Luke 13:1-9 (3rd Sunday of Lent, February 28, 2016)

Gospel:

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” 

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

Gospel Trivia:

There are two different but related accounts in this Sunday's gospel -- first, the two incidents related to the death of some Galileans and another involving "eighteen people"; the second is the parable of the fig tree.

On the first:

- the Galileans were likely political rebels that were squashed by Pilate; the eighteen people were probably workers who figured in an accident while constructing a water tower;

- in both incidents, the victims were the poor and politically oppressed, and Jesus was telling his audience (who were also poor and politically oppressed) that conversion is required from everyone, including those who are victims of oppression.

- secondly, Jesus was going against the concept of retribution -- a common notion at that time (and even today), that misfortunes were God's retribution for one's bad behavior.

On the parable of the fig tree:

- the fig tree, like the vine, was also used as symbolizing Israel;

- the fruitfulness of the fig tree symbolizes the people of Israel who have not converted and the time to act is now;

- there is an urgency, a deadline to do so, as reflected in the caretaker's plea to give him a year; note also that fertilizing a fig tree is not usually done, which suggests an extraordinary measure was being resorted to.

Jesus came to preach not a life based on rules and laws, but a life based on conversion towards love of God through neighbor.

Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Parables for Today (Makati: St. Paul Publications, 1987), p. 195-197.

Luke 9:28-36 - The Transfiguration (2nd Sunday of Lent, February 21, 2016)

Gospel:

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Gospel Trivia:

The following "trivia" will make us better appreciate the significance of this account:

- this gospel passage comes right after Jesus advises his disciples that "anyone who wishes to follow him must deny himself and take up his cross daily."  Luke wanted to reassure his readers that discipleship leads to eventually to the glorification of Jesus.

- the presence of Moses and Elijah is a reassurance that Jesus mission is in accord with the teachings of the Mosaic Law and the pronouncements of the prophets; incidentally both Moses and Elijah were rejected by their people.

- the voice from the cloud referring to Jesus as the "chosen Son" means that he is not only the Messiah in the militaristic sense, but for a salvation with a divine purpose.

This gospel account, together with the passage immediately preceding it, presents Jesus' paschal mystery -- that is, his pass-over journey, referring to his passion, death and resurrection.  This is the God we believe in -- a crucified God who overcomes death itself.

(The transfiguration is also in the other synoptic gospels -- you can click and read the Gospel trivia on Matthew's and Mark's version).

Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), p. 341-343.


- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990).

Luke 4:1-13 (1st Sunday of Lent, February 14, 2016)

Gospel:

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” 

Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”

Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” 

When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Gospel Trivia:

The temptation of Jesus also appears in the gospels of Mark and Matthew (but not in the gospel of John).  You can read the Gospel Trivia for Mark here and for Matthew here. 

Each gospel writer has a different intention for his version, which is why each version is different.  What makes Luke's different?

- Only Luke emphasizes that Jesus was "filled with the Holy Spirit".  Also, in Luke, the Holy Spirit accompanies Jesus through the desert, and not just prompts Jesus to go there.  For Luke, it is as Son of God filled the Holy Spirit that Jesus begins his public ministry.

- Secondly, in Luke, the sequence of the second and third temptation is reversed compared to that of Matthew's version.  (Mark does not enumerate the temptations).  Luke's third temptation refers to Jesus in a temple in Jerusalem. For Luke, Jerusalem is where the strongest temptation happens.  Indeed, Jesus' conviction as a criminal will happen in Jerusalem.

The Holy Spirit accompanies us and enables us to confront the temptation towards glorifying self, accumulating wealth, and compromising principles.

Other Trivia:

- The "forty days and nights" is likely not to be taken literally; "forty" is used to refer to a "long time" and connects Jesus to the forty years of Israel's journey in the desert, to the fasting of Moses on Sinai and of Elijah on Horeb.  (By the way, these are the only three people recorded in the Bible as having done a forty day fast).

Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), p.300-301.

Luke 5:1-11 - The Call of the Disciples (5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 7, 2015)

Gospel:

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.  

Gospel Trivia:

This passage is about the call of the first disciples and their immediate response to that call.  The following gospel trivia will reveal the more profound message of this gospel:

- For the Jews, water and the sea were the habitation of Satan and forces opposed to God; the lowering of the nets and the bountiful catch symbolize the extraordinary success of Jesus' and the disciples' mission.

- Note that the disciples were inspired to join Jesus after seeing his miraculous work; at the same time, there is Simon's feeling of unworthiness.  The manifestation of God's power brings both admiration and unworthiness

- Finally, note that Luke's version says "you will be catching men" instead of "you will be fishers of men".  This is a subtle nuance, but Luke focuses on the mission of catching instead of the disciples as fishers of men.

Every disciple is a missionary, and the mission of converting humanity to a life of faith, love and forgiveness will meet a resounding success.


Reference:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Manila: St. Paul Publications, 1988), p. 312-314.