William J. Bausch Libri

The Bible is a much more convoluted, complicated and circuitous than anyone ever thought. It appears to be much more the product of a social evolution from the common stories of other ancient Near Eastern peoples with whom it shares so much (even its gods) than a singular revelation from on high. The Bible, in reality, is an unfinished mosaic of ceaseless interpretations right up to the present day. This book aims to show what is "out there" in current biblical discovery and commentary. What "are" the scholars saying? How compatible or non-compatible is what they tell us with traditional understandings? How do liberals and conservatives react? Why are people confused? Why do some sincere people find a literal reading of the Bible indigestible but a metaphorical reading unanchored? How do we read the Bible in a modern age? Above all, in these days of dwindling religious affiliation (at least in the western world), what is the Bible's authority? Keeping up with the Bible is an ongoing and ever shifting enterprise. This book is a frozen snapshot in that flow to give the reader a chance to catch up.

"William J. Bausch, a retired priest of the diocese of Trenton, is still active in parish ministry. He is the award-winning author of numerous books on parish ministry, the sacraments, Church history, storytelling, and homiletics. He has lectured and given workshops at such colleges and universities as Notre Dame; Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Connecticut; Boston College; Charles Carroll in Cleveland; and in most U.S. dioceses as well as abroad. His most recent book, Sages, Scholars & Searchers: Why the Bible Is the Atheist's Best Friend, provides provocative insight as to how secularists read the Bible and the need to engage them on their own ground. This newest book, From No to Yes, is a collection of 72 never-before-published homilies covering the liturgical cycles with an eye to contemporary issues. With his signature use of stories, Father Bausch engages us to enter into the ever ancient, ever new gospel of Jesus."--Back cover

Roman Catholics are a communal people. We gather for worship because we are more than the sum total of our individual selves. Going to church on Sunday is not only a statement of faith. It is also a place of support and affirmation. Participating on sacred days such as Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, or to celebrate the sacraments, underwrites cohesion and identity as a People of God. To lose all this during times of crisis, such as a pandemic, diminishes the communal enterprise and opens the door to the ills of isolation. This happened when public worship became a hazard with the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. The ongoing critical decline in clergy has aggravated the situation. Mass via TV has proven helpful, but as an isolating activity, it ultimately undermines the Catholic genius of the Communion of Saints and corporate witness. Nothing can replace common worship in church, but we do what we can when necessary, and we are not without inspiration. The awareness of our need to include those traditionally excluded has provided another rich resource for legitimizing the gifts of the laity in many areas of the Church, including conducting public worship. In the end, when all pandemics are over, a more prophetic Church of shared and collaborative ministry may emerge. This book of lay-led liturgies foresees that day.