November 15, 2012
McCarren, a Jesuit priest, attempts to make the gospels more accessible. Here he looks at the Gospel of Matthew, the first in the New Testament (though not the first to be written; that would be Mark). In his introduction, McCarren explains why a simple guide might be helpful, recalling his own frustrations making his way through some of the more confusing aspects of the writing. In the body of the work, readers will immediately note a friendlier translation; the writing may not soar, but it does give a clearer idea of what's going on. This is extended by the commentary after each section. Sometimes the commentary just reiterates what's in the text, but often McCarren goes beyond. For instance, in the parable about the workers in the vineyard who are quarrelsome over their pay, the commentary makes the point that it's easy to understand the aggrieved response of the all-day workers but then explains the story's broader context. A basic guide, especially for beginners; volumes on Mark, Luke, and John are also available in the Simple Guides series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)