Getting ready to listen to Luke's gospel

St. Luke by El Greco

Just a few days into Advent is not, I hope, too late to offer you some reading, a little homework, for a deeper understanding of the scriptures we hear at Sunday Mass.

As you may know, the Sunday lectionary runs on a three year plan. In Year A we hear mostly from the gospel of Matthew, in Year B from Mark and in Year C from Luke. (We hear from John's gospel less frequently but certainly in the high seasons of the liturgical year, on particular feasts and in Year B during Ordinary Time.)

Beginning this past Sunday we entered Year C and so we'll be hearing the gospel of Luke from now until Advent 2010.

For some general background on the gospels, take a look at this article from the New American Bible, the translation used in American parishes. For some introductory material on Luke in particular, see this article from the NAB. I can assure you that reading these two pieces will enhance your understanding of the gospels from week to week.

In preparing this post, I came across a handy parallel arrangement of the four gospels. (Note: this is the New American Standard version, not the NAB.) It's interesting and helpful to compare and contrast how each of the four gospels treats (or sometimes omits) material contained in the others. Follow the link and play with the four columns. You'll understand why Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the synoptics (from the Greek 'syn,' meaning "together," and 'optic,' meaning "seen"). These three share a common view while John often stands in contrast to his brother evangelists. In each column of the parallel arrangement, clicking on one of the small colored book icons will call up the similar passage in the other gospels. (Follow the link and these directions will be easily understood!)

The illustration on this post is El Greco's rendering of St. Luke. You see the bible in his hand open to a page displaying a painting within the painting - a Madonna and Child. You can be sure El Greco chose this because it is in Luke's gospel that we find the most detailed description of the birth of Jesus, the Christmas story. Follow the link to the parallel arrangement and compare what each of the four gospels offers us regards the birth of Christ - you might be surprised!

No matter how often we have heard particular scripture passages proclaimed and preached, regardless of how familiar they have become, no matter how often we may have prayed over particular portions of the bible, there is ALWAYS more to learn about the Word of God!

-ConcordPastor