#gospel of luke

[lionofchaeronea]

Incipit of the Gospel of Luke (Quoniam quidem multi...), fol. 188r from the Book of Kells, created in an Irish or Scottish monastery ca. 800. Now in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.

[apenitentialprayer]

You know, until I heard Pope Francis describe the gaze of Jesus that makes Peter break down crying in Luke 22:61-62 as one of compassion and understanding, I didn't realize I had been unconsciously assuming that it was one of accusation and "I told you so."

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

19 Jesus said, “There was a rich man who always dressed in the finest clothes. He was so rich that he was able to enjoy all the best things every day. 20 There was also a very poor man named Lazarus. Lazarus’ body was covered with sores. He was often put by the rich man’s gate. 21 Lazarus wanted only to eat the scraps of food left on the floor under the rich man’s table. And the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “Later, Lazarus died. The angels took him and placed him in the arms of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 He was sent to the place of death and was in great pain. He saw Abraham far away with Lazarus in his arms. — Luke 16:19-23 | Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) Easy-to-Read Version Bible Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International Cross References: Proverbs 31:22; Ezekiel 16:49; Matthew 11:23; Matthew 15:27; Matthew 26:71; Luke 16:24; John 1:18; John 13:23

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The Meaning of the Rich Man and Lazarus Parable

[artandthebible]

Christ In The House Of Martha And Mary

Artist: Alessandro Allori (Italian, 1535–1607)

Genre: Religious Art

Date: 1605

Medium: Oil Paint on Poplar Wood

Collection: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria

Christ with Mary and Martha

Martha is a significant New Testament figure, a personal friend of Jesus, and someone with whom many women today identify. She lived in Bethany with her sister, Mary, and her brother, Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. We meet Martha three times in the Bible, and each event helps to build a profile of this interesting woman.

The Bible first mentions Martha in Luke 10. She is in her home in Bethany, a small town near Jerusalem, where she is hosting Jesus and the disciples. Jesus was well-known to Martha and her siblings; in fact, Jesus loved this little family (John 11:5).

On the day that Jesus visited, Martha’s desire was to be a good hostess - to serve the best meal with the best possible presentation, for Jesus’ sake. Her sister, Mary, however, was taking some time out to listen to Jesus (Luke 10:39). As Martha “was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made” (Luke 10:40), she became a little cross with Mary and spoke rather abruptly to the Lord: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (verse 40).

In this foolish utterance, Martha implied that Jesus did not care about her, and she gave the Lord a command, demanding that He force Mary to assist in the serving. In her busyness, Martha had taken her eyes off the Savior. Jesus, who was able to see into her soul, diagnosed her problem: she was worried and troubled about the serving and had no peace in her heart. He gently told Martha that a simple dinner was more than adequate, and He reminded her that Mary’s decision to sit at His feet and hear His word was the better choice (verses 41–42).

[nopizzaaftermidnight]

[forsakenbythenarrative]

really incredible to see how the reflection of the love of jesus' father is there at his death.

joseph, himself, was not there. probably, he passed before jesus began his ministry. but to think of how jesus probably watched his father, a carpenter, accidentally hit has hand with a hammer or drive a nail into one of his fingers and then as he has nails driven into him and is beaten, he must be thinking of his dad. to carry planks of wood up a hill and remember his father doing the same, to be pulled up to standing on the cross and remember the walls he watched his father lift to uphold the roof of a house. everything there reminds him of the man who laid himself down to the divine plan of the woman he loved, who chose to raise his son when many men would have walked away.

and then for the gospel of luke to tell us that a man named joseph, a member of the council who objected to the crucifixion, cares for his body after his death. to see his body wrapped in linen as he was wrapped in swaddling cloth and his body placed inside the tomb as it was placed inside the manger.

the love of jesus' father is there. by the love of a man who did not have to, he was not required, he just stepped in where he saw someone in need of care, jesus is carried both into this world and out of it.

by this example, we are told to carry one another when one another needs carrying. it is our responsibility to love people who we see missing love somewhere love is meant to be.

[saras-devotionals]

Quiet Time 3/14

What am I feeling today?

