Ignatius Press Podcast Interview on Suffering
Leave a reply
Interviews on Wisdom and Suffering
Yesterday, I appeared on Catholic Faith Network, talking about my new commentary on Wisdom of Solomon (starting at 13:07):
CFN Live – March 7, 2024 from Catholic Faith Network on Vimeo.
I also appeared on the Busted Halo Show with Fr. Dave Dwyer talking about Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know on SiriusXM: https://bustedhalo.com/radio-shows/thursday-march-7-2024
More Interviews on Suffering
- I did a written interview for Catholic World Report. Here’s an excerpt:
CWR: How did the book come about?
Mark Giszczak: This book started as a course I taught called “The Theology of Suffering.” Suffering, of course, is universal. Everybody suffers. But I was interested in working on this topic from a theological angle since I had seen that a little bit of theological thinking about it could go a long way.
So many professions–from medicine to psychology to entertainment–are dedicated to relieving suffering, but I wanted to explain what to do when all the therapeutic options have been exhausted. When my suffering cannot be taken away, what then?
CWR: The book is part of the What Every Catholic Should Know series. Why is suffering a topic that every Catholic should be educated in?
Giszczak: Everyone experiences sufferings, so everyone should know about it. Sadly, I think many people just try to avoid the topic, but life does not let us get off so easy. When we run from suffering, it will eventually chase us down and find us. So, if suffering is inevitable, then maybe we should look it in the face rather than run from it. Jesus even calls us to “take up our cross” and follow after him. But how? How do we do that? In this book, I try to explain how Christian life is truly “cross-shaped.” We are meant to experience both suffering and joy at the same time.
2. I was interviewed by Drew the Catholic (just yesterday!):
3. I appeared on the Cordial Catholic podcast in both audio and video formats:
4. I also laid down some audio tracks for the Amen App from the Augustine Institute (a free prayer app):
https://amenapp.org/prayer/ktgefha
Video Lecture: Repentance as an Act of Hope
I gave this lecture recently at an Augustine Institute virtual Bible conference. I hope you like it!
Description of the Lecture: In a world that has forgotten about sin, those who seek God aim for a high ideal of moral integrity. But they can find themselves crushed under the weight of sin’s severity. “My iniquities overwhelm me, a burden too heavy for me” (Ps 38:4). A conscience wracked by guilt is a heavy burden indeed. When we examine our conscience, uncover the root of sin, and repent, we both take responsibility for our faults and tread the path of hope, believing that restoration of our relationship with God is possible and, furthermore, that his grace will keep us from sin. This simultaneous self-blame and self-entrustment is a radical act of hope that embodies the belief that “mercy surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord” (Ps 32:10).
Latest interview on Suffering
Today, I appeared on LA Catholic Mornings talking about my new book, Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know. Check it out (my segment begins at timestamp 43:45):
Or you can watch the studio video here:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=369562062528401
Interview on Outside the Walls Podcast
I was recently interviewed by T.L. Putnam on his podcast entitled “Outside the Walls.” It always makes me think of the great basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. I have been on his show before, but this time we’re talking about my new commentary on the Wisdom of Solomon in the CCSS series. Check it out:
Wisdom of Solomon Book Release Day!
Hooray! My commentary on the Wisdom of Solomon in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture is now released as of today, February 13, 2024.
Description of the Book
The Wisdom of Solomon is the first volume published in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, Old Testament series. The commentary offers a robust introduction to the historical and theological background of the often-overlooked Wisdom of Solomon, the RSV-2CE translation of the biblical text, cross references, Catechism and Lectionary references, and a detailed interpretation of each passage in the 19-chapter book. It also includes helpful sidebars on biblical background and important references in the living tradition of the Church. This commentary guides the Catholic reader in a thorough and careful study of the Wisdom of Solomon.
I hope you all pick up a copy, read it, enjoy it and learn something from it!
Where to Find the Book
- Baker: https://bakeracademic.com/p/Wisdom-of-Solomon-Mark-Giszczak/542807
- Amazon: https://a.co/d/5ufZiPn
- Soon, Verbum software: https://verbum.com/product/252803/wisdom-of-solomon
Recent Interviews: Catholic Theology Show; Drew Mariani Show
I’ve been doing some interviews on my new books. Take a listen:
The Catholic Theology Show with Michael Dauphinais
Little did I know some 20+ years ago that I would get interviewed by one of my professors! I took classes with Dr. Dauphinais in Ypsilanti, Michigan back at Ave Maria College (before the Florida campus was even purchased). I think he was 29 years old when he arrived as a professor fresh out of doctoral studies at Duke and I arrived as a freshman. I’m happy to find out that we’re still both on the same page–studying theology together. Very cool. We talk about the commentary and the Wisdom of Solomon in general, a terribly under-studied book of the Bible.
Drew Mariani Show
On Tuesday 2/6, I appeared on the Drew Mariani Show. He wanted to ask about recent archaeological finds that relate to the Bible and Christian settlement in the Holy Land. In particular, we talked about the recently found fifth century inscription mentioning “Christ, born of Mary” near Megiddo. It was a fun segment with a lot of topics and some speculation about what happened to the Ark of the Covenant. I hope you enjoy listing!
