Feb. 16: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here and now

Jer 17:5-8; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20; Lk 6:17, 20-26

The church commemorated the Presentation of the Lord a few Sundays ago. On that day we discussed some of the unique features of the Gospel of Luke. Specifically, we talked about the strong incarnational theology present in Luke’s Gospel.

Incarnational theology is a theological perspective that focuses on the goodness present in all of humanity, including those who are overlooked or looked down upon. We saw how this theology is present with the Gospel’s greater concern for the poor, a greater focus on women, and the importance of table fellowship. This is far from the only special aspect of Luke’s Gospel.

As I am sure you have heard before, each Gospel was written from a different perspective and with a different goal in mind. This fact also extends to the presentation of Christ in each of the Gospels.

For each synoptic Gospel, Christ is modeled after a specific Old Testament character or tradition. For example, Moses serves as the model for Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. The Gospel of Luke is the only Gospel where Jesus is presented as a prophet, specifically a prophet like Elijah and Elisha.

The author of Luke makes it very clear that he is connecting Jesus to these two men. We can see this from the very beginning of Jesus’s ministry in Chapter 4.

Jesus begins by proclaiming a jubilee year in Chapter 4, verses 16-19. He then references Elijah and Elisha immediately afterward, comparing his mission to theirs. We see Jesus raise a widow’s son in Chapter 7, a story which is particular to the Gospel of Luke. It calls to mind the stories of Elijah and Elisha raising a widow’s son (1 Kgs 17 and 2 Kgs 4). We can find another parallel in Chapter 9 of Luke, where Jesus calls his would-be followers, which takes after the story of Elijah calling Elisha in 1 Kings 19.

Another theme that further establishes Luke’s presentation of Jesus as a prophet is the theme of journeying. This is an important theme within the entire Bible. It is on the journey from Egypt to Canaan that the Israelites learn what it means to be Israel. Also, it is on the journey where the disciples learn what it means to be disciples.

Journeying is also a very important theme for many prophets. Amos, for example, makes a journey from Judah to prophesy in the northern kingdom. Both Elijah and Elisha are constantly journeying.

Another way we see Luke’s Jesus presented as a prophet is through his focus on the here and now. Throughout the Gospel of Luke, there is an emphasis on the present — the word “today” (in Greek, “semeron”) is used frequently. The Gospel of Luke gives greater emphasis to the present dimension of salvation. This is called “realized eschatology.” It is the idea that salvation is an opportunity present to us now. This salvation comes from listening to Jesus and acting on his words.

If we turn to the Zacchaeus story near the end of the Gospel, we see a great example of how Luke focuses on this present dimension of salvation. After Zacchaeus springs into action, Jesus proclaims, “Today salvation has come to this house” (19:9).

This brings us to today’s reading from Luke, where incarnational theology and prophecy are combined into Jesus’ sermon on the plain. Here Jesus proclaims the poor, the hungry, the weeping and the hated to be blessed. All those whom Luke’s Jesus proclaims to be blessed are vulnerable or dealing with the practical problems of being human.

Jesus then pronounces woes upon the rich, who are often targets for Old Testament prophets. These blessings and woes point to the “today” of those Jesus is speaking about. It points to those who are suffering or are too blinded by their own fortune that they either do not notice the ones suffering or participate in their suffering.

Both Old Testament prophets and the Jesus of Luke focus on the here and now. They encourage listeners to act on God’s word today so they can make the world better now. It is for us to create God’s kingdom on earth so that God can usher in the era of full restoration.