Gospel of Luke
Fall 2006 Bible Study

Luke 11,12

"St. Joan of Arc Bible Study is an open and growing group that meets for fellowship and to discuss the Bible and other faith-centered literature. Our informal study group draws from biblical scholarship, historical perspectives, current events and personal reflections. We welcome honor and respect the personal ideas and spiritual journeys of all who join us."

Greetings

The last minute absence of our volunteer facilitator didn't daunt us - especially since he so kindly forwarded his notes. Thanks, Dave T; we hope all is well.

The first item of business was a proposal to look into structured bible study materials to help guide the group. Typically, these include assigned readings of specified passages, commentary, and suggested questions for discussion. Some are meant as a guide to the participants; the questions are "homework" to be answered prior to the session. Others are more a guide to the leader. Some members had positive experience with such guides, either in bible study, or in other book groups. One member felt the availability of such a guide would ease the sometimes challenging job of facilitator; without it, the task of research and writing notes is the equivalent of a graduate level seminar. Some members had encountered such "guides" which were nothing more than prescriptive, black-and-white statements of doctrine. The questions were rote tests regurgitating the over-simplified doctrines. Others assured them that the guides they had used were much more open-ended and open-minded.

Mary volunteered to explore the available guides and report back to the group. Thanks, Mary.

Here follow David's notes.

Please say the emphasized words as a prayer to begin the meeting. Luke uses the Aramaic, Abba. To stress the close fatherly relationship we should have to God. Please end with the Hail Mary.

"THE LORD'S PRAYER"
"When you pray, say:
"Daddy, ('Abba' in Aramaic)
holy is your name.
May your Kingdom come.
(Matthew continues: your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven)
Give us each day, our daily bread;
(Matt. Says: Give us this day our daily bread;")
and forgive us our sins,
for we, ourselves, forgive everyone who is indebted to us;
and lead us not into temptation."
Matt adds: "But deliver us from evil." (or the Evil One)
Text S, B, D,Y: "for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever Amen." (Not accepted in the Canonical Text, but used in Protestant versions)

This brings us to the very important question: What is the Kingdom of God? Luke tries to answer this question throughout his "Good News". The very model for the Church (Reconstructed Israel) is Mary! Let us go back to Luke, 1:10, Where Zechariah was praying in the Temple. "And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense."

He didn't say: The Jewish people, he said the WHOLE MULTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE WERE PRAYING. In other words, the Reconstituted Israel! Go to the Beatitudes in Luke: 6: 20-23. The poor, sick, weak, the hungry, the ones who weep, when you are hated, etc. The inner man, the attitude. Then we come to Mary. The Lucan Infancy Narrative is much different from Matthew and missing from Mark. This might be where Luke did a lot of digging and thinking about what the Kingdom of God meant and how we are to be the Reconstructed Israel.

I would have ended with the Hail Mary, only a different translation:

"Rejoice (Mary) so highly favored one!
The Lord is with you.
... you have found favor with God.
The Most High has overshadowed you,
And your child is called holy, 'the Son of God'
..."Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
The Most High has blessed his servant Israel,
O merciful God.
Amen

Everything begins and ends with prayer, and in Jerusalem. The new Reconstituted Israel. The Church which can follow the Jewish laws but need not be so strict. The Israel which encompasses all men and women, whom Luke includes and makes Mary, the blessed one, the model for the Church or the Reconstituted Israel.

Let it be done unto me according to your Word.
Even sinners at the "table".

Chapters 11,12,13- LUKE

According to the New Jerome Biblical Commentary, and a scripture scholar I studied under, Luke was writing around 80 ad. He is fighting two theologies. The Christian Jewish-strict tradition, and the Gentiles who are not familiar with the Jewish Traditions. The former want to have strict entrance requirements to the "Reconstructed Israel". These Strict Reconstructionists are the "Pharisees" in the Gospel.

The second 'theology' is who belongs to the "Kingdom of God", children of Abraham and there heirs of God's promises. Social status, ethnic heritage, and religious self-justification do not qualify.

According to Crossan, Jesus is remembered as the resurrected Christ and, in another tradition, as the founder of a way of life. In the former a group in the city of Jerusalem shared everything in common and awaited the coming of Christ in power. The latter are itinerants who preach the teachings of Jesus and are supported by sometimes-critical communities. Both traditions are connected in their practice of shared meals and their origins in the historical Jesus.

Even without the aid of the facilitator, the group stayed very much focused on tonight's readings, especially since the first verses were the Lord's Prayer. So much time was spent on this, that we had to re-convene as a large group to discuss Chapter 12, and we never did get to Chapter 13.

There was no absence of treats, though. Our treat bearer presented us with a large, fragrant pan of pumpkin bars, fresh out of the oven, topped with a cream cheese frosting. Just the thing to warm us up on a cold night. It was hard to return to the circle from the table fellowship. Thanks, Jane.

Next week: November 21 - Gospel of Luke, Chapters, 13, 14, and 15.