Luke 8: 1- 3 The Women
Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
This chapter begins with the mention of women, three in particular, Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna, and others un-named. These women are mentioned as individuals who came to Jesus for help, cures, etc. and then became followers. We know from later passages Mary Magdalene at least remained with him throughout his ministry to the very end. I wonder how unusual that was? If it seemed to be unusual for men to follow Jesus, men who typically would be working to support their families, how much more unusual for women to do so, leaving their homes their families behind. One, Joanna, is said to have a husband of means, and in fact several seemed to be women of wealth as the passage notes that the women “were assisting them out of their own means.” Women played a vital role in Jesus life and ministry – in loving Jesus, caring for him, seeing to his needs, supporting him generously. Could he have been, done, all that he did without their loving support? I wonder. What would the Catholic Church be like today if it fully embraced all that women had to offer throughout the ages? How would it be different? Did the Church frustrate Christ’s purpose by excluding women from an equal role? To the extent the Church became about hierarchy, dogma, control, and power, it moved away from its origins in Christ.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Luke 7:36 – 50 The Penitent Woman
Luke 7:36 – 50 The Penitent Woman
A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
In this famous scripture story of a “sinner” who also happens to be a woman, Christ gores several oxes (or do I mean oxen). Whatever. He lets a sinner tend to his needs, and willingly, and he tells her that her sins are forgiven. Both actions are viewed with deep disapproval by his host. Consider the source though. His host is a Pharisee, famous in the Bible for judging others and jealously guarding their own positions of authority. Jesus is making a statement that in his view, in his kingdom, in his “church”, mercy and forgiveness are always available for those who truly seek them and love – love is paramount. None are perfect (even Pharisees) Jesus accepts that humanity is not perfect, that there are struggles and mistakes made along the way. Balanced against that on Jesus scales is love, in all its forms, loving action, loving intent, loving attitudes. Also important is quantity and volume. Jesus draws a distinction between those who love little and those who love much. He comes down firmly on the side of generosity. How have our churches got so far from this emphasis on love and generosity and mercy and forgiveness? They seem more focused on authority and control and judgment and regulations. To paraphrase St. John the Baptist – the church must decrease and Christ’s ways must increase. Amen.
A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
In this famous scripture story of a “sinner” who also happens to be a woman, Christ gores several oxes (or do I mean oxen). Whatever. He lets a sinner tend to his needs, and willingly, and he tells her that her sins are forgiven. Both actions are viewed with deep disapproval by his host. Consider the source though. His host is a Pharisee, famous in the Bible for judging others and jealously guarding their own positions of authority. Jesus is making a statement that in his view, in his kingdom, in his “church”, mercy and forgiveness are always available for those who truly seek them and love – love is paramount. None are perfect (even Pharisees) Jesus accepts that humanity is not perfect, that there are struggles and mistakes made along the way. Balanced against that on Jesus scales is love, in all its forms, loving action, loving intent, loving attitudes. Also important is quantity and volume. Jesus draws a distinction between those who love little and those who love much. He comes down firmly on the side of generosity. How have our churches got so far from this emphasis on love and generosity and mercy and forgiveness? They seem more focused on authority and control and judgment and regulations. To paraphrase St. John the Baptist – the church must decrease and Christ’s ways must increase. Amen.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Luke 7:29 – 35 Christ’s Verdict
Luke 7:29 – 35 Christ’s Verdict
All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves. "Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.' For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."
In my Bible this passage is called Christ’s Verdict. Jesus compares those who heard and accepted God’s word and been baptized (even tax collectors) and those who were skeptics and refused to believe (Pharisees and lawyers). The Pharisees had a vested interest in the status quo. The lawyers could not let their hearts overcome their minds. Christ then hands down his “verdict” comparing these men to children, whining and above being pleased, not by John’s asceticism and not by Jesus mingling with regular folks. Jesus makes short shrift of these naysayers, promising all believers God’s vindication, not man’s. There is also a message here for his followers then and now – be prepared to be met with anger, dismissal, false accusations, and even lies about your actions and your character. Any follower of Jesus must be counter-cultural, calling into question current practices and cultural norms, something that will be considered threatening to the status quo.