Max Weber on 2 Thess 3:10 – If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
A few years ago, I published an article in the Catholic Biblical Quarterly on 2 Thessalonians 3:10 where it is stated “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” My essential argument is that the “let him not eat” statement was a formal indication of excommunication for persons who refused to work.
Little did I know that the inimitable Max Weber–one of the towering intellectuals of the early twentieth century–weighed in on this passage himself:
Almost all prophets have been supported by voluntary gifts. The well-known saying of St. Paul, “If a man does not work, neither shall he eat,” was directed against the swarm of charismatic missionaries. It obviously has nothing to do with a positive valuation of economic activity for its own sake, but only lays it down as a duty of each individual somehow to provide for his own support. This because he realized that the purely charismatic parable of the lilies of the field was not capable of literal application, but at best “taking no thought for the morrow” could be hoped for. (Max Weber, The Theory of Social and Economic Organization [New York: Free Press, 1967] p. 363.)
Is he right? I don’t know, but he offers an intriguing theory. Were there indolent “charismatic missionaries” hoping for a handout and refusing to do any real work? Well, 2 Thessalonians does not provide evidence for this, but the Didache does! This absurdly early Christian document (first century!) was lost for centuries, but rediscovered in the 1873 hiding in a monastery library somewhere in Constantinople. In it, we find the following almost humorous warning:
In regard to ‘apostles’ and ‘prophets,’ act according to the doctrine of the Gospel. Let every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord. But he shall not remain more than one day. But, if necessary, let him remain a second day. But, if he stays for three, he is a false prophet. And when the apostle departs, let him take only enough bread to last until he reaches shelter; but, if he asks for money, he is a false prophet. (Didache 11:3-6; Francis X. Glimm, “The Didache or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” in The Apostolic Fathers, trans. Francis X. Glimm, Joseph M.-F. Marique, and Gerald G. Walsh, vol. 1 of The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1947), 180.)
I don’t know if Max Weber was aware of this text from the Didache, but it does support his interpretation of 2 Thess 3:10. Perhaps there were wandering “apostles” and “prophets” some of whom were legit and some of whom were trying to get a free lunch. The Didache puts a firm limit of two days on any prophet’s stay–any more and he’s false! I don’t know if these prophetic freeloaders really came in “swarms” as Weber supposes, but they must have really been walking around the first-century Christian world, such as it was.
Announcing My New Book – Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know
Sometimes good things come in twos. I am happy to announce my other new book – Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know. This book is part of the series from Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press that seeks to educate Catholics with laser focus on particular topics. “What Every Catholic Should Know” means that the book is designed for regular Catholics, not for some group of specialists. It is my hope that this book helps a lot of people think about, pray about and work through their own experiences of suffering.
Why Write a Book about Suffering?
Everybody suffers. There’s no way around it. Life is wonderful, but it can also be terrible. The more you love, the more it hurts. It would be nice if everything were always perfect and comfortable, but we get sick, have problems, struggle with relationships and careers. Cancer, war, debt, depression–I mean, you don’t have to look too far to find examples of suffering. It’s everywhere. There are a lot of books out there about suffering, but it’s a hard topic to write about, so many of the books are too long or too philosophical or tell too many personal stories without getting to the point. I couldn’t find the book I wanted to read out there, so I decided to write it.
What I am trying to do in this book is get at the heart of the question: Why do we suffer and how can we make sense of it if God is all-loving, all-good and all-powerful? And yet, I wanted to hit the topic from multiple angles so that we can get past the abstract stuff to the more practical strategies for living. My experience has been that a little theological thinking about suffering goes a long way. Once we take up the tradition of Christian biblical theology on this topic, we get some new insights, new perspectives, new ways of coping with the most pressing problems. No, this book won’t take away all of your suffering, but it might help a bit.
Table of Contents
Here’s a sneak preview of the Table of Contents:
- Chapter 1 Suffering Is an Experience of Evil
- Chapter 2 Suffering Disorients Us
- Chapter 3 Suffering Tests Us
- Chapter 4 Suffering Saves Us
- Chapter 5 Does God Suffer?
- Chapter 6 The Many Forms of Suffering
- Chapter 7 Suffering Is Personal
- Chapter 8 Coping with Suffering
- Chapter 9 Redeeming Suffering
- Chapter 10 Suffering on Purpose
- Chapter 11 Preparing for Death
- Chapter 12 Suffering Transforms Us
Books in the What Every Catholic Should Know Series
- Being Catholic by Suzie Andres
- The Bible edited by Tim Gray
- God by Elizabeth Klein
- Literature by Joseph Pearce
- Mercy by Fr. Daniel Moloney
- Philosophy by Peter Kreeft
- Salvation by Michael Patrick Barber
- Suffering by Mark Giszczak
Where to Buy
You can find my new book at a couple different sites:
- Catholic Market: https://catholic.market/what-every-catholic-should-know/suffering-what-every-catholic-should-know/
- Amazon: https://a.co/d/bOfiVzm
When Will the Book be Released?
The release date for Suffering: What Every Catholic Should Know is set for January 31, 2024.
I hope you enjoy my new book and I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone. Suffering is such an important topic–one close to heart for all of us.