1. Searching for God in Jesus The God of Luke

2. Searching for God (ii) Why choose Luke?  T T T The humanist gospel  U U U Universal missionary thrust  L L L Launches the Church`s mission in second part: the Acts of the Apostles

3. Why choose Luke? Over half the gospel (630 verses) contains material found in neither Mark or Matthew 6 of the 20 miracles 6 of the 20 miracles 19 0f the 35 parables 19 0f the 35 parables

4. Features of Luke`s gospel Each gospel has its own characteristics - each sets out to demonstrate how God is revealed in Jesus Comprehensiveness: Comprehensiveness: the fullness of life Universalism: Universalism: for all people The individual: The individual: centrality of the person Sympathy: Sympathy: ability to feel with the person Forgiveness: Forgiveness: seeking out the lost Prayer: contemplation Prayer: contemplation in day to day living Songfulness; Songfulness; joy and optimism Society: Society: importance of home Poverty: Poverty: compassion for the poor and abandoned the poor and abandoned Characters: Characters: people centered Children Children Women Women

5. 1. Comprehensiveness: the fullness of life Luke`s gospel begins earlier than Mark`s and Matthew`s, with the annunciation of John and Jesus and the story of their infancy Luke`s gospel begins earlier than Mark`s and Matthew`s, with the annunciation of John and Jesus and the story of their infancy It ends with the missionary command at the ascension of Jesus and with the joy of the Apostles It ends with the missionary command at the ascension of Jesus and with the joy of the Apostles All of life is important because Jesus images God as the fullness of life All of life is important because Jesus images God as the fullness of life

6. 2. Universalism: inclusive Luke has a broad outlook upon the world Luke has a broad outlook upon the world The gospel of Christ is for the whole world The gospel of Christ is for the whole world Luke alone has the mission to the seventy representing the nations of the world Luke alone has the mission to the seventy representing the nations of the world Christ `came to save that which is lost` Christ `came to save that which is lost` Gives Christianity a universal significance Gives Christianity a universal significance

7. 3. The Individual: centrality of the person Luke presents Christ, not as a Christianizer of peoples, but as a Savior of people Luke presents Christ, not as a Christianizer of peoples, but as a Savior of people Luke`s parables are parables of men and women, proclaiming the message of salvation to each one individually Luke`s parables are parables of men and women, proclaiming the message of salvation to each one individually Luke highlights the role of individual people: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, Anna etc Luke highlights the role of individual people: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, Anna etc

8. 4. Sympathy: ability to feel with each person Jesus is portrayed as one who has pity on all who are in need Jesus is portrayed as one who has pity on all who are in need Shows great love for the plight of the lost and the sinner (not for the sin) Shows great love for the plight of the lost and the sinner (not for the sin) Jesus reaches out and is moved at those who show penitent faith Jesus reaches out and is moved at those who show penitent faith

9. 5. Forgiveness: seeking out the lost Chapter 15 of the gospel contains the trilogy of famous ‘lost’ parables Chapter 15 of the gospel contains the trilogy of famous ‘lost’ parables Forgiveness is vital and for everyone is the message Forgiveness is vital and for everyone is the message Jesus exhorts us to forgive if we would be forgiven and bids us pray for forgiveness Jesus exhorts us to forgive if we would be forgiven and bids us pray for forgiveness From the cross Jesus prays that those who have put him there might be forgiven From the cross Jesus prays that those who have put him there might be forgiven His final commission to the disciples is that repentance and forgiveness of sins be proclaimed in his name to all nations His final commission to the disciples is that repentance and forgiveness of sins be proclaimed in his name to all nations

10. 6. Prayer: contemplation in day to day living Jesus offered prayers at crisis moments in his life (9 passages - 7 in Luke alone) Jesus offered prayers at crisis moments in his life (9 passages - 7 in Luke alone) Prayer as duty is insisted upon Prayer as duty is insisted upon Prayer seen as a human necessity, part and parcel of human existence Prayer seen as a human necessity, part and parcel of human existence

11. 7. Songfulness: joy and optimism The gospel begins and ends with songs and there is rejoicing all the way through the gospel The gospel begins and ends with songs and there is rejoicing all the way through the gospel The words rejoice and joy occur 19 times The words rejoice and joy occur 19 times There is none of the failure at the end as recorded in Mark for example There is none of the failure at the end as recorded in Mark for example

12. 8. Society: importance of home We see more of Jesus in his relationships in this gospel than in any other We see more of Jesus in his relationships in this gospel than in any other Home and meals are important (Bethany - house of Zaccheus and Simon the Pharisee - Emmaus Home and meals are important (Bethany - house of Zaccheus and Simon the Pharisee - Emmaus Many of his parables are marked by the details of home life Many of his parables are marked by the details of home life

13. 9. Poverty: compassion for the poor and abandoned Many of Luke`s parables weigh riches against poverty Many of Luke`s parables weigh riches against poverty Shows in this gospel the mercy of Jesus towards the poor, the humble, the despised Shows in this gospel the mercy of Jesus towards the poor, the humble, the despised Jesus proclaims himself as anointed to serve the poor in the sermon at Nazareth Jesus proclaims himself as anointed to serve the poor in the sermon at Nazareth

14. 10. Women: importance of feminine figures The word `woman` occurs 43 times in Luke`s gospel (Matthew = 30 / Mark = 19 / John = 19) The word `woman` occurs 43 times in Luke`s gospel (Matthew = 30 / Mark = 19 / John = 19) Women it is stressed followed and ministered to Jesus and the disciples Women it is stressed followed and ministered to Jesus and the disciples Are last at the cross and first at the tomb Are last at the cross and first at the tomb Are to be included in full discipleship (story of Martha and Mary) Are to be included in full discipleship (story of Martha and Mary)

15. 11. Children The gospel of the infancy and childhood The gospel of the infancy and childhood Luke stresses that parents brought the children to Jesus Luke stresses that parents brought the children to Jesus records the story of the widow`s only son records the story of the widow`s only son Notes that the epileptic boy was an `only child` Notes that the epileptic boy was an `only child`

16. 12. Characters; people centered Delineates so well human characters and shows insight into human nature and the work of God`s Spirit on human nature Delineates so well human characters and shows insight into human nature and the work of God`s Spirit on human nature Depicts the characters of his gospel so well and almost sketches us portraits through his descriptions Depicts the characters of his gospel so well and almost sketches us portraits through his descriptions

17. Luke`s Jesus is human In this gospel the divinity of Jesus is beautified by his humanity

18. Luke`s challenge to us To become the image of Jesus for the young people to whom we are called

19. The Salesian Matrix of imaging God Four environments to be created in our work: Four environments to be created in our work:

20. The Salesian Matrix of imaging God Four experiences shared: Four experiences shared:

21. The Salesian Matrix and how we live it!

22. The Salesian Matrix and Luke’s image of God Importance of the individual The fullness of life Poverty Women For all people Children Prayer Songfulness Sympathy Forgiveness Society: home