Daily Scripture Readings in Luke

Elmhust, IL 60126

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This year, during the Liturgical Season of Lent, the Board of Elders is challenging all Bethel members to the discipline of reading through the entire Gospel of Luke. To encourage this discipline we have put together this devotional booklet. Included in the booklet are six devotionals, one for each week of Lent. The devotionals are written by Bethel members. Each author writes in her or his own style and shares insights based on their own personal experience of life.

Lent this year begins on Ash Wednesday, February 21.

The 1^st week of Lent goes from Wed., Feb. 21 to Sat., March 3

Read Luke 1 through 5.

The 2^nd week of Lent goes from Sun. March 4 to Sat. March 10

Read Luke 6 through 8

The 3^rd week of Lent goes from Sun. March 11 to Sat. March 17

Read Luke 9 through 12

The 4^th week of Lent goes from Sun. March 18 to Sat. March 24

Read Luke 13 through 16

The 5^th week of Lent goes from Sun. March 25 to Sat. March 31

Read Luke 17 through 20

The 6^th week of Lent goes from Sun. April 1 to Sat.. April 7

Read Luke 21 through 23

Easter Sunday is April 8

Read the story of the resurrection in Luke chapter 24 and come to church to celebrate the new life God offers to us all

A Brief Introduction to the Gospel of Luke

The Gospel of Luke is unique in many ways. It is the only Gospel that is actually Part I of a two-part series. Luke and Acts stem from the same author. Acts takes up where Luke leaves off - with the stories of the early Church.

Luke, more so than any of the other Gospels, links the Old Testament with the New - finding the basis and fulfillment of the promises in Jesus Christ. Luke's emphasis is on the sweep of history, and the action of God in history that points to redemption and salvation. Luke firmly anchors events within the framework of world events: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. (2:1-2)

Luke also shows a command of language that demonstrates great skill and poetic imagination in the way that he narrates the story.

There are particular passages unique to Luke too - important stories within the Jesus traditions. The stories of the Shepherd's at Jesus birth can only be found in Luke, as well as the extensive visits between Mary and Elizabeth (Lk 1-2) The Magnificat where Mary sings God's praise is in 1:47-55. (Compare this to the song of Hannah and you see its basis in the Old Testament tradition - 1 Sam 2:1-10.) Only in Luke do we find any information about Jesus as a boy (Lk 2:41-52) The parable of the Prodigal Son is found only in Luke (15:11-32). The short parable which precedes it is also unique to Luke - the Parable of the Lost Coin. Finally, the encounter with the Risen Christ on the Emmaus Road closes the Gospel in a unique way - 24:13-35.

Luke, known as "The Beloved Physician" (See Col. 4:14) powerfully narrates the story of Jesus in a way that claims Jesus' participation in our history, linking history with God's intention.

(Partly summarized from the Harper-Collins Study Bible by Rev. Stephen Schuette)

During the first week of Lent we are encouraged to read the first five chapters of Luke. Ellen Braun shares with us her devotional thoughts based on a story from chapter 4 of Jesus' power to heal the sick. Ellen was president of our Church Council last year. She and her husband, Jeff, have been members at Bethel for more than 25 years!

Luke 4:38-41 Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they besought Jesus for her. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she rose and served them. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and Jesus laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus was asked to use his healing powers to cure those who were ill. A few words spoken by Jesus or even the touch of his hands were enough to help the afflicted ones to be healed. The people who witnessed these miracles believed that the power of God was strong enough to drive out the demons that caused illness.

In our times, scientists have learned that illnesses are caused by germs, viruses, and genetic mutations, but many people still believe that spiritual power is important for healing. When a loved one is diagnosed with a serious disease, prayers can be an important source of hope and strength. When our daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, we sought the best medical care available for her but also found comfort and support through prayer. Knowing that others were praying with us was an important part of the healing process. Our daughter responded well to treatment and thankfully has been free of disease for five years. She was blessed to have wonderful doctors, supportive family and friends, and the power of God's love to help her through difficult times. Sometimes we learn during times of crisis to appreciate the gifts God gives to us every day.

