The essays gathered here provide a panoramic view of current thinking on biblical texts that play important roles in contemporary struggles for social justice - either as inspiration or impediment. Here, from the hands of an ecumenical array of leading biblical scholars, are fresh and compelling resources for thinking biblically about what justice is and what it demands. Individual essays treat key debates, themes, and texts, locating each within its historical and cultural settings while also linking them to the most pressing justice concerns of the twenty-first century. The volume aims to challenge academic and ecclesiastical complacency and highlight key avenues for future scholarship and action.

This book comprises essays honoring the life and work of Yiu Sing Lucas Chan, S.J., who died unexpectedly on May 19, 2015, at the end of his first year as a member of the faculty in the Department of Theology at Marquette University. The editors intend to commemorate Chan's brief but productive career by furthering the critical conversations he started. The essays included thus touch on aspects of the brilliant young Jesuit's wide-ranging work in the fields of scriptural research, moral theology, and systematic theology. Each essay either engages Chan's scholarship directly or seeks to advance his design to bridge the disciplinary gaps between scriptural research and constructive theology. This book includes contributions by noted Roman Catholic theologians James F. Keenan, S.J., Bryan N. Massingale, and John R. Donohue, S.J., as well as two original poems by his Marquette colleagues dedicated to Lucas.

Professor Donahue here argues that "the parables of Jesus" offer a Gospel in miniature, while at the same time giving shape, direction, and meaning to the Gospels in which they appear. "To study the parables of the Gospels is to study the gospel in parable." After surveying recent discussions of parable, metaphor, and narrative, Donahue examines and interprets the parables of Mark, Matthew, and Luke as texts in the context of the theology of each of these Gospels. Finally, he outlines what "The Gospel in Parable" looks like and offers suggestions for the proclamation of parables today.

Including contributions from twenty-two leading moral theologians, this volume is the most thorough assessment of modern Roman Catholic social teaching available. In addition to interrogations of the major documents, it provides insight into the biblical and philosophical foundations of Catholic social teaching, addresses the doctrinal issues that arise in such a context, and explores the social thought leading up to the "modern" era, which is generally accepted as beginning in 1891 with the publication of Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum. The book also includes a review of how Catholic social teaching has been received in the United States and offers an informed look at the shortcomings and questions that future generations must address. This second edition includes revised and updated essays as well as two new commentaries: one on Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical Caritas in Veritate and one on Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si'. An outstanding reference work for anyone interested in studying and understanding the key documents that make up the central corpus of modern Catholic social teaching.

The essays gathered here provide a panoramic view of current thinking on biblical texts that play important roles in contemporary struggles for social justice - either as inspiration or impediment. Here, from the hands of an ecumenical array of leading biblical scholars, are fresh and compelling resources for thinking biblically about what justice is and what it demands. Individual essays treat key debates, themes, and texts, locating each within its historical and cultural settings while also linking them to the most pressing justice concerns of the twenty-first century. The volume aims to challenge academic and ecclesiastical complacency and highlight key avenues for future scholarship and action.

"Catholic Press Association Award Winner "The commentaries on the Lectionary readings in "Hearing the Word of God" are an attempt not only to hear the Word of God in Scripture but also to suggest ways that the Sunday readings might continue to nurture faith and life. Inevitably, they reflect the time in which they were first written - as a popular weekly column in America from November 2000 to Advent 2001.

"Hearing the Word of God" includes Scripture readings for the Sunday, followed by a reflection on the reading, and concludes with Praying with Scripture," a series of questions and meditations to guide readers in making a personal application of the reflection.

"John R. Donahue, SJ, PhD, is the Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies at St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore. He is the coauthor, with Daniel Harrington, SJ, of the "Sacra Pagina" commentary on "The Gospel of Mark," published by the Liturgical Press.""

