Luke:The Book of Blessings and Woes

by Megan McKenna

This is much more than a biblical commentary, and, appropriately, appears during 'the Year of Luke' in our churches' Lectionaries. St Luke's rendering of the blessings and woes [Luke 6:20-26] is more basic than the more personal and spiritual version {Beatitudes] in Matthew.' (p.203): in them, we are pointed towards conversion and seeing as God sees; they are about '...mercy, about God's forgiveness and hope for us who are unfaithful, small-minded, selfish and often evil.' (p.3).
After an 'Introduction', chapters on 'Blessings' in general and one on 'The Reign of God: Seedbed of the Beatitudes', The following six chapters concentrate on the blessings and woes. These are followed by chapters on 'The Sermon on the Plain', of which the blessings and woes are a prologue, and a final one on 'Other Blessings in Luke'. There is a list of 'Recommended Readings', but no index or Scriptural Index, and not all quotations are referenced.
The author uses stories, illustrations and other expository material from a wide range of people and Faiths, from Buddhism to Lenny Bruce. She encourages readers to integrate her insights into their own lives, and, in short, to become more compassionate people. An informative, prayerful and attitude-changing book.



Reviewer: J.Nicholas Latham   (22/12/09)

Paperback
Price: £14.95
Publisher:New City Press
Published:Autumn 2009
ISBN:978-1-565-48323-1