During the second week of Lent we are encouraged to read chapters 6 through 8 of Luke. Our devotional thought for this week comes from Jude Hines. Jude is a member of our church who has served on our Board of Elders in past years, but is now busy serving on the board of the "Questioning Youth Center" (QYC) that meets in Naperville. She is also the mother of four young adult children.

Luke 6:1-2 & 6-7 One Sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" . . . On another sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him.

This passage is about the Pharisees who were basically stalking Jesus like the paparazzi attempting to catch Him at any infraction of the law. The Pharisees were critical of Jesus and the disciples picking and eating grain on the Sabbath. Here were the disciples who had given up their jobs and homes to follow Jesus, learn, preach and eventually heal in His name and a bunch of nosey "rule followers" chastise them for laboring to get a few bites of grain. Later they are infuriated when Jesus heals a physically handicapped person on the Sabbath. The Pharisees emphasis on the letter of the law and their motive to try and find fault with Jesus and His followers give us a peek into their hearts and minds. They were so busy trying to unseat Jesus as any kind of prophet or new spiritual authority that they were unable to hear, see or appreciate any of Jesus' messages or miracles. Perhaps their hearts were so hardened by power seeking and rule following at that point that they would have been close to impenetrable to Jesus' message of love and forgiveness, the message that didn't rely heavily on laws and rules. Their impassioned desire to minimize Jesus' authority blinded them to hearing Jesus' words.

When have we been so fixated on the rules, 'the way things have always been done', what we already know, what we are comfortable with, or the letter of the law, that we can't see the big picture? When are we so stuck on how things 'should be' (whatever THAT means) that we aren't ready or open to change or to a new message, a new perspective? Jesus was bringing a new message and the Pharisees weren't interested in anything new, even if it included body-healing miracles. Now that is small minded!

I pray that I can continue to stretch and grow beyond what I already know and beyond that with which I am comfortable. I pray that if Jesus were to enter my world today with a new way of doing and thinking that I would be open enough to hear and see things differently in order to learn a new way, to see the bigger picture of a new message.

During the third week of Lent we are encouraged to read chapters 9 to 12 of the Gospel of Luke. Karen Ritter, who regularly reflects on nature with the children in our POP program, wrote this devotional for us.

 When I walk thru the woods I find myself reflecting on all that God provides in nature. My faith is enriched and strengthened as I find peace and quiet with nature. I can see, feel, smell, hear and even taste (delicious wild black raspberries) all that God provides. The amazing wonder of how God can provide for the creatures in the woods is revealed in the fact that just one baby bird needs 14 feet of worms to survive each day! And just like the raven who does not worry because it knows there will always be insects and material for nesting available to it, I learn from nature to worry less. If God cares and provides so much for one small creature, just imagine what God will do for me!

During the fourth week of Lent we are encouraged to read Luke chapters 13 to 16. Our devotional for this week comes from Lisa Hartlage. Lisa runs a travel agency out of her home, while working together with her husband, David, to raise their three young children. Lisa has served on our board of deacons and regularly teaches one of our Sunday morning POP classes.

Luke 16:19-21 There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

I remember this day very clearly. It was mid January 1983. I was a high school junior at the time and lived with my Mom, Dad and Sister in Lockport, a suburb close to Joliet. There was a huge Martin Luther King weekend sale at the Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet so Mom, Sis and I prepared to go shopping. It was so cold out and had snowed about 4 inches over night. As we drove into the mall area by McDonalds, we noticed a man walking. He was carrying a beat up backpack, wearing old ratty clothing and tennis shoes. He was walking the outskirts of the mall and looked so tired and cold. I had never seen a homeless person in our area before and thus felt very sorry for him. My Mom approached the man and asked if he was hungry and if he would care to join us for lunch at McDonalds. We pulled into a parking space, got out of the car. Many others were doing the same as it was the lunch rush. As I watched my Mom talking with the man, I noticed other people give them a wide berth. They either stared or looked down at their feet. Some even shook their heads. The gentleman said that he would appreciate a meal.