All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves. "Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.' For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."
In my Bible this passage is called Christ’s Verdict. Jesus compares those who heard and accepted God’s word and been baptized (even tax collectors) and those who were skeptics and refused to believe (Pharisees and lawyers). The Pharisees had a vested interest in the status quo. The lawyers could not let their hearts overcome their minds. Christ then hands down his “verdict” comparing these men to children, whining and above being pleased, not by John’s asceticism and not by Jesus mingling with regular folks. Jesus makes short shrift of these naysayers, promising all believers God’s vindication, not man’s. There is also a message here for his followers then and now – be prepared to be met with anger, dismissal, false accusations, and even lies about your actions and your character. Any follower of Jesus must be counter-cultural, calling into question current practices and cultural norms, something that will be considered threatening to the status quo.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Luke 7: 11 – 28 The Widow of Nain
Luke 7: 11 – 28 The Widow of Nain
Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people."
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region. The disciples of John told him about all these things. John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'" At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And he said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. "What did you go out to the desert to see--a reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom scripture says: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.' I tell you among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
The buzz about Jesus is growing. Everywhere he goes now he has a large following. Every miracle cure causes awe and amazement and is spoken about throughout the land. Then John the Baptist comes back into the story. He hears of Jesus and sends two of his followers to inquire, “Are you He who is to come?” Jesus answers by quoting that famous passage from Isaiah about the blind recovering sight, the lame walking, the dead being raised, the poor being preached the good news. He finishes by saying “Blest is the man who finds no stumbling block in me.” What does he mean by this statement? I think it is an exhortation to have faith in him, to believe in his words and actions even though some might find them unbelievable. Jesus after sending the two messengers back to John turns to the crowd and asks them, “What did you expect to see when you went out into the desert? To see a mystic? An influential man? A prophet? Jesus then pays John the highest of compliments – he calls him - a simple man who acts on God’s promises without fanfare,"great" in God’s eyes. But the least of those who come to and through Jesus, who follow him and believe in the coming of the kingdom and act upon that belief will have an even greater future in store for them.
Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people."
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region. The disciples of John told him about all these things. John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'" At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And he said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. "What did you go out to the desert to see--a reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom scripture says: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.' I tell you among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
The buzz about Jesus is growing. Everywhere he goes now he has a large following. Every miracle cure causes awe and amazement and is spoken about throughout the land. Then John the Baptist comes back into the story. He hears of Jesus and sends two of his followers to inquire, “Are you He who is to come?” Jesus answers by quoting that famous passage from Isaiah about the blind recovering sight, the lame walking, the dead being raised, the poor being preached the good news. He finishes by saying “Blest is the man who finds no stumbling block in me.” What does he mean by this statement? I think it is an exhortation to have faith in him, to believe in his words and actions even though some might find them unbelievable. Jesus after sending the two messengers back to John turns to the crowd and asks them, “What did you expect to see when you went out into the desert? To see a mystic? An influential man? A prophet? Jesus then pays John the highest of compliments – he calls him - a simple man who acts on God’s promises without fanfare,"great" in God’s eyes. But the least of those who come to and through Jesus, who follow him and believe in the coming of the kingdom and act upon that belief will have an even greater future in store for them.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Luke 7:1- 10 The Centurion’s Servant
Luke 7:1- 10 The Centurion’s Servant
When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
My first response to the Centurion is not entirely positive. Is he just out for the benefit (the cure), accepting Jesus’ authority as he is a figure of authority himself? Does he put his faith in Jesus or in authority? After all, he is not a follower of Jesus, he is a Roman Centurion. But wait, tucked away in the middle of the passage I spot a statement by Jesus’ Jewish followers about the Centurion. “He deserves this favor from you.” “He loves our people.” “He built our synagogue for us.” It appears that the centurion is a believer in deed if not in word – in my mind the best kind of believer. Following up on the previous scriptures, this story drives the point home – actions, not words, count. We will and ought to be judged by our fruit. The placement of the Centurion story cannot be coincidence. Jesus puts his stamp of approval on the man at the end of the passage – praising the man’s faith. A faith that demonstrates its strength, its commitment, in deeds not words. Do you remember that old Christian hymn that we learned way back in high school – They Will Know They Are Christians By Our Love? The Centurion met that standard even though it was not yet firmly established. Love (action) rooted in faith knows no boundaries – not of race, or religion, or class or culture or age. All are acceptable in Christ’s eyes.
