Luke “likes” stories about hospitality. It was an “age of hospitality.” Hospitality “was” a big thing. Unfortunately today, people do not “go” and “visit” any more. Back in the day, when I grew up, Sunday afternoon was the day and the time to reconnect with family members and friends. We went to the cemetery. We […]
One of the things that is known – in relation to this text – is that – this was a story told over and over again in the early church. It was relished. It was liked. It was embraced. People liked it. Women loved this story. Men loved this story, as well. (But probably for […]
This text scares me. It is way too black and white. Or perhaps, “my understanding” of it – is way too black and white. In either case, it scares me. It seems to me you always run the risk of offending someone – and fostering an age/old sibling rivalry… In a few short verses, this […]
Jesus was a story-teller. He was a master story-teller. When Jesus told a story, people were “supposed to” listen. Trust me – there will be something to be gained…something to learn, if you do! You will be “the better” – for listening to the story and hearing it out. You will probably also be surprised. […]
Yeah, it’s a known story, yes, it is a familiar story…and unfortunately … that only does us – “a huge disservice.” We are comfortable with the story. We “get it,” we understand it. We have heard it many, many times. And we assume from the “git-go” that we understand what is happening in the text. […]
The “primary metaphor” is the word “harvest.” According to Jesus it was “harvest time.” “Harvest time” is always a “special time” of the year – no matter when it occurs. In Jesus’ day, people intuitively understood when “the fields” were ripe for harvesting. Plowing, planting or sowing, watering or caring for, weeding and fertilizing were […]
This is a little tongue and cheek – but it also rings sadly true. I have searched the scriptures over and over and over again… I have seriously “Googled” – late into the night. My findings are astounding…and are worthy of some kind of a thesis. I know that speaking for myself, I have never […]
There is so much that could be said about Sts. Peter and Paul…and as you well know, most of what we know -comes from the realm of “tradition.” What little Biblical evidence we do have is very insightful and helpful…but there was so much more – that people wanted to know. Tradition seemed to fill […]
It is an old, old message and it goes all the way back to what were some of the earliest days in Galilee. The good old days… That is, before there was “this” confrontation and “that” confrontation, always “a confrontation” coming from one direction or another. You could almost count on it. Publicly speak and […]
We miss the point. It is easy for us to miss the point that Luke is attempting to make. Our sympathies lie all over this story. For example: It is so easy for us to focus on the demoniac. A man of great strength. Big. Scary. Out of his mind. Living in the tombs among […]