Meditate on it

Each gospel has a distinct flavor.   Mark is "cut to the chase" with urgency.   Matthew is comprehensive and historical.  John is the wildest---poetic, big picture.  But, thank God for Luke because he reminds me most of myself.  If I was given the task of writing a gospel, I suspect I would proceed very much like Luke:  these are the things I've observed--- these are the things I've been told--now let me write them down so "that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught." (Luke 1:4).  Luke was not loosey-goosey or an optimistic romantic about life.  He recognized the need for an "orderly account," and rolled up his sleeves to "geter done." As a doctor, I imagine Luke was a thoughtful observer of people and life.  His preface "it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you" is measured and unassuming.  There are things that "see

“Christ was born of a woman, that neither sex might despair.” -Augustine My meditation on Luke 1 continues as my thoughts turn to Mary, mother of Jesus, this morning. On her deity: "Deify her, and, besides other things, you wrong the whole human race; you depose her from her rightful place at the head of Christian women; you cheat Christ’s sisters of their sweet queen, and say, in effect, that you can do nothing with a pure life and a humble spirit but make an idol of it. Give us back the mother of our Lord; we want her here with us on earth, that our maidens and our matrons, feeling her to be one of themselves, may learn from her, in each event of life, how to receive God’s will about themselves." E.T. Marshall As I grew up Catholic, I have a particular suspicion of super Biblical beliefs. I find no precedence for the special role that Mary has been assigned by the Catholic Church. In fact, this singling out goes against the entire thrust of New Testament theology. Did

The nativity narrative in Luke is like an old friend---comfortable and easy to take for granted.  Extraordinary events seem ordinary after dozens of encounters.  To keep things fresh, I'm back to the page for some intellectual accountability. 5 things to think about in Luke 1 1. Fulfillment of a hope may be long delayed but not dead.   Zechariah and Elizabeth were both blessed.  As a faithful priest, he had the privilege of seeing the beginnings of the Messiah.  And his son ushered this event in.   Elizabeth had the joy of bearing a child...a son with an incredibly honorable role to play. 2. God may interrupt your everyday plans for something better in His economy.  As John Wayne put it: "Sit loosely in the saddle of life."   Mary and Joseph were engaged and surely had their own dreams for the future, but the Lord had grander plans, and they embraced them. 3. The heavenly realm monitors events on earth.   As much as we'd like, we cannot peer into Heav