GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL STUDIES JOURNAL & NEWSLETTER GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL STUDIES JOURNAL & NEWSLETTER FEATURES Spirituality of Daily Living, Peter Bennett ............................................................2 Disfigured Devotion: War, Treason, and the Via Dolorosa of A Medieval Gentrywoman’s Psalter, Stephen H.A. Shepherd ............................................................................................4 Masoretic, Septuagint and New Testament Interpretation of Psalm 110, Martin J. Murphy .....................................................................................................9 More than Planting Seeds: The Role of the Faith Formator, Emmarie Soto ........................................................................................................ 12 The Brahma Viharas: A Practical Deconstruction of Agape, Charles Hamilton .................................................................................................. 13 Gratitude: A Spiritual Attitude of a Student Life, Sr. Ho Thi Nguyen ................................................................................................ 14 A Personal Response to the Book: The Enduring Heart: Spirituality for the Long Haul, Sr. Huyen Truong ............................................ 16 Ministry as Vocation, Sr. Xuan Thanh Pham ...................................................... 18 Comparative Theology After Charlottesville, Tracy Tiemeier ......................... 19 Was There a 19th Century British “Liberation Theology”?, Daniel Smith-Christopher ..................................................................................... 21 From the Editor The Expansiveness of Graduate Theological Studies s I received the manuscript understand and articulate their experience of Encountering God’s Presence in every submissions for this issue of the Jesus by appealing to the Sacred Scriptures “present moment” throughout the course of Graduate Theological Studies Journal, with which they were familiar. In “Masoretic, one’s life journey is the subject of the article a feeling of awe began to well up in me. I Septuagint and New Testament Interpretation by Sr. Huyen Truong, “A Personal Response realized how exceptionally well this issue of Psalm 110,” Martin J. Murphy leads to the Book: The Enduring Heart: Spirituality would demonstrate LMU’s commitment us through an exegesis centered on the for the Long Haul.” Sr. Huyen offers to us articulated in its Mission Statement: “we three divine oracles present in Psalm 110, the wisdom borne of her prayerful reflection invite men and women diverse in talents, the Scripture most often cited in the New on Wilkie Au’s text, and her personal interests, and cultural backgrounds to enrich Testament. Drawing from ancient textual integration of Au’s insights into her own our educational community and advance our witnesses and New Testament interpretations experience of living and suffering. Her sense mission.” Not only do our authors—LMU of Psalm 110, Murphy throws light on ways of union with Christ through service to students, alumni, and professors—hail from that early Christians interpreted the person others, even in the midst of life’s vicissitudes, varied places and diverse experiences, the and nature of Jesus and understood what it is communicated with the empathic tone of topics addressed in their articles reflect the meant to be his disciple. one who humbly continues to walk on her expansiveness of Theological Studies as it is One of the more recognized agricultural own journey as a Christian. done in our Graduate Programs. Certain that parables of Jesus—the Parable of the The Greek term often used in the New each of these articles will provide much to Sower—often is seen as an analogy for the Testament to denote the service rendered savor and relish, I am absolutely delighted to labor of ministry. While many hear in the present this Spring’s edition of Graduate parable the charge to plant the seeds of the to others by disciples is diakonia. Drawing Theological Studies. “word of God,” Emmarie Soto challenges on Kathleen Cahalan’s text, Introducing the Many are acquainted with the Examen us to hear more. In “More than Planting Practice of Ministry, Sr. Xuan Thanh Pham of St. Ignatius of Loyola and regularly Seeds: the Role of the Faith Formator,” writes about the service of ministry from incorporate it into their prayer repertoire. Soto deepens our understanding of the the perspective of a religious sister. While Less familiar is the spiritual practice of a rich metaphors in this parable. She calls those who are members of religious orders seventeenth century Carmelite monk, Br. ministers to see their vocation as continuing and serve within the context of their own