Tag: gospel-of-st-luke

  • Preaching Paths 30 March 2025 Lent 4 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In today’s reading (Luke 15:1-3,11b-32), Jesus responds to Pharisees who condemn his habit of sharing his table with notorious sinners and tax collectors. We focus today on what many know as the parable of the “Prodigal Son,” the third in a triad of parables about God’s concern…

  • Third Sunday in Lent, Yr C, 23rd March 2025

    Luke 13:1-9 The parable of the fig tree 13:1At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 13:2He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 13:3No, I tell…

  • Preaching Paths 23 March 2025  Lent 3 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The Gospel text for Lent 3, Luke 13:1-9, continues the apocalyptic tone of Jesus’ teachings in ch 12.  Four themes shape these verses: 1) the fragility of human life; 2) the imminent inbreaking of God’s reign; 3) the narrowing window of opportunity to take appropriate action (repentance);…

  • Preaching Paths 16 March 2025 Lent 2 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s text, Luke 13:31-35, presents preachers with interpretative challenges. Luke joins two short scenes, each of them surprising. First, sympathetic (?) Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod plans to kill him; Jesus responds. Luke follows this scene with Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem, which in Matthew occurs much later,…

  • 9th March 2025, Lent 1, Year C

    Luke 4: 1-13  The temptation of Jesus 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 4:2 where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 4:3…

  • Preaching Paths 9 March 2025  Lent 1 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Luke’s version of the wilderness temptations of Jesus (Lk 4:1-13) follows Mt closely, yet with variations. Luke brackets the wilderness experience with statements that Jesus is “full of [the] Holy Spirit” (vv 1, 14; the definite article is missing in the Greek text). While Mt tells us…

  • Preaching Paths 2 March 2025  Feast of the Transfiguration, Year C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary On Transfiguration Sundays, whatever Synoptic gospel is featured in that lectionary year, many congregations can predict what the preacher will say: “We can’t cling to our mountaintop experiences, trying (like Peter) to freeze-frame the glory; we must engage trouble  in the valleys.” It is a reliable approach,…

  • 2nd February 2025, 4th Sunday after Epiphany

    Luke 4:21-30 The prophet Jesus not accepted 4:21Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 4:22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” 4:23He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote…

  • Preaching Paths 2 February 2025

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Luke’s story of Jesus’ reception in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:14-30) differs from the parallels in Matthew and Mark. There, the reaction of the townsfolk is negative from the start; in Luke, the initial reception is positive. In Mt 13:54-58 and Mk 6:1-6, we hear…

  • 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, 26th January 2025

    Luke 4:14-21 Jesus reads the prophet Isaiah 4:14Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. 4:15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 4:16When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to…