by ANN MACPHERSON The Gospel of Now by Vincent McCorry (Herder and herder 40s.) THIS book is a collection of 1reflections on the Scripture readings of the Church's year which were originally published in the magazine America. Many of the discourses follow certain themes over several Sundays with, for example, Salvation as the theme for Lent, or Revelation for the Advent cycle. Like many preachers Father McCorry ' does not restrict himself to interpreting the Word of God, often he merely takes the text as a point of departure for whatever subject he feeLs like discussing. The finding of the child Jesus in the Temple (Gospel for the feast of the Holy Family) becomes a starting point for a eulogy of Saint Joseph, which incidentally is inconsistent with the points brought out in the preceding homily on "historical and theological narrative" in which he accepts the findings of the form critics on the infancy narratives of Matthew.
Most of the reflections are good but the treatment of the miracle at the Marriage Feast of Cana is another example of an arbitrary interpretation of Scripture. One is left with the impression that the main point of this passage is that Mary could twist her Son around her little finger!
Father McCorry is an atcomplished journalist; his book is easy to read, frequently entertaining and shows flashes of real insight. This is a work that will provide stimulating and helpful reading for many Christians.