My Mom ordered for us, and then asked the man what he would like. He wanted two Big Mac's, a large French fry and a chocolate shake. We got our food and sat down to eat, mindful of the stares and looks of disgust on the other customer's faces. The man ate quietly and slowly and listened to our conversation. We tried to engage him a few times, but he seemed content on being in a warm place and eating his first meal in two days.

We did not go shopping that afternoon, but went to our church instead to pray for that man. My Mom, to this day says, "what if he was Jesus". We should always help others who suffer. I follow my Mom's example and am proud to do so.

During the fifth week of Lent we are encouraged to read Luke chapters 17 to 20. Jim Harris, who is a member of our Open and Affirming Task Force, writes a very personal story of his reflections on the story of The Rich Young Ruler.

Luke 18: 18 & 22 A certain ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?". . .When Jesus heard this he said to him, "There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: then come, follow me."

My first impression of Doris, when I met her some 35 years ago, was that she was a true child of the sixties hippies generation. Her hair was long and shaggy. Her dresses were long and flowing with tons of scarves. A cigarette was her constant companion. I somehow compared her looks to Joan Baez. This is who I am," she said, as she handed me a two paged single spaced summary of her credentials. She was listed in every Who's, Who among American Women that existed. She owned her own retreat lodge for adult psychotherapy. As much as I was impressed, by the woman, my initial examination of her accounting for her business left me discouraged. Between co-mingling of business and personal funds, several bank accounts, no system for client filing, no system for confidential records, the business was quickly going down the tube.

I was very young then. Very intelligent: A bank examiner, College professor, C.P.A., Deacon in the local Methodist Church. I had a wife and one son. In addition I owned my own new home, cottage, and two Buick Electra's that were a mile long each. I was also very brash back then. She was actually asking me to clean up her mess?

That night I agreed to take on the task, but I told her that I would not make a final decision to continue until after 90 days. I really felt that she was a headstrong woman who, in spite of being 10 years older than I, would not listen to me. "And what will be your criteria?" she asked. "Whether you do what I tell you to do." I came back.

Ninety days later, I was the one who was humbled. Doris had followed every instruction I had given. What is more she followed every instruction without question and without one bit of hesitation. What I did was to literally turn her financial world upside down. I'm sure it was scary for her, but her implicit faith in me did not go unrewarded. We began a relationship that was to last us the rest of our lives. She was years later to confide in me that she was totally impressed with my ability to see a problem and solve it without judgment or ridicule.

In her practice Doris always said: "I don't want your ego. I don't want your emotions. I don't want your interpretation. I just want the facts." And when she got the facts she never batted an eye, but accepted them as they were, without judgment, and dealt with them. She applied this to her everyday living also. If it was the truth, nothing fazed Doris. This was what I always admired in her.

A few years later it was Doris who was the very first person I ever told that I was struggling with homosexuality. I wasn't asking for approval, I was only saying to her that I was struggling. In that context she accepted what I said without judgment and only with help. "What are you going to do with it?" was her first question. Her next question was "How much are you willing to pay for the truth of who you are?" I did not have any answers, but for that journey Doris remained with me for the next 30 years.

Five years later I was to realize the price I was willing to pay when I had lost everything I ever had. My job, my home, my children, my church, were all gone now. One Halloween night friends found me walking South on the northbound lane of Lakeshore Drive. I had given all, and lost all. I had hit bottom.

Around this time Doris got deeply involved in a new type of psychotherapy, called Transactional Analysis. "If I'm going to get involved in this, then you are too" she would implore me to help her. We studied. We met world famous people and attended conferences all over the U.S. and Hawaii. Doris's path was clinical. Mine turned toward the spiritual, and I turned to Norman Vincent Peale, Unity Church, and the Power of Positive thinking. In my quest for finding myself I came across the book "A Course in Miracles." The book is set up for a one year study with lessons and meditations every day. The lessons systematically tear down the ego and replaces that ego with a child like wonder and awe of the incredible awesome power of the love of God. Biblically based, the lessons affirmed to me that my God loved me, regardless of who I was, and with total lack of judgment, allowed the love of God to flow through me in peace and love for others. I began to accept myself more as a child and an expression of God. I began for the first time to realize that God dwells within my soul and is completely and totally unassailable from any outside influence.

It was shortly after that fateful year that changed my life, that Doris sold her lodge and moved into a limited care adult community. She would be able to continue her practice and see clients. One day she called me and asked: "What is this book called "A Course in Miracles." She explained that a couple of her clients had talked about it to her. "Funny you should ask." I replied. I have an extra copy right here I'll send it to you. I have often given copies of that book to close friends.

During the following couple of years she would often call me and we would talk about the book and Gods perfect love. She lamented that so much of modern religion is based what the church interprets as correct, and controlling the thoughts of the parishioners, instead of allowing for the simple truth of God's love. On that we both agreed. "That darn book" she would often say. "I throw it down and swear at it, yet I always seem to get back to it and want to explore it more."

As time went on my visits to Michigan grew less and less. One Labor Day weekend I decided to pop in to visit Doris in Kalamazoo unannounced. It was a Thursday evening. The minute she opened her door, I could see on her face something was wrong. Still chain-smoking her cigarettes, I allowed her to talk. Finally she said that she went to the Doctor a few months ago and he had told her that she had two choices. Either Chemo or Radiation. "I told him there was another choice." She said. "What was that?" I queried. "Nothing." She matter of factly came back. I tried my best to keep grounded in myself and came back . "Have you made any decision as to your body?" Doris hated the word death, but somehow I knew it was there. "I always wanted to be buried at sea." She said. "That might present some legal problems." I suggested. "I know, why don't you arrange a cremation, and have the remains scattered at sea." I explained that this would eliminate any legal problems.

"Jim, tell me about him," She quickly changed the subject. "You're happier than I've ever seen you." Without even saying a thing, she already knew that I had met Michael and my long struggle with accepting myself and accepting Gods love for me was over. I told her about how we had just bought a new home and how Michael had accepted me with all my shortcomings. We talked for only an hour and then I had to go.

When I returned to Chicago the following week, I decided to call Doris's son, Dennis and ask him how sick Doris really was. "What did you two talk about?" Dennis demanded. I explained that I had seen her Thursday evening, and recounted the conversations. Dennis stopped me mid sentence and said, "Let me tell you what happened. "On Friday Doris got up and dressed herself and went to see her lawyer. She changed her will to have herself cremated and her remains scattered at sea. On Saturday afternoon she arose and drove herself to the hospital and checked herself in. On Sunday she passed. On her desk we found that she was reading the bible on one side and on the other side she was studying the Course in Miracles.

In her own style, Doris accepted that her own ego had to let go and allow God's unjudging love flow through her. It was this way with Doris from the first day I met her, and it will be this way always. Doris is and always will be with me with that one truth.

As I continue my own journey and struggle with the judgment of others, I can always look back on the example that Doris gave me and draw strength from that undying love for me.

Now, during this final week of Lent, we read the closing chapters of Luke's Gospel, starting with chapter 21. Rev Rebecca Love writes our final devotional. Rebecca was ordained in our church in June of 2003. She shares her home with her spouse of 14 years, Joanne, and their 3 cats. Rebecca's devotional is based on the story of Jesus' last meal with his disciples. As Jesus faced his impending death he asked his disciples to remember with him the stories of their shared experiences. In her job as hospice chaplain, Rebecca often encourages both the patients and their families to retell the stories of their lives. People find renewed comfort and hope as they tell stories that make them laugh and cry together.

Luke 22:14 & 19 "When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. . . Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' "

A great theologian once said, "While life must be lived forward, it is understood backward." Throughout his three years of ministry Jesus was repeatedly frustrated by his disciples lack of understanding. It wasn't until after his death, as they took the time to remember and retell the stories of Jesus' life and teaching, that the disciples began to understand what Jesus had been trying to teach them. As they repeatedly retold the stories of their experiences with their beloved Master and friend, the disciples found new purpose and meaning for their own lives. Eventually their lives were transformed as they discovered within themselves the same spirit of love, hope and courage that was in Jesus.

In her book, Kitchen Table Wisdom Rachel Remen says, "Everybody is a story. Sitting around the table