Absolutely terrible. I’ve been sick for over a week now and it’s just gotten worse. I haven’t been able to sleep and I’ve lost my voice and I had to miss school and work for two days and I’m not looking forward to having to make all that work up. I also neglected my time with God, I decided to go to other things for comfort during this time instead of turning to Him which has been weighing on me. I feel like a failure since I’ve strayed from my routine. I’ve been wasting away in my bed for a couple days now and I know that technically my body needs the rest, but I feel so useless when I’m not doing anything productive.

Luke 8 NIV

(v. 11-15) ““This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

I will be honest in saying that this parable troubles me at times. I wonder if I’m the rocky soil or the one with thorns. It’s always been something that has bothered me because I don’t want that to be the case. I know I was so joyful when I received my salvation but even with such short time, I’ve struggled and weakened. I wonder if it’s that my faith is wavering or if I’m just experiencing the spiritual desert, I don’t understand how to discern the difference between the two. Maybe the world is also killing my walk, I have so much that I commit myself to that every day I wake up and feel it’s a battle to get through it all. And I’m tired. I’m so young but I’m just so so tired by life, I’m drained, I’m exhausted, I’m deflated, I’m drained, and I just wish I could escape from it all sometimes. I’m tired of fighting but every day I have to keep praying to God to give me the strength. If it weren’t for Him, I’d never be able to keep going through it.

(v. 17-18) “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.””

Just further reinforcing that He knows all we do and that there’s no hiding anything from Him. How foolish would we be if we thought we could conceal some of our sins? Something I’m currently battling is idolatry in a few areas. I know that it’s empty and that the feeling fades and it’s a sin and everything else but I’m having a hard time shaking it. If God needs to destroy it then so be it because I don’t know how to do it myself. Idk I think I’m just having a hard time and feel stuck and trapped in my own skin if that makes sense. I can’t shake the feeling of me existing and it’s bothering me so much.

(v. 24-25) “The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.””

I think this is something that applies to every trial of our lives. The disciples were scared and worried and Jesus had to ask where’s the faith. I think he asks the same of us when we go through tough times and don’t fully rely on him. I think he may be asking me that right now because my anxiety gnaws at me like a dog with a bone and it’s so hard to take it away.

(v. 30-31) “Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.”

I just wonder about the Abyss. That struck my interest because I wonder if it’s just hell, a part of hell, or something else entirely.

(v. 47-48) “Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.””

I just think this is comforting. She had faith so strong that just by touching Jesus she was healed. How incredible is that? How inspiring is it? Our faith is a powerful thing and something we should not treat lightly. I wish to continue growing my faith, I wish to be the good soil.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

IF JESUS HAD DIED IN 2000

Paul would be writing his various letters* in the 2020's *the letters that most scholars consider genuine; Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, 1-2 Corinthians, Romans, Philipians & Philemon - a generation later and having never known Jesus in person

Gospel of Mark won't be written until around the 2030's - with no claims of Jesus' virgin birth, ascension and divinity

Gospel of Matthew won't be written until around the 2040's - with the first record of virgin birth, Bethlehem origin, guards & angel at tomb

Gospel of Luke won't be written until around the 2050's - with the first record of a post-resurrection Jesus eating, appearing & disappearing and ascension to heaven

Gospel of John won't be written until around the 2060's - with the first record of the incarnation of Jesus (god-man), divinity claims of Jesus, the seven "I am" sayings of Jesus and Jesus' lengthy discourse with Pilate

This sure sounds like something that people just made up.

[craigtowens]

…And It Got Their Attention

Amazing things happen all around us—unmistakable signs from God every single day. Does it get our attention? Or do we shrug it off?

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.  https://craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/and-it-got-their-attention.mp3 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.…

[celebswearingghost]

Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr

[apenitentialprayer]

hi, this is a legitimate question, I'm not trying to start any kind of argument or debate. Where does the idea in Catholicism that the Virgin Mary was free from sin come from? Again, I'm merely asking for informational purposes, not to start anything.

Okay, lets hit this real quick.

