Materialism
In our time
people have to come to grips one way or another with the question of
materialism. In a consumer culture such as our own many people have to come to
terms with the ethos that surrounds us that would say that happiness lies in
what you have, and that your worth is determined by what you have. Luke’s
gospel is one in which particularly challenges such short sightedness. The
reader of Luke's gospel soon becomes aware that the question of riches is
addressed by Luke in his special
material on the subject:
Luke 1:53
Magnificat (the hungry are filled and the sent rich away empty).
3:10-14 The preaching of John the Baptist focuses on sharing and justice.
6:24-26 The blessings and woes for the rich and the poor
11:40
The call to give alms .
12:13-15
Warning against avarice.
12:16-21
The parable of the Rich Fool.
12:33
Call to sell your possession and give alms.
14:7-14
The teaching on humility and inviting the poor to feasts that you host.
14:33
The call to renounce everything.
16:1-9
The parable of the Unjust Steward.
16:19-31
The Rich man and Lazarus.
19:1-10
Zaccheus.
( This is not to mention shared
material like the Widows mite in Luke 21:1-4 or the material in Acts 2:43-47;
4:32-35 which presents an ideal picture
of the Christian community or the warning provided by Acts 5:1-11 regarding Ananias and Sapphira ).
Prayer
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| http://www.newbridge-church.com/prayer--care-ministries |
Given
the stresses and strains of modern life all of us are faced with the challenge
of coping in an increasingly anxious and violent world. In our own day we have
witnessed the upsurge of interest in various forms of meditation and prayer as
a means of responding to the pace of modern life. It is interesting to note Luke's
concern to address the question of prayer in the life and ministry of Jesus and
the early Church.
3:21
Jesus at his baptism
5:15
Jesus withdraws to the wilderness to pray.
6:12
Jesus prays prior to choosing apostles and the Sermon on plain
9:18 Jesus prays prior to
informing the disciples that he must suffer and die.
9:28 The
transfiguration happens while Jesus is at prayer prior to beginning
his journey toJerusalem, the
city that will reject him.
11:1-4 Jesus is praying when the
disciples ask to be taught how to pray.
This results in them being taught the
Our Father.
11:5-13
The parable of the friend that comes at midnight is a call to
enduring prayer (see 8:16 bringing forth fruit
in patience)
18:
1-8 The persistent widow and the judge
21:36 Pray that you may have the strength to
escape in the time of trial
22:39-46
The double reminder to pray not to enter into temptation
23:34
Jesus' prayer of forgiveness for those who crucify him
23:46
The death of Jesus is prefaced with Ps 31:5" Into thy hands
I commend my spirit"
24:53 The gospel
concludes with the early christian community in the
Temple giving praise to
God.
The
pattern of Jesus prayer is marked by being consistent, patient,
compassionate, and realistic. Prayers are not always answered
immediately, and persistence is required. There will be times of difficulty and
persecution, times when there is upheaval, anxiety and fear. For Luke Mary exemplifies the ideal as she
ponders Luke 2:19 and keeps all these things in her heart Luke 2:51
Acts
continues this understanding of the role of prayer throughout the growth of the
Church in the midst of opposition and difficulty
Acts 1:14, 2:42-47 The early church at
prayer.
Acts
1:24 The replacement of Judas.
Acts
6:1-6 The choice of the deacons.
Acts
10 The conversion of Cornelius and Peter's vision.
Acts
12:5 Peter's rescue preceded by the community's prayer.
Acts
13:3 Paul's and Barnabas' first missionary journey preceded
by the prayer of the community.
Acts
14:23 Elders appointed in every church after prayer and fasting.
Acts
16:25 Paul's and Silas' rescue preceded
by prayer.
The role of women in the life of the Church
One
of the pressing issues in our own day is the call for the recognition of the
role and contribution of women to the Church's life. Luke presents us with a picture
of the ministry of Jesus and that of the early Church in which both men and
women are challenged by the Gospel message. There are a number of examples
which demonstrate both Jesus' and Luke's sense of balance.
Lk
1:8-23, 26-38 There are annunciations to Zechariah and Mary.
Lk
4:25-27 There is the example of Naaman the Syrian and the
Sidonian widow.
Lk
8:1-3 The mission of Jesus is supported by women.
Lk
13:18-19, 20-21 The Kingdom of heaven is
compared to the mustard
seed a man plants and the woman leavening
dough.
Lk
15:3-7, 8-10 The Parables of the Lost sheep
and the Lost Coin.
Lk
17:34,35 In the days of the Son of Man
both men and women
will
be taken.
Lk
23:27, 49, 55-56; 24:1-12 The exemplary role the women play in the
passion and resurrection narratives
Continuing into Acts see
the pattern continues:
Acts 1:14 The
post resurrection community is described as made up of
women and men.
Acts
2:17 ( citing Joel 2:28-32 ) notes how in the end time both sons
and daughters will prophesy.
Acts 5:14 Multitudes of men and women become
believers.
Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira must both
suffer the consequences
of their actions.
Acts
12:12 The church gathers in the house of Mary
the mother of John.
Acts
16:13-15 The household of Lydia is converted.
Acts17:
4,12 There are women of high standing in the
community.
Acts18:26
Aquila and Priscilla work as a team.
Acts 21:9 Philip the evangelist
had seven unmarried daughters
who prophesied.
The Church as multicultural
The communities that Luke wrote to and for were multicultural. In the gospel itself there are a number of indicators that this is part of God's enduring plan for all people.
In the Song of Simeon Jesus is spoken of as being
a light to the Gentiles 2:32
Jesus' genealogy describes him as son of Adam, son of God 3:38
At Nazareth Jesus refers to Naaman the Syrian and
the Sidonian widow 4:23-30
The people that hear the Sermon on
the Plain include
those
fromTyre and Sidon 6:17
The Roman Centurian has a slave healed by Jesus
and is praised for his faith 7:1-10
Good Samaritan shows what compassion looks like 10:29-37
Gentiles will come from north
and south, east and west
to sit at messianic banquet 13:29
In the parable of the feast people are brought in
from outside the city 14:24
The the only leper to return and give thanks was
a Samaritan 17:11-19
Repentance and forgiveness to
preached to all nations
beginning from Jerusalem Lk 24:47
We
will see this last element picked up in Acts of the Apostles in a number of ways:
The
missionary journeys of Paul that eventually lead him
to the heart of the empire,
There are four outpourings of the Spirit to Jews, Samaritans,
God fearing
Gentiles in Caesaria, and Gentiles in Ephesus
The rejection of Jesus by his own people leads to the Gospel
spreading from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth Acts 1:8
The church is open to outsiders
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| 'Ten Lepers Healed' by Brian Kershisnik |
Jesus reaches out to the
alienated and outsiders.... alienation of sin, race, occupation. The church
that Luke envisages is not the church of the elect but made up of those who
hear the word of God and keep it.
The woman who anoints Jesus is a sinner 7:36-50
The poor, lame, blind and maimed must be invited
to banquets 14:13,21
There are three parables of God's mercy in Lk 15
Jesus heals of 10 lepers 17:11-19
Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and publican 18: 9-14
The episode of Zacchaeus the tax collector 19:1-10