When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, "He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
My first response to the Centurion is not entirely positive. Is he just out for the benefit (the cure), accepting Jesus’ authority as he is a figure of authority himself? Does he put his faith in Jesus or in authority? After all, he is not a follower of Jesus, he is a Roman Centurion. But wait, tucked away in the middle of the passage I spot a statement by Jesus’ Jewish followers about the Centurion. “He deserves this favor from you.” “He loves our people.” “He built our synagogue for us.” It appears that the centurion is a believer in deed if not in word – in my mind the best kind of believer. Following up on the previous scriptures, this story drives the point home – actions, not words, count. We will and ought to be judged by our fruit. The placement of the Centurion story cannot be coincidence. Jesus puts his stamp of approval on the man at the end of the passage – praising the man’s faith. A faith that demonstrates its strength, its commitment, in deeds not words. Do you remember that old Christian hymn that we learned way back in high school – They Will Know They Are Christians By Our Love? The Centurion met that standard even though it was not yet firmly established. Love (action) rooted in faith knows no boundaries – not of race, or religion, or class or culture or age. All are acceptable in Christ’s eyes.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Luke 6:43-49 Words To Live By
Luke 6:43-49 Words To Live By
"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."
This short paragraph is full of well known verses – about fruit bearing, house building, etc. But the central message is about how we must deal with our world. If our core is rotten, then we cannot bear good fruit. If our foundation is built on sand then we are susceptible to all sorts of dangers and temptations that will knock us off our intended path. “A good man produces goodness from the goodness of his heart.” Here Jesus is telling us all of our life’s work starts from our interior, from our heart. If we pay attention to that, to the activities that build up and strengthen our interior life then we will be better able to deal with the challenges life throws at us and survive and thrive to do produce much good. How do we do this? Jesus did it by going off to pray, studying the scriptures, meditating, fasting. Back in the day when I was teaching CCD I used to tell my students a story comparing their souls to radio receivers. The Lord God is beaming out his strong signal of love and salvation at all times and in all directions. But if we are not out there “tuning it in” we can miss it entirely. The more we try to tune in, the stronger our connection to God and the stronger God’s impact will be on our lives.
"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."
This short paragraph is full of well known verses – about fruit bearing, house building, etc. But the central message is about how we must deal with our world. If our core is rotten, then we cannot bear good fruit. If our foundation is built on sand then we are susceptible to all sorts of dangers and temptations that will knock us off our intended path. “A good man produces goodness from the goodness of his heart.” Here Jesus is telling us all of our life’s work starts from our interior, from our heart. If we pay attention to that, to the activities that build up and strengthen our interior life then we will be better able to deal with the challenges life throws at us and survive and thrive to do produce much good. How do we do this? Jesus did it by going off to pray, studying the scriptures, meditating, fasting. Back in the day when I was teaching CCD I used to tell my students a story comparing their souls to radio receivers. The Lord God is beaming out his strong signal of love and salvation at all times and in all directions. But if we are not out there “tuning it in” we can miss it entirely. The more we try to tune in, the stronger our connection to God and the stronger God’s impact will be on our lives.
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