The Word of the Lord: Liturgy's Use of Scripture

This work provides a unique resource for those who plan worship services as well as those who simply want to participate more fully in them. Its focus is a question basic to liturgical reflection, what it means to present scripture as the word of God. Power asks that we consider the complex relationship of texts to one another in their liturgical use, not only in the tradition but in the complexity of contemporary experience. The work engages interpretive issues usually dealt with through theoretical reflection. This accessible work is less abstract. It distills the author's specialized knowledge, taking as its starting point specific texts and concrete situations. The work is clearly organized into two sections with helpful introductions and summaries. The first dwells on the way in which texts are heard in liturgical services and the second analyzes scriptures, prayers and root metaphors. These reflections are rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition but reflect considerable knowledge of the Protestant faith, so that Lutherans and Episcopalians should find much to consider here. Power argues convincingly that the meaning of the scriptures is not fixed for all time. He insists that contemporary readers need to study the way in which texts have been used in the past and suggests criteria for validating interpretations. Yet he also provides rich examples of the questions hearers bring to the text today, born of diverse influences such as awareness of the brokenness of our world, the impact of gender, race, geography and economics. Mindful of the importance of the reader's experience he nonetheless argues for an understanding that the Word must yet still surprise and challenge the hearer. While clearly written and organized, The Word of the Lord is a demanding book that asks the reader to interact with the author and reflect on texts, their interaction with one another, their social settings past and present, here and in remote environments. Just as Bible groups have studied texts in the past, study groups might find it helpful to discuss some of texts Power proposes in their liturgical inter relatedness, their history and contemporary meaning.