Category Archives: Scripture

The Call of the Prophet

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4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Luke casts the call of John the Baptist in the form of an Old Testament prophetic call with reference to the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3-5). Continue reading →

Mission of the Baptist: Repentance

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“He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3)

The basic meaning of the verb baptizo is “to wash,” which is how it is translated in Luke 11:38 (re: ritual washing before meals). The word often also carries, in context, ritual or purifying aspects to the washing. This image is used by Luke in Acts 22:16: “Get up, and have yourself baptized (baptisai) and your sins washed away (apolouo), calling on his name.” When one surveys the reports in the Gospels concerning John’s baptism (Mark 1:2–6), the origin and significance of which was debated (Matt 21:25; Mark 11:30; Luke 20:4), one notices: Continue reading →

The Word of God

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This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Advent. Just as in so many instances in the Old Testament, the gravity of the moment is captured, as it is here in Luke, with the direct proclamation: “…the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.” The phrase serves to call to the fore the expression in 3:2, “the word of God came.” At the beginning of the public ministry Luke ensures we are clear regarding his core and central focus: the action and desire of God in the world. In this he echoes the proclamation from the prophet Isaiah: “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me empty, but shall do what pleases me, achieving the end for which I sent it.” (Is 55:11)  What God has promised, He will achieve in his Son, Jesus. Continue reading →

The Story: Location in History

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1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.

The chronological data of these verses reflects the conventions of Greco-Roman historiography as well as a pattern found in some Jewish prophetic books (Jer 1:1-3; Ezek 1:1-3; Hos 1:1; Isa 1:1). Luke seeks to place his “orderly account” (Lk 1:1) within the context of “world” history. In addition, this writing, addressed to “Most Excellent Theophilus” (Lk 1:3), places the events within the context of the rulers and times (and some historiographic forms) that Theophilus would know. It is likely that he was some type of Roman official. Continue reading →

Preparing and Locating the Story

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On the previous Sunday, the first Sunday in Advent, we considered a passage taken from the stream of Luke’s discourse on the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the signs of the end, warnings about the coming persecutions, the Great Tribulation, and finally the gospel passage about the coming Son of Man (all from Luke 21). The text included: “People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:26-37). To our modern mind, a rather odd choice for the first Sunday of Advent. But then our modern minds think of Advent as the gateway to prepare for Christmas. And therein lies the problem. As explained previously, Advent begins in the shadow of the celebration of Christ as King of the Universe. Considering that, suddenly the reading for the first week of Advent makes sense – we are to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus, what the prophets called “the day of the Lord.” Continue reading →

A Final Thought

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At the beginning of this commentary, we noted that it might seem odd to have an “end times” passage as the gospel for the first Sunday of Advent. But recall that while such readings are often associated with the second coming of Christ in the mind of modern readers, the Old Testament passages that speak of the “days of wrath” or “the day of the Lord” are pointing to the coming of the promised Messiah. And our gospel reminds us that in our liturgical cycle we too are preparing to celebrate the coming of the Messiah – even as we are reminded of the passing nature of this world and our lives. Continue reading →

Warnings and Advice

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This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the posts this week we have looked  at the gospel in context and in detail. The reading ends with a final admonishment

34 “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise 35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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The People’s Response

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This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the previous post we were considering the Lukan usage of the word “sign” – 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. Continue reading →

When these signs begin

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This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the two previous posts we placed the Sunday gospel in the context of the Advent Season and in Scripture. Today we can begin to consider some of the details.

25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

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Revelation – the mark of the beast

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The first readings for this 34th Week of Ordinary Time is taken from the Book of Revelation (except Thursday in the United States as we celebrate Thanksgiving). Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best is unfamiliar to us. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature which enjoyed wide popularity in both Jewish and Christian circles from ca. 200 B.C. to A.D. 200. The first readings this week contain visions in symbolic and allegorical language borrowed extensively from the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Daniel. Continue reading →