Praying through Advent and Christmas

Kieran O’Mahony OSA’s book, Hearers of the Word, Praying and Exploring the Readings for Advent and Christmas: Year A, is on sale from its publisher Messenger Publications ». The gospel of Matthew is used in Year A of the church’s liturgical year.

The author is a well known biblical scholar who believes that when we read and pray the scriptures, as ‘hearers of the word’, we will encounter the Word – the living God.

So in this guide through the readings for Advent and Christmas he offers not only the texts from the Old and New Testaments, but an exploration of them in terms of both their historical context, and their spiritual content. He explains their theological significance in accessible terms, and links the readings of Advent and Christmas to one another, so the multi -dimensional nature of their meaning is revealed.

The book is practical as well as informative. It contains pointers for prayer and reflection, along with scripture commentary on the readings throughout the Advent and Christmas season. Above all, it is an guide to scripture- based prayer in rhythm with the church’s liturgical calendar.

Kieran O’Mahony is an Augustinian friar. He works for the Dublin diocese as coordinator of biblical studies and is the author of a number of books, including, Speaking from Within: Biblical Approaches for Effective Preaching.