Did you know that only the Gospel of Luke contains the parables of the Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son, the stories of Mary and Elizabeth in the infancy narratives, and the resurrection appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmas?

With its themes of Jesus’ all-inclusive compassion, healing and forgiveness, Christians have always gravitated toward Luke’s Gospel.

You’ll begin this series by exploring the historical setting for Luke and his community. See how the infancy narratives (Luke 1--2) set the stage for the rest of the Gospel, sounding some of its distinctive themes, and prefiguring Jesus’ prophetic mission. In the subsequent ten sessions, you’ll explore texts from the Gospel thematically.

You will come to understand Jesus’ healing mission, as he mends broken bodies and spirits as signs of the inbreaking of the reign of God. Next, explore Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness, prefigured in Zechariah’s prophecy (1:77) and in the ministry of John the Baptist (3:3), and exemplified in the story of a man who was paralyzed (5:17-26). Experience Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness (11:4; 17:3-4) and his own words of pardon from the cross (23:34, 43).

Professor Reid will next focus on the parables. How do parables work? See parables as provocative stories, not always easy to understand, and open to a variety of interpretations. Explore several of the parables retold in Luke with new understanding.

Next, investigate Jesus’ all-inclusive mission, as he welcomes all kinds of people at the table: a woman who had been a sinner (7:36-50), and people from the highways and byways (14:1-24).

Explore the ways in which Luke features women disciples. While there are more female characters in Luke’s story than in any of the other Gospels, the message about their ministerial roles is ambiguous. How can Luke’s Gospel be of help in contemporary discussions about women’s ministerial roles.

Next, you will encounter the theme of thr rich and the poor. Luke, more than any other Gospel, stresses the relationship between the use of material possessions and the response of discipleship.

You will then explore the theme of Jesus as rejected prophet. The Lucan Jesus takes on the persona of a prophet from the moment he announces his public ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth, where he echoes the words of Isaiah (Luke 4:18; Isa 61:1-2).

In the final two sessions, you will learn about Jesus’ prayer and his obedience to God. More than any other evangelist, Luke stresses Jesus’ prayerfulness. Finally, you will look at Luke’s theme of fulfillment of Scripture, and the Empowering Spirit with which Jesus acts, and which he bestows on his followers.

Your presenter is Barbara E. Reid, a Dominican Sister and Professor of the New Testament at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Her long-standing interest in the Gospel of Luke began while earning her Ph.D. at The Catholic University of America.

The fruits of her work in these areas are published in her books, Choosing the Better Part? Women in the Gospel of Luke, The Parables for Preachers Series, A Retreat With St. Luke, as well as numerous articles. Her most recent book is Taking Up the Cross: New Testament Interpretations Through Latina and Feminist Eyes. She is General Editor for Sophia Commentary, the forthcoming feminist Bible commentary series by Liturgical Press, and Sophia’s Table.

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• Luke and His Community

• Birthing Hope

• Healing Broken Bodies and Spirits

• Forgiveness in Word and Deed

• Preaching in Parables: Sowing Subversive Seeds

• Provocative Images of God

• All Are Welcome

• Women Disciples

• Rich and Poor

• Jesus the Rejected Prophet

• Prayer and Prophetic Obedience

• Fulfillment of Scripture and Empowering Spirit

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