Megan McKenna

• BOOK REVIEW BY JUNE SAWYERS

  THIS WILL BE REMEMBERED OF HER - STORIES OF WOMEN RESHAPING THE WORLD (August 2010.210p. Eerdmans, $15(9780802864697). In this illuminating work, McKenna discusses three topics that she believes are closely linked: memory, women, and resistance. She has chosen these ideas because each is found at the heart of a story in Mark's Gospel: that of the unnamed woman who anoints Jesus with perfumed oil. This brief tale forms the center of this book's reflections and commentaries as McKenna looks at stories of children and women and their traditions from around the world. "Who and what we remember," she writes, "is a revelation of who and what we are and hope to be." Combining memory with the stories associated with women is a potent idea because traditionally women are the ones who do much of the remembering while their own stories are often forgotten. Thus, many of the stories recounted here comprise acts of resistance and, by their very nature of remembering, acts of political courage. An important and thought-provoking book about women, both sung and unsung, from Iran to the American Southwest and beyond.

• NEW THEOLOGICAL REVIEW

  To read this February 11, 2011 review written by Timothy A. Lenchak, S.V.D., click on the "Library" tab at the top of this page and scroll down to "Luke: The Book of Blessings and Woes."

• BIBLE TODAY REVIEW

  REVIEW OF MEGAN'S NEW BOOK, "TASTING THE WORD OF GOD" BY BIBLE TODAY - JAN 2011

  Megan McKenna
  Tasting the Word of God.
  Vol. 1. Commentaries on the Sunday Lectionary
  Hyde Park, NY: New City Press (www.newcitypress.com),
  2010. Pages, xiii + 149. Paper, $14.95.

  Megan McKenna writes from a Catholic point of view, with brief, yet sharp, reflections
  on the Sunday readings of Years A, B, C. These reflections are inspired by Dei verbum 21 (Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), which declares God’s speech to us in Scripture to be the strength of faith for the church’s children, the food of the soul, and the pure and perennial source of spiritual life. McKenna advises to “always read THE WORD first and let it sit in your soul, together with others” (p. xiii). She sometimes concentrates on a theme common to all the readings, sometimes on one of the readings or the First Reading and the Gospel. The book is meant to help all savor the word of God in the Eucharistic liturgy.

  Megan McKenna
  Tasting the Word of God. Vol. 2.
  Commentaries on the Daily Lectionary
  Hyde Park, NY: New City Press (www.newcitypress.com), 2010.
  Pages, xvi + 477. Paper, $29.95.

  “In daily readings and reflections, brevity and depth let the Word act upon us, calling us to deeper integrity, knowledge of God and summons us to become what we proclaim - the Word of God . . .” (p. xv). These words aptly describe McKenna’s reflections on the First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, and the Gospel of each day of the daily lectionary. In her own words, they “take a word, a phrase, a sentence at most - from the readings and comment on it, spin it out pastorally, pragmatically— how to live this today and make it come true” (p. xv). McKenna uses her gift as retreat preacher to bring the reader to the waters.

• EERDMAN EDITOR COMMENTS

  Eerdman Editor, Sandy De Groot, commenting about Megan's newly released book, "This Will Be Remembered of Her": I love the way Megan weaves the biblical, environmental and spiritual through her stories. She also makes clear underlying unity in religions. In doing so, she brings to light solutions to the concerns of our times and unwraps them in the stories of women here and now.

• DANIEL BERRIGAN S.J.

  Fr. Berrigan writes about "And Morning Came": "Into what a world we launch this book, like a frail ark in a mauling sea. Shall we proclaim Ressurection - even as creation is threatened with going under? Yes, 'and morning came.' Unequivaocally and barely - birth, rebirth wins out over death. Thank you, Megan."

  To read more about "And Morning Came" or to order, click on the "Library" tab above.

• RELIGIOUS STUDIES REVIEW

  McKenna explores the contemporary significance of the beatitudes and woes in Lukes sermon on the plain. Her book, Blessings and Woes, is full of practical insight. It will be of most interest to those who seek to integrate their scholarly exegesis with practical application in ecclesial contexts.

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