Jesus Began to Preach: The Mystery of God's Word

by Raniero Cantalamessa O.F.M.

Overview

In this volume, a thoroughly revised and expanded version of The Mystery of God's Word, Father Raniero Cantalamessa engages the profound idea of the Eternal Word that becomes Life. The main and constant focus of the book is to show how the word of God illuminates and engages our existence. Cantalamessa uses the words of Scripture, particularly those of Jesus, to reflect on the meaning of a God who speaks, a God who is in relationship with humanity. By encountering these words in prayer and liturgy, we are invited to allow them into our minds and hearts so that we may be bearers of the word of God in the world.

Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, taught the history of Christian origins at the Catholic University of Milan and served on the International Theological Commission. He devotes his ministry to preaching and writing, and since 1980 he has been the Preacher to the Papal Household. Cantalamessa is author of Come, Creator Spirit; Mary: Mirror of the Church; The Eucharist: Our Sanctification; Easter: Meditations on the Resurrection; The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus; The Mystery of Easter; The Mystery of Pentecost; and Life in Christ (al published by Liturgical Press).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814633045
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	08/01/2010
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, taught the history of Christian origins at the Catholic University of Milan and served on the International Theological Commission. He devotes his ministry to preaching and writing, and since 1980 he has been the Preacher to the Papal Household. Cantalamessa is author of Jesus Began to Preach: The Mystery of God’s Word; Come, Creator Spirit; Mary: Mirror of the Church; The Eucharist: Our Sanctification; Easter: Meditations on the Resurrection; The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus; The Mystery of Easter; The Mystery of Pentecost; and Life in Christ (all published by Liturgical Press). 

Table of Contents

Preface vii

I "In The Beginning Was The Word": Word of God and Words of Men 1

1 The Word or the Silence? 1

2 A God Who Speaks 2

3 Created in the Image of God because Gifted with Speech 4

4 No Foul Language 8

5 Listen, O God! 10

II "Jesus Began to Preach": The Word of God in the Life of Christ 13

1 Preaching in the Life of Christ 13

2 The Preaching of Christ Continues in the Church 15

3 The Word, a Sacrament that is Audible 17

4 The Liturgy of the Word 20

III "We Preach Christ Jesus The Lord": The Word of God in the Mission of the Church 24

1 From Jesus Who Preaches to Jesus Who is Preached About 24

2 The "Third Search" 25

3 Rabbi Neusner and Benedict XVI 28

4 Jesus, the Son 30

5 The Great Turning Point 35

6 The New Prophecy of John the Baptist 37

IV "Announcing the Gospel in the Holy Spirit": The Holy Spirit, the Power of the Announcement 40

1 Dabar and Ruach: Word and Spirit 40

2 The Means: Prayer 43

3 To Speak with Humility 46

4 Speaking out of Love 49

V "Of Every Careless Word...": Speaking "as if with Words of God" 53

1 "Careless" Words and "Effective" Words 53

2 The False Prophets 55

3 "Jesus Did not Come to Tell us Fairy Tales" 57

4 Speaking as if with Words of God 59

VI "Welcome The Word": The Word of God, Path to Personal Sanctification 64

1 Lectio Divina 64

2 Welcoming the Word 66

3 Contemplating the Word 68

4 Doing the Word 75

VII "The Letter Brings Death, The Spirit Gives Life": The Spiritual Reading of the Bible 78

1 Scripture Divinely Inspired 78

2 Biblical Docetism and Ebionism 81

3 The Spirit Gives Life 86

4 What the Spirit Says to the Church 89

5 The Spirit that Blows from All Corners 92

Notes 95