In The Gospel of Mark Fathers Donahue and Harrington use an approach that can be expressed by two terms currently used in literary criticism: intratextuality and intertextuality. This intratextual and intertextual reading of Mark's Gospel helps us to appreciate the literary character, its setting in life, and its distinctive approaches to the Old Testament, Jesus, and early Christian theology. "Intratextuality" means we read Mark as Mark and by Mark. Such a reading expresses interest in the final form of the Gospel (not its source or literary history) and in its words and images, literary devices, literary forms, structures, characterization, and plot. Reading Mark by Mark gives particular attention to the distinctive vocabulary and themes that run throughout the Gospel and serve to hold it together as a unified literary production. "Intertextuality" comprises the relation between texts and a textual tradition, and also referring to contextual materials not usually classified as texts (e.g., archaeological data). "Intertextuality" is used to note the links of the text of Mark's Gospel to other texts (especially the Old Testament) and to the life of the Markan community and of the Christian community today. Chapters are "The Prologue: The Beginning of the Good News (1:1-13)," "Transitional Markan Summary: Proclamation of the Kingdom (1:14-15)," "The Call of the First Disciples (1:16-20)," "A Paradigmatic Day Begins the Ministry of Jesus (1:21-34)," "Highpoints of Jesus' Work in Galilee (1:35-45)," "The Healing of the Paralyzed Man (2:1-12)," "The Call of Levi and Meals with Tax Collectors and Sinners (2:13-17)," "Fasting, Torn Garments, and New Wineskins (2:18-22)," "Plucking Grain of the Sabbath (2:23-28)," "Healing on a Sabbath (3:1-6)," "Transitional Markan Summary: Healing Beside the Sea (3:7-12)," "Choosing the Twelve (3:13-19)," "The Beelzebul Controversy and the True Family of Jesus (3:20-35)," "The Parable of the Sower, Sayings on the Mystery of the Kingdom of God, and the allegory of the Seeds (4:1-20)," "Four Sayings on Revelation and Two Kingdom Parables (4:21-34)," "Jesus 'Power Over the Wind and Waves (4:35-41)," "The Exorcism of the Gerasene Demoniac (5:1-20)," "The Daughter of Jairus and the Woman with the Hemorrhage (5:21-43),""The Rejection at Nazareth (6:1-6a)," "The Mission Charge to the Twelve (6:6b-13)," "The Identity of Jesus and the Execution of John the Baptist (6:14-29)," "The Feeding of the 5000 by the Sea of Galilee (6:30-44)," "Jesus Walks on the Water and Astounds the Disciples (6:45-52)," "A Markan Summary of the Healing Power of Jesus (6:53-56)," "The Dispute over Clean and Unclean (7:1-23)," "The Syrophoenician Woman (7:24-30)," "Jesus Restores Hearing and Speech to a Suffering Man (7:31-37)," "The Second Feeding Narrative: The 4000 (8:1-10)," "Pharisees and Scribes Seek a Sign (8:11-13)," "A Further Misunderstanding by the Disciples and the Conclusion of the Bread Section (8:14-21)," "The Gradual Healing of a Blind Man (8:22-26)," "Peter's Confession, the First Passion Prediction, Peter's Misunderstanding, and the Demands of Discipleship (8:27-38)," "The Transfiguration (9:1-13)," "Healing a Possessed Boy (9:14-29)," "A Second Passion Prediction and More Instructions for Disciples (9:30-50)," "Marriage and Divorce (10:1-12)," "Jesus Blesses Children (10:13-16)," "Riches and Poverty (10:17-31)," "A Third Passion Prediction and More Instructions for Disciples (10:32-45)," "The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52)," "Jesus 'Entry into Jerusalem (11:1-11)," "The Fig Tree and the Temple (11:12-25)," "The Authority of Jesus (11:27-33)," "The Parable of the Vineyard (12:1-12)," "Taxes to Caesar (12:13-17)," "The Debate about Resurrection (12:18-27)," "The Great Commandment(s) (12:28-34)," "The Messiah and the Son of David (12:35-37)," "The Scribes and the Widow (12:38-44)," "Jesus 'Eschatological Discourse (13:1-37)," "Contrasting Beginnings of Jesus 'Last Days (14:1-11)," "Jesus 'Final Meal with His Disciples (14:12-25),""Prediction of Peter's Denial (14:26-31)," "Jesus in Gethsemane (14:32-42)," "The Arrest of Jesus (14:43-52)," "Jesus Before the Sanhedrin and the Denial by Peter (14:53-72)," "Jesus Before Pilate (15:1-20)," "The Crucifixion of Jesus (15:21-32)," "The Death of Jesus (15:33-41)," "The Burial of Jesus (15:42-47)," "The Empty Tomb (16:1-8)," "Later Endings (16:9-20)."

Life in Abundance: Studies of John's Gospel in Tribute to Raymond E. Brown, SS is a collection of essays, edited by John R. Donahue, SJ, which includes papers given at the An International Conference on the Gospel of John: Life in Abundance, - that was held at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore in October 2003, attended by leading Johannine scholars. The published essays cover the state of Johannine studies, Johannine theology, issues of interpretation, and a comprehensive bibliography of the writings of Raymond E. Brown, SS Chapters in Part I: Johannine Studies: Challenges and Prospects are - The Gospel of John: The Legacy of Raymond Brown and Beyond, - by Francis J. Moloney, SDB, response by R. Alan Culpepper; and "Future Directions of Johannine Studies, - by D. Moody Smith. Chapters in Part II: Historical Context and the Gospel of John are *The Whence and Whither of the Johannine Community, - by Robert Kysar, response by Hans-Joseph Klauck, OFM; *Methodological Considerations in the Study of John's Interaction with First-Century Judaism, - by Burton L. Visotzky, response by Adele Reinhartz; *Qumran Literature and the Johannine Writings, - by Joseph A. Fitzmeyer, SJ, response by Daniel Harrington, SJ Chapters in Part III: Johannine Theology are *The Death of Jesus and the Human Condition: Exploring the Theology of John's Gospel, - by Craig R. Koester, response by Gal O'Day; *The Resurrection (of the Body) in the Fourth Gospel: A Key to Johannine Spirituality, - by Sandra M. Schneiders, IHM, response by Donald Senior, CP Chapters in Part IV: Interpreting the Work of Raymond Brown are *Hermeneutics and the Fourth Gospel:Ricoeur and Brown on the Surplus of Meaning, - by Robert F. Leavitt, SS, response by Francis Schussler Fiorenza; *The Incarnate World Revealed: The Pastoral Writings of Raymond E. Brown, - by Ronald D. Witherup, SS Also includes a biography and bibliography, a sermon by Phyllis Trible, *Striving After Wind, - and a homily by John R. Donahue, SJ, *A Whisper from the Grave. - John R. Donahue, SJ, PhD, is the Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore. "

The commentaries on the Lectionary readings in Hearing the Word of God are an attempt not only to hear the Word of God in Scripture but also to suggest ways that the Sunday readings might continue to nurture faith and life. Inevitably, they reflect the time in which they were first written - as a popular weekly column in America from November 2000 to Advent 2001. Hearing the Word of God includes Scripture readings for the Sunday, followed by a reflection on the reading, and concludes with Praying with Scripture," a series of questions and meditations to guide readers in making a personal application of the reflection. John R. Donahue, SJ, PhD, is the Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies at St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore. He is the coauthor, with Daniel Harrington, SJ, of the Sacra Pagina commentary on The Gospel of Mark,published by Liturgical Press. "