LUKE
All booklets are published thanks to the generous support of the members of the Catholic Truth Society
CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY PUBLISHERS TO THE HOLY SEE
CONTENTS Introduction ...............................................................................3 The Gospel According to Luke ..............................................11
The Jerusalem Bible translation Bible de Jérusalem
INTRODUCTION A Cosmopolitan Writer
INTRODUCTION
Luke, the Critic of Worldliness At the same time, however, Luke does not scruple to show his criticism of this richer world, pointing out the dangers of wealth (the parable of the Rich Fool, 12:16-20, or of the Rich Man and Lazarus, 16:19-31), the need to use wealth and position for good ends (14:7-11; 16:8), and insisting that salvation comes first to the poor (hireling shepherds, 2:8, compare 7:21-22), the unfortunate (the barren couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth) and the outcast (lepers, sinners, tax-collectors). While Matthew’s eight Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-10) concentrate on attitudes of spirit, the poor in heart who hunger for righteousness, Luke’s four Beatitudes (Lk 6:20-23) bless with stark realism those who are actually poor and hungry, and are balanced with four Woes on the rich and comfortable. It is perhaps through the consciousness of the dangers of such a lifestyle that Jesus ceaselessly proclaims the need for conversion and repentance. Acknowledgement of sin is an essential prerequisite of being called to follow Jesus. This is the case with Peter (5:8), the Woman who was a Sinner (7:36-50), Zacchaeus (19:1-10), the Good Thief (23:40-43), and the crowds at the Crucifixion (23:48). Conversion, a complete reversal of standards and way of life is demanded from beginning to end of the gospel (3:7-13; 5:32; 10:13; 24:47). Correspondingly, the welcome awaiting repentance and the joy in heaven at the conversion of a sinner is repeatedly illustrated (15:1-32). 5
A Gospel for the Gentiles
The Jesus of Luke’s Gospel
Who was Luke?
Reading Luke
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE
Prologue
I. THE BIRTH AND HIDDEN LIFE BAPTIST AND OF JESUS
OF JOHN THE
The birth of John the Baptist foretold
to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children e
How can I be sure of this?f The annunciation
for nothing is impossible to God.’h The visitation
The Magnificat exults in God my saviour; he has looked upon his lowly handmaid. Holy is his name, his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him. He has pulled down princes and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy