Daily Retreat 10/03/06
2006 Oct 3 Tue: Ordinary Weekday
Jb 3: 1-3. 11-17. 20-23/ Ps 87(88): 2-3. 4-5. 6. 7-8/ Lk 9: 51-56
From today’s readings: “Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.... Let my prayer come before You, Lord.... As the days were being fulfilled for Him to be taken up, Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem....”
Jerusalem in Luke’s Gospel
Chapter 9, verse 51 is one of the most important verses in the entire gospel of St Luke: “As the days were being fulfilled for Him to be taken up, Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem....” This final journey that Jesus makes to Jerusalem comprises about a third of the gospel of St Luke, and throughout this section, no other specific topical indications are mentioned, in order to preserve the focus on Jerusalem.
For, in Luke’s Gospel, Jerusalem is emphatically the central locale of reference. The very first narrative of the Gospel is set in Jerusalem, when Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the Temple. Then soon after His birth, Jesus Himself is presented in the Temple, and is found there again in Jerusalem in His childhood. Later, the Devil’s climatic third temptation is set in Jerusalem. Then, after His activity in Galilee, Jesus resolves and “sets His face” to go to Jerusalem, which, of course, is where He suffers His passion and is crucified. But then Jesus rises from the dead, and Luke goes on to specify that it just outside Jerusalem where the Ascension of Jesus took place, when He was taken up to Heaven.
The use of the verb “take up” in Luke 9:51is thus intriguing, for the only other place it is mentioned in the Bible is at the Ascension of Jesus, when He is taken up to Heaven. Thus, it is the glorious Ascension that is understood as the fulfillment of the whole series of events Jesus contemplated when He set His face to go to Jerusalem.
Here’s another point about Luke’s wording: In the Bible, the passive voice is often used to respectfully portray divine agency. So, as the days are fulfilled for Jesus “to be taken up,” the use of the “divine passive” underscores that God is in control here. For Jesus is completely aware of what awaits Him - He knows exactly what’s going to happen. He Himself determines to go to Jerusalem. So, He’s not a dunce that just ends up in Jerusalem and gets overpowered by his enemies because he’s completely naive and doesn’t know what is going on. No, for Jesus knows, and sees what’s coming. He has the whole picture, and yet He resolves, freely and fully, “sets His face” and commits Himself to go to Jerusalem.
This all ties in with our own lives of Christian discipleship, for Jesus has lovingly and resolutely set His divine face on you and me as well, calling us to be taken up with Him on the whole passionate journey to Jerusalem.....
Jb 3: 1-3. 11-17. 20-23/ Ps 87(88): 2-3. 4-5. 6. 7-8/ Lk 9: 51-56
From today’s readings: “Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.... Let my prayer come before You, Lord.... As the days were being fulfilled for Him to be taken up, Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem....”
Jerusalem in Luke’s Gospel
Chapter 9, verse 51 is one of the most important verses in the entire gospel of St Luke: “As the days were being fulfilled for Him to be taken up, Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem....” This final journey that Jesus makes to Jerusalem comprises about a third of the gospel of St Luke, and throughout this section, no other specific topical indications are mentioned, in order to preserve the focus on Jerusalem.
For, in Luke’s Gospel, Jerusalem is emphatically the central locale of reference. The very first narrative of the Gospel is set in Jerusalem, when Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the Temple. Then soon after His birth, Jesus Himself is presented in the Temple, and is found there again in Jerusalem in His childhood. Later, the Devil’s climatic third temptation is set in Jerusalem. Then, after His activity in Galilee, Jesus resolves and “sets His face” to go to Jerusalem, which, of course, is where He suffers His passion and is crucified. But then Jesus rises from the dead, and Luke goes on to specify that it just outside Jerusalem where the Ascension of Jesus took place, when He was taken up to Heaven.
The use of the verb “take up” in Luke 9:51is thus intriguing, for the only other place it is mentioned in the Bible is at the Ascension of Jesus, when He is taken up to Heaven. Thus, it is the glorious Ascension that is understood as the fulfillment of the whole series of events Jesus contemplated when He set His face to go to Jerusalem.
Here’s another point about Luke’s wording: In the Bible, the passive voice is often used to respectfully portray divine agency. So, as the days are fulfilled for Jesus “to be taken up,” the use of the “divine passive” underscores that God is in control here. For Jesus is completely aware of what awaits Him - He knows exactly what’s going to happen. He Himself determines to go to Jerusalem. So, He’s not a dunce that just ends up in Jerusalem and gets overpowered by his enemies because he’s completely naive and doesn’t know what is going on. No, for Jesus knows, and sees what’s coming. He has the whole picture, and yet He resolves, freely and fully, “sets His face” and commits Himself to go to Jerusalem.
This all ties in with our own lives of Christian discipleship, for Jesus has lovingly and resolutely set His divine face on you and me as well, calling us to be taken up with Him on the whole passionate journey to Jerusalem.....
posted by FrPitstick | 9/27/2006
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