Lawrence of the Resurrection. In his article, beyond the stage of introducing people to congregation’s charisms and commitments “A Spirituality of Daily Living,” Peter the message of Jesus. Soto’s experience will find special benefit, all Christians Bennett introduces readers to Br. Lawrence’s and insight are placed at the disposal of all called by the Gospel to serve will find Practice of the Presence of God. In his who are involved in faith formation at every encouragement in Sr. Xuan’s article. She thoughtful and compelling way, Bennett level, including religion teachers in Catholic observes the great variety of people from brings the Practice of the Presence into schools, with ears willing to hear. all walks of life engaged in active ministry dialogue with the Examen of St. Ignatius, and The practice of Theology today is in her parish, and brings to bear the wisdom offers to us a spiritual method that is very enriched by the progress made through that emerges from her own experience and “doable” in the midst of our often overloaded collaborative interreligious research reflection. and overwhelming daily lives. Bennett and dialogue. What sometimes goes Completing this issue is a pair of articles demonstrates that regular spiritual practice unnoticed is the impact this progress has presented by our own Theology Faculty. need not be a luxury limited only to those on spirituality. In “The Brahma Vihāras: Citing one of the many recent eruptions of with time to spare, but is accessible to all of A Practical Deconstruction of Agape,” bigotry and hatred in the United States, Tracy us in every walk of life. Charles Hamilton invites us to pause, notice, Tiemeier authors a compelling argument A special treat in this issue also and lovingly attend to the fruitful ways in for both comparative theology and theology exemplifies one of the hallmarks of which one’s spiritual practice is enhanced of religions as complementary modes of Theology: its interdisciplinary nature. In by interreligious perspectives. Through theological inquiry apropos for the times. “Disfigured Devotion: War, Treason, and the Hamilton’s own research and personal Leading us into “deep engagement with Via Dolorosa of a Medieval Gentrywoman’s experience, we are given practical ways to religious others” while continuing to rethink Psalter,” LMU English Professor Stephen follow Jesus’ commandment to Love—God, Shepherd carefully crafts his masterful fundamental religious questions, theologians self, and neighbor—in the concrete realities, can contribute in meaningful ways to analysis of a unique medieval psalter. While relationships, and encounters of our daily creating an environment that can no longer clearly of interest to anyone who admires the lives (even on the ski slopes!). sustain hatred and bigotry. beauty and intricacy of medieval illuminated Love and gratitude go hand in hand. While doing research in London, Daniel manuscripts, Shepherd’s article will find Sometimes, the experience of gratitude can affinity with all who are acquainted with be overshadowed by life circumstances such Smith-Christopher happened upon a piece the mystery of suffering. In highlighting as stress, loss, fear, finding oneself in a new of late nineteenth century satire aimed at the poignancy of the personal relationship and unfamiliar environment, and so forth. As Churches who support only the rich and that existed between this manuscript and its an international student, Sr. Ho Thi Nguyen powerful—and twist the words of the Bible patroness, Shepherd shows us that the Vernon is personally familiar with the challenges that to justify their abuse of the poor. Smith- Psalter was much more than a prayer book: it accompany students who find themselves Christopher’s contribution is a reprint of was a companion along the way of suffering navigating new challenges in unfamiliar this article, which presents the extremes of and loss. territory. In “Gratitude: A Spiritual Attitude eisegesis at its worst, albeit in a satirical Subsequent to Jesus’ original walk of a Student Life,” she shares her personal fashion. Though well over a century old, the along the Via Dolorosa, the New Testament memoir of the ways in which gratitude has essay recalls to us the consistent message of gives us glimpses into the ways that Jesus’ supported her through the ebb and flow of the Bible: to be ever mindful of the plight of disciples tried to make sense of their own life as an international student. In a beautiful the poor, whose cry is heard by the Lord who experiences of suffering and loss. In light accompaniment to the article, her original draws near to their suffering. of their encounters of the risen Christ, the artwork shows the word “gratitude” as authors of the New Testament sought to written in Vietnamese language: “Tri Ân.”