Rev. Michael Piazza says of Luke 6:1-16 “This chapter begins with a conflict because the disciples harvested some grain on the Sabbath. The second story is about a conflict that occurred because Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The second story ends by describing how the religious leaders were furious and began “to discuss what they might do to Jesus.” For Luke, the conflict that leads to the end began very early. In fact, this all occurs before verses 12-15 in which Jesus calls the twelve. While Jesus has called people to be his disciple before this, Luke seems to be saying that, following these conflicts, Jesus names 12 select men to be his inner circle. Not only that, but this naming follows a night spent in prayer alone on the mountainside. This is no casual thing. According to Luke, it is a sacred promotion. Jesus called all his disciples around him, and, after seeking God, he designated 12 of them as apostles. Luke is indicating that the conflict was a sign that the One sent from God would be rejected by the descendents of the 12 patriarchs. This rejection would lead to God replacing them with 12 apostles. Luke, who is a product of the early Church, gives us some insight into how the church came to understand the role of the original 12. The description of Jesus going up on a mountain to pray will be repeated at the end of the Gospel of Luke, just before Jesus ascends into heaven leaving the church and the work in the hands of his 12 direct descendants. This theory of succession, first of the 12 patriarchs (tribal founders) of Israel and then of Jesus himself, is part of the reason that Luke alone describes how Judas is replaced. The word “apostle” simply means “one sent forth.” It could be substituted for the word “ambassador” in many contexts. In the book of Acts, Luke refers to people other than the original 12 as apostles, so there is some debate over whether or not he understood the 12 as having been assigned to a specific office. What is clear, though, is that Luke understood the call to be issued against the background of conflict and risk, and that those who are called by Jesus have a responsibility to imitate him. We are called to do, as Jesus did, the work he described in the Synagogue in Nazareth: bring good news to the poor, work to free the prisoners, heal the sick, and relieve the oppressed. This work will be opposed, so we should just expect it, right from the start."
Rev. Michael Piazza says of Luke 6:1-16 “This chapter begins with a conflict because the disciples harvested some grain on the Sabbath. The second story is about a conflict that occurred because Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The second story ends by describing how the religious leaders were furious and began “to discuss what they might do to Jesus.” For Luke, the conflict that leads to the end began very early. In fact, this all occurs before verses 12-15 in which Jesus calls the twelve.
ReplyDeleteWhile Jesus has called people to be his disciple before this, Luke seems to be saying that, following these conflicts, Jesus names 12 select men to be his inner circle. Not only that, but this naming follows a night spent in prayer alone on the mountainside. This is no casual thing. According to Luke, it is a sacred promotion. Jesus called all his disciples around him, and, after seeking God, he designated 12 of them as apostles.
Luke is indicating that the conflict was a sign that the One sent from God would be rejected by the descendents of the 12 patriarchs. This rejection would lead to God replacing them with 12 apostles. Luke, who is a product of the early Church, gives us some insight into how the church came to understand the role of the original 12. The description of Jesus going up on a mountain to pray will be repeated at the end of the Gospel of Luke, just before Jesus ascends into heaven leaving the church and the work in the hands of his 12 direct descendants.
This theory of succession, first of the 12 patriarchs (tribal founders) of Israel and then of Jesus himself, is part of the reason that Luke alone describes how Judas is replaced. The word “apostle” simply means “one sent forth.” It could be substituted for the word “ambassador” in many contexts. In the book of Acts, Luke refers to people other than the original 12 as apostles, so there is some debate over whether or not he understood the 12 as having been assigned to a specific office. What is clear, though, is that Luke understood the call to be issued against the background of conflict and risk, and that those who are called by Jesus have a responsibility to imitate him. We are called to do, as Jesus did, the work he described in the Synagogue in Nazareth: bring good news to the poor, work to free the prisoners, heal the sick, and relieve the oppressed. This work will be opposed, so we should just expect it, right from the start."