Small Group

In the readings this week we meet the sinful woman who loved Jesus and the Three Woman who follow Jesus.

In healing the Centurion’s slave and raising the widow’s son, Jesus is fulfilling the stories of Elisha and Elijah that he quoted in Nazareth.

We must love our neighbors, even those who are our enemies, and we cannot judge others by pointing out their sins when we still have sins of own. Rather, to be a follower of Jesus, we must always have an attitude of spiritual impoverishment borne of humility and contrition.

The first story of Jesus’ ministry in each gospel sets the tone for that Gospel and answers the question of who the gospel writer sees Jesus as. For Luke, Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophets.

Each of the three temptations is a type of temptation that all sons of Adam confront. Just as Jesus defeats the devil with the Spirit and the Scriptures, so we are called to do as well.

John the Baptist was “a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue; both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God; and so to come to baptism.” – Flavius Josephus

Jesus is not “redeemed” and restored to his parents under the Law, but personally given over completely to God in the Temple and from now on belongs to him completely. – Pope Benedict XVI

Jesus wasn’t born in a barn and angels aren’t cute and cuddley. Luke is not a Hallmark movie.