Child of Peace, Lord of Life, Year A, Volume 2

J.R.C. Perkin is past-president of Acadia University and the author of
Reflections and Insights.

In each of these volumes there is a chapter for each Sunday included in the book, and each chapter provides reflections on the four Scripture passages set out for the day in the Common Lectionary. There is almost invariably a passage from the Old Testament, one from the Epistles, one from the Gospels, and a Psalm. The comments are intended as helps for those preaching or leading bible studies on a regular basis, although the insights and suggestions are certainly valuable in the context of private devotion as well as public worship. Generally speaking, the comment on the Old Testament passage is more extended than the material related to the three passages. The rationale offered for this is that it is intended “to encourage the developing recovery of the Old Testament as a source for homily.” O’Driscoll’s overall purpose is to provide comments which “are in the nature of shared insights rather than finished statements. They have the sole purpose of triggering the mind in anyone who reads them to seek his or her understanding.”

The strength and value of these volumes lies in the fact that the author has a sensitivity to the literary images which abound in Scripture and comments on them in a creative and constructive way. For example, the Old Testament passage for the Third Sunday in Advent is Isaiah 35:1-10, and O’Driscoll identifies the images associated with the desert, human physical deficiencies, conquering drought, and the highway. He notes the negative aspects of each image and comments on its transformation within the prophetic oracle.

In a chapter devoted to readings for the last day of July or the first days of August, the Gospel reading is Matthew 14:21-31 — the story of Jesus seeking seclusion but being followed and asked to heal the sick and feed the hungry; here are fruitful insights into the need for withdrawal, the threat of crowded lives, the need for healing, and the theme of satisfaction.

Many preachers will benefit from these com-ments and individuals and congregations will find their spiritual lives enriched through Dr. O’Driscoll’s understanding of life and people.

But there is also a weakness in these volumes, due partly to the fact that they are based on a Lectionary, and partly to the fact that the aim is homiletic rather than purely critical. The Old Testament passages appointed for the Sundays in Advent are usually understood as being prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, despite the fact that this largely empties them of meaning for the Prophet’s own day. In dealing with these passages Dr. O’Driscoll allows his constructive and literary motivation to overshadow the critical problems associated with the Messianic interpretation of these texts. The same is true of his handling of several of the Psalms. By “christianizing” passages which are pre-Christian it may be that one is actually diminishing rather than recognizing the uniqueness of the Old Testament.

Dr. O’Driscoll is working on four more volumes which, when complete and added to the existing two, will provide reflections on the whole three-year lectionary cycle. It is a monumental task and he is well qualified to take it up. Worship and devotion will be the richer for his work.