Introducing Luke's Gospel
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Introducing Luke's Gospel By Fr Tom O'Reilly SSC |
[Gospel of St Luke - Reflections by Fr Tom O'Reilly SSC]
Luke is exceptional among the Synoptic evangelists in that he explicitly refers to his aim in writing at the beginning of his work (Lk 1:1-4). He wants to strengthen the faith of Theophilus ('lover of God'), who may be a figure representing the predominantly Gentile Christian communities for which Luke wrote. A plausible suggestion is that these communities, situated in Greece or Syria, had been affected directly or indirectly by Paul's missionary work. In the mid-eighties, the time when Luke wrote, these communities were in transition and were experiencing a number of related crises. As people cut off from their Gentile past and without roots in Judaism, they were undergoing a crisis of identity. Who are we? Where do we fit into the scheme of things? As missionary communities encountering opposition and little response, they were experiencing a crisis of missionary motivation and a loss of missionary nerve. Why continue to reach out in such an unresponsive situation? Living in a difficult present and faced with an uncertain future led to a crisis of faith. Can we be sure that God is faithful and will be there for us?
Luke sets about retelling the story of Jesus in a way that responds to these questions in his communities. He drew heavily on Mark's version of the story, but gave it his own slant. He continued the story in the Acts of the Apostles, linking the mission of the Church to the mission of Jesus. For him, the whole story is the Good News of a compassionate and faithful God reaching out to all without distinction, wanting all to experience his liberating and transforming salvation. Luke's work has been called the story of the hospitality of God who invites all to sit at his table. Luke is telling his Gentile Christians that they are not 'at sea,' but are immersed in the ongoing current of God's unfolding salvific plan. He is encouraging them to continue on their missionary path and thus be channels for others of God's all-inclusive acceptance and hospitality. He is assuring them that God is a faithful God on whom they can depend absolutely.
Luke is a marvellous storyteller. We are indebted to him for some of the most memorable short stories in the Gospels, e.g., the stories of the Good Samaritan (10:25-37), the Prodigal Son (15:11-32), the Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31), Zacchaeus (19:1-10), the disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:13-25). But he has also forged all his material into one single narrative with a great sense of movement. It is the story of the journey of the Good News from Galilee to Jerusalem in the mission of Jesus, and from Jerusalem toward the end of the earth in the mission of Jesus' disciples. The story has its origins in the history of God's fidelity to Israel over the centuries. For Luke, it is an ongoing story. It continues today and we are invited to be part of it. Luke tells the story in a way that draws readers into the narrative, inviting them to play their part now.
The importance of the context in which we read the Scriptures today is increasingly recognized. We bring our own questions and issues to the reading of Luke's story, seeking meaning and empowerment. Today's missionaries are also beset by questions of identity, motivation and faith. What is the role of missionary groups in a Church where everyone is called to be a missionary? Why continue to reach out in the face of challenges and difficulties that threaten to overwhelm us? Are our rapidly decreasing numbers a sign that God is not with us? Perhaps we can find some answers to such questions by listening more closely to the Good News according to Luke, which features prominently in the Sunday liturgy this year.
[Gospel of St Luke - Reflections by Fr Tom O'Reilly SSC]