Now we come to the passion, and I feel tempted, like a great many Christian writers before me, to start talking about atonement theories, spilling ink, or in this case bytes, over that cosmic something that happened when Jesus died on the cross. But my intent with this blog has been to present Luke’s gospel … Continue reading Luke 23:26-43 The Sudden Enlightenment of St. Dismas
Herod plays a strange role in Luke’s Gospel. Or one might say a mercurial role. He imprisons and beheads John the Baptist because he can’t stand John’s criticisms. Yet members of his court follow Jesus, or at least their wives do, as Joanna the wife of Chuza is named as one of the women who … Continue reading Luke 23:1-25 The Oddness of King Herod
I wonder if Jesus was really afraid, and if he really suffered. I know that there’s some danger in saying this, because we take such comfort from his suffering. It explains and dignifies our own. But I’m led to this question by my beloved Teresa of Avila, who wrote After the rapture has passed, the … Continue reading Luke 22:47-71 The Mind of the Martyr
It is hard to read this portion of the Gospel without tears coming into my eyes. I think it’s Jesus saying, “Simon, Simon, listen!” that gets to me - it’s so urgent, so full of passion and hope. Jesus knows that he only has a few hours left, and that if his disciples are going … Continue reading Luke 22:24-46 The Urgency of Hope
The disciples knew, of course, what was coming. For weeks and weeks Jesus had been talking about Jerusalem, and how he would be arrested, tortured, and killed there. He also told them that he would rise from the dead, but that was so strange and mysterious that their minds couldn’t rest on it, but instead … Continue reading Luke 22:1-23 The Last Supper
KPB Stevens 