Thank God for Luke

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 "seem good to me also" that are of the Lord, but I proceed with caution.  Too many people start with "thus saith the Lord through me" in a presumptuous way.

F.D Maurice comments:

"Some may cry, “Was he not then taught by the Spirit of God?” I imagine that he who described the Day of Pentecost, and referred the whole existence and work of the Church to the Spirit of God, had quite as awful a feeling of His government over himself as any of us can have. The freedom of his language shows me how strong his feeling was; our sensitiveness and unwillingness to connect the Spirit with the operations of the human intellect, indicate the weakness of ours. We ask for distinctions about the degrees and measures in which the Spirit has been or will be vouchsafed. The Evangelists make no such distinctions. I think they dared not."

I agree---give me the cautious recorder over the assuming types any time.

What else can I gather about Luke?  He was from Antioch, Syria.  He followed Paul around and was single.  He was with Paul in Rome toward the end of Paul's life: 2 Timothy 4:11: "Only Luke is with me."

St. Luke, Paolo Veronese, 1555  Luke's iconographic symbol was the ox, a symbol of sacrifice.

He is mostly affirmed by historians and archaeologists as being an accurate recorder of events and details.  As with most anything, the newer criticism casts doubt on some aspects of his work.  Medieval and Eastern Orthodox Church tradition holds that he was the first icon painter and that he made icons of Mary.  However, there seems little historical basis for this. Interesting, his relics reside in three different locations: his body is in an abbey in Padua, in Northern Italy.  His head is in a cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic.  And a rib resides in his tomb at Thebes, Greece.

Luke is the sole recorder of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son---how much poorer our souls would be without these touchstones of the faith.  According to Catholic Online, he records 6 miracles and 18 parables that occur no where else in the gospels. Also, without Luke the record would be much thinner on the early history of the Church.  His "Book of Acts" was originally contiguous with his gospel.  They were separated into two books later.  

An obvious end note that I mention because it had slipped past me, but Luke was NOT an eyewitness of the events of Christ's life, nor was he a disciple.  He is considered one of the 70 apostles. Fuzzy thinking had me thinking he was a disciple at least, and I guess in the broadest sense he was, but he was not one of the original 12.  

What About Mary?

“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. Didn't Paul and the disciples resisted any inclination to elevate themselves? They always redirected the focus back to Christ. Why would Mary be any different?

Mary's nature as revealed by the scriptures is marked by repetitive humility and caution. Here are her thoughts and words as recorded by Luke:

Philippe de Champaigne, 1644

"But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be." Luke 1:29

And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" Luke 1:34

And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38

Mary's song:

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 
for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 
And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."  -Luke 1:46-55

Mary's image has drifted far from the sum total of her words.  Her sky blue clothing, Anglicized features, and mature age are our super Biblical interpretations.  The first recorded prayer to Mary dates to mid 3rd century.  The belief in the assumption of Mary dates to the 6th century.  The issue is difficult to sift through and centuries old.  As much as I'd like to find reason within the Catholic teachings or be able to completely dismiss them, I find myself somewhat in-between.  The Catholic teachings are too far from the Bible, but when reading through their explanations, they soften them to the point where I subsequently soften my own hard-nosed distaste for "Mariology."

Here's one Catholic priest's understanding of the role of Mary in their tradition. I do find his three categories of respect in worship helpful: Latria, Dulia and Hyperdulia.  Thinking it through more precisely, my objection may be to time/focus spent on praying to the saints and to Mary.  My concern, which many of the 174 comments on this post reflect, is the need to keep our eye on THE ball, Christ.  

Luke 1

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 Heaven.  But the obstruction is one-sided, like a two-way mirror.   Luk 1:13  But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 

4. Doubt is common--even among the righteous.  Luk 1:18  And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." From Gabriel:

Luk 1:20  And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 

5. Answers to our requests (Zechariah asked for a sign), may be granted---to our detriment.

Zechariah got his sign, but also became temporarily mute.  God's economy is tight.

Alexander Ivanov, 1806-1858
"And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense." Luke 1:11