The sinlessness of Mary was a majority, but not unanimous, opinion of the orthodox Christian community by the late fourth century. Saint Augustine can confidently say that out of all the saints, she is the only one who did not sin; as does his teacher, Saint Ambrose. Maximus of Turin likewise takes this position, but instead of talking about her lack of sinfulness, he focuses on a positive formula: she has "original grace." The Syriac Fathers, of whom Ephraem of Edessa is probably the most well known, also love, love, love drawing parallels between Mary and Eve, as well as giving her titles like "all-pure" and "most-holy."

(Lest anyone think this is a post-Nicene development in Christian theology, Hippolytus of Rome also taught that Mary was free from corruption. This is especially interesting, because Hippolytus is said to be a student of Saint Irenaeus, who could trace his teaching back to Saint John the Apostle).

But by the Middle Ages, all that was universally agreed on was that Mary was never personally responsible for committing a sin; there was a question of whether she was still under the effects of Original Sin. It was an 11th Century English theologian who first formulaically proposed the idea that Mary was free from sin from the moment of her creation; he said it was possible, it was fitting, and so God did it. (Notice that this argument expressly does not argue that Mary had to be immaculate in order to give birth to the Savior). It wasn't until Franciscan theologian Blessed Duns Scotus took up the cause that it became the controversy that it did. Duns Scotus (who, it should be noted, was also the major proponent for the absolute primacy of Christ in the Middle Ages) provided arguments from Scripture, tradition, and reason to argue in favor of the Immaculate Conception.

That being said, Mary's Immaculate Conception remained a pious opinion for a long time; even the Council of Trent, which affirms the Virgin Mary's freedom from personal sin, only suggests Mary may have been exempt from Original Sin. It is not until 1854 that the Catholic Church elevated the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception to dogma and formally defined what that doctrine meant.

As I said, this is a very, very fast overview; if you want a Scriptural reference, I would suggest Luke 1:28, in which Mary is referred by the Archangel Gabriel not by name, but by a title: κεχαριτωμένη, or Kecharitōmenē, translated as "Favored One" or "Full of Grace." This word, which is unique in Greek literature to Luke, indicates that Mary is some sort of beneficiary of God, and (as Fr. Charles Grondin says) is an identity; it's connected to her personhood.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” — Luke 18:1-8 | English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Cross References: Exodus 22:23; Psalm 88:1; Proverbs 20:6; Isaiah 40:27; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 62:7; Matthew 5:25; Matthew 5:45; Luke 7:13; Luke 7:19; Luke 11:8; Luke 17:26; Luke 20:13; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Hebrews 12:9; James 2:4

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What can we learn from the parable of the persistent widow and unjust judge?

[artandthebible]

The Temptation of Christ

Artist: Ary Scheffer (Dutch, 1795–1858)

Date: 1854

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Collection: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia

The Temptation of Christ

As recorded in the Gospel of Luke 4:5-8 “Then the devil took Jesus and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. The devil said to Jesus, ‘I will give you all these kingdoms and all their power and glory. It has all been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. If you worship me, then it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures: 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.' "

[mother-lee]

why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

October 18 is the Feast Day of St Luke. He appears here at the start of the Gospel that bears his name in the Evangelium of Judith of Flanders (Cantorbéry, 1065). The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, ms M.709, f° 77v, 29,3 × 19,1 cm. :: [Robert Scott Horton]

* * * *

Night Surrender to Praise at Dawn – Nov. 16, 2021

“In the middle of the night I hold hands with trust and surrender to the One who sees without a light… My prayer travels deep into my soul space, into the essence of my being.

Rising from sleep, I raise high the chalice of my life. Dressed in robes of joyful anticipation, I enter this day with an open heart. This is the awakening hour. This is the hour of praise. ‘O medicine of dawn; O healing drink of morning!’ Offering both words and silence, I join in the dance of creation.”

–Macrina Wiederkehr, Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day, p. 29 and 47

[alive on all channels]

[biblebloodhound]

You Have Found Favor with God (Luke 1:26-38)

There is nowhere we can go, no place on earth, no situation whatsoever that is beyond God’s ability, reach, and power to effect the divine will.

The Annunciation, by Liviu Dumitrescu Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.” She was startled by what…