebrations throughout the church year, but I will also be pulling it off my shelf when I need a model for my justice ministry."

Peter Guzulaitis is the director of youth faith formation at the Church of St. Edward in Bloomington, Minn. He chose Father and Son: Time Lost, Love Recovered, by Edward C. Sellner (Ave Maria, 176 pages, $7.95 paperback), which explores the delicate relationship between fathers and sons.

According to Guzulaitis, "this easily read book is intended for fathers and sons of all ages. The author's goal is to bring closure to the unresolved issues between his father and himself, and to help the reader reflect on the struggles between parents and children."

Guzulaitis continues, "By inviting us to read intimate autobiographical vignettes, Sellner successfully helps us to reflect on the complex father-son relationship. He invites the reader to fruitful reflection," he says.

Maryanne Doyle, of Rochester, Minn., chose God, Where are you? Rediscovering the Bible, by Carlos Mesters (Orbis, 249 pages, $14.95 paperback.) Mesters, Doyle found, reminds the reader that the Bible is more than an answer book for the difficult questions of life.

According to Doyle, this book can be the beginning of a wonderful journey, encouraging those who are ready to move beyond a simplistic reading of the text to the wonders of exegesis.

Joanne Prei is DRE at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in New Berlin, Wis., and serves on diocesan and regional committees in the areas of catechesis and adult faith formation. She chose Seasons of Strength: New Visions of Adult Christian Maturing, by Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead (St. Mary's Press, 212 pages, $11.95 paperback), a revised second edition of a direct and thought-provoking text.

Prei reports that those seeking new insights in their personal spirituality will be glad to read this refreshing, insightful approach to understanding maturing faith and the active presence of God. The Whiteheads remind the reader that Christian spirituality is rooted in the experience of the mysterious presence of God.