GOSPEL OF LUKE
INTRODUCTION
Having finished my reflections on the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of Mark I begin today with the Gospel of Luke to be completed in 2021. Since the Gospel of Luke is the only Gospel to cover the birth of Jesus Ithought it appropriate to begin this third week of Advent.
St. Luke’s Gospel provides the longest and most complete account of the advent and earthly life of the Messiah from the Annunciation, birth and early childhood of Jesus, to His ministry to the lost sheep of Israel, and finally with the climax of His Gospel in Jesus’ victorious death, glorious Resurrection and heavenly Ascension.
In Christian art each of the evangelists has a particular symbol and St Luke’s is an ox (or a calf). This symbolism has its origins in two biblical texts. In Ezekiel 1:4-11 the prophet has a vision of four living creatures which are in human form, but with wings. Their faces have four aspects, a man on the front, a lion on the right, an ox on the left, and an eagle on the back.
This symbolism appears also the Book of Revelation where four winged creatures surround Christ on his throne Revelation 4:6-8. St Jerome (c.347 -420 AD) assigned the ox to St Luke and the man to St Matthew, the lion to St Mark and the eagle to St John.
The choice of the ox for Luke is thought to relate to the sacrifices offered in the Temple. St Luke’s Gospel begins and ends in the Temple. It may be that the symbolism of the ox draws on the link between the Temple sacrifices and Jesus’ once and for all sacrifice on the cross.
EXAMPLES OF TEMPLE PASSAGES IN GOSPEL OF LUKE
Zechariah is told in temple by angel Gabriel that Elizabeth who is barren will bear a child
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Jesus lost in the Temple
The cleansing of the Temple Ch.19
Jesus observes the poor widow’s contribution to Temple treasury Ch. 21
The destruction of the temple foretold Ch. 21
Jesus teaching in the temple area Ch. 21
At Jesus’ death the temple veil was torn in two Ch. 23
JESUS TEACHES
AS HE WALKS ALONG SOLOMAN’S PORTICO
SCRIPTURE
LUKE 1:26-38
Announcement of the Birth of Jesus.
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived* a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”r Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
HAIL MARY FULL OF GRACE
REFLECTION
Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary, full of grace, reminds us of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, preserved from Original Sin through the anticipated merits of her Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God. Oh how Mary must have pondered those words…what does it mean….how am I special in God’s favor…a mystery like so many others….God is God….and we mere human beings,,,.many mysteries to ponder.
The Angel goes on and tells her more things that make no sense to Mary or us in a human sense. She a virgin, a perpetual virgin, will bear a son, name this son Jesus, Savior, who will take the throne of David and his kingdom will have no end. Mary may have been betrothed to Joseph but he as well as Mary agreed on a life of virginity. We can only imagine the depth Mary took these mysteries. But her trust in God allowed her to say yes even if she didn’t understand every detail. What about us?
It is no wonder Mary asked, “How can this be.” Do we wonder how something can be? Do we ever look in hindsight at something we perceived as negative and now see God’s hand and Divine Providence in those moments nudging us, into corrective paths.? God loves me even in my suffering and in my mistakes. Lead on, Heavenly Father!
There’s a nice human touch of Angel Gabriel in conclusion of this passage. Just to emphasize that anything is possible with God, Angel Gabriel tells Mary her elderly cousin who was barren is now with child. God knows how hard it is for a human being to get something but He never gives up. Do we?
Listen for that small whisper that Elijah heard outside the cave. “After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle whisper”. I KINGS 19:12
SCRIPTURE
LUKE 1:39-47
Mary Visits Elizabeth.
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord* should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
MARY VISITS COUSIN ELIZABETH
REFLECTION
Mary though pregnant with Jesus didn’t hang out with her girlfriends to gossip about the wonderful thing that has happened to her but immediately heads out to help out her elder cousin who is also with child. There was to be no competition between pregnant Mary and her pregnant cousin. Elizabeth herself recognized the very special visitation of her Lord, her infant leapt in her womb in joyful anticipation, a Savior will soon be born.
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cries out, how blessed she is by the presence of her Lord in the womb of Mary. I am always delighted and impressed how often in Scripture someone recognizes God by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Soon we will read about Simeon in the presentation in the temple, filled with the Holy Spirit who takes Jesus up in his arms and declares Jesus the consolation of Israel, the promised Messiah.
Do we call on the Holy Spirit often enough to see and hear God in our lives? Elizabeth says to Mary, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Elizabeth affirms Mary is the Mother of the Messiah and confirms for us that if we believe we too will be blessed. Let’s do it when God speaks to us let’s believe him and obey His holy will!
SCRIPTURE
LUKE 1:46-55
The canticle of Mary
And Mary said to Elizabeth: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
MY SOUL PROCLAIMS THE GLORY OF GOD
REFLECTION
“For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness” God loves all of us and speaks to all of us. It doesn’t matter our position in society or our education or our wealth. God chooses His instruments in this world to bring others to Him and be saved.
“Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Here Mary recognizes she is called blessed not for anything she has done but for what God has done in her. Do we count our daily blessings and thank God?
“His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.” In Mary’s words she reminds us of God’s mercy. In Exodus 34:6 God passes before Moses, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” God is merciful and just!
God’s justice and mercy can be seen throughout Scripture. Our first glimpse is in Genesis. Adam and Eve disobeyed God…an infinite offense. They were punished in justice. In mercy, God promised a Savior. What was lost in Garden of Eden was redeemed in Garden of Gethsemane.