The Word Engaged is a collection of meditations on the Sunday lectionary readings for Liturgical Cycle C, written by John F. Kavanaugh SJ — Jesuit priest, philosopher, and long-standing professor at Saint Louis University. Each meditation engages the assigned Gospel, epistle, and first reading not simply as texts to explain but as living challenges to contemporary Christian life.
This book is aimed at Catholic priests, deacons, and lay ministers seeking thoughtful material to inform their Sunday homily preparation, as well as individuals and small groups who want a structured, intellectually grounded way to engage with the Sunday scriptures throughout the Cycle C liturgical year. Kavanaugh's background in philosophy gives the reflections a distinctive depth without sacrificing accessibility.
This is the Claretian Publications edition, published in Bangalore, India — a version that is considerably less common in the UK secondhand market than North American printings. It forms part of Kavanaugh's acclaimed trilogy alongside The Word Embodied (Cycle A) and The Word Encountered (Cycle B).
| Title | The Word Engaged: Meditations on the Sunday Scriptures Cycle C |
| Author | John F. Kavanaugh |
| Publisher | Claretian Publications |
| Publication Location | Bangalore, India |
| ISBN | 81-86507-56-6 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Language | English |
| Approx. Pages | 200 |
| Liturgical Cycle | Cycle C |
| Series | The Word Engaged |
| Genre | Religion & Spirituality — Christianity / Catholic |
| Topic | Scripture Meditations / Homiletics |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Type | Non-Fiction / Religious / Devotional |
| Condition | Used – Good |
This copy is in Used – Good condition. The green card cover shows light surface scuffing and minor shelf wear to the edges and corners, as visible in the listing photos. The spine is intact with no cracking or splitting. Inside, the pages are clean and bright throughout — no annotations, underlining, highlighting or foxing noted anywhere in the book. The binding is tight and square. This is a complete, fully usable copy in honest reading condition.
Q: Is this the complete Cycle C volume — does it cover the full liturgical year?
A: Yes. The book contains meditations for every Sunday and major feast of Liturgical Cycle C, covering the complete year from the First Sunday of Advent through the final Sundays of Ordinary Time.
Q: Are there any notes, highlighting or writing inside the book?
A: None visible. The pages throughout appear clean and bright with no annotations, underlining, highlighting or stamps noted in the photos.
Q: How does this Claretian edition differ from other printings?
A: The content is the same as other authorised editions of this title. The Claretian Publications edition was produced for the Indian subcontinent market and carries a different ISBN from North American printings. It is the same book by the same author — simply a less commonly encountered edition in the UK.
Q: Is this book useful for someone who is not a priest or deacon?
A: Absolutely. While the reflections suit homily preparation well, they are equally valuable for any Catholic — lay ministers, members of scripture study groups, or individuals wanting a thoughtful, structured engagement with the Sunday readings week by week.
Q: Are the other volumes in the trilogy — Cycle A and Cycle B — also available?
A: Please check the seller's other listings. If you can see the close-up of the cover in the photos and have any further questions about condition or content, feel free to message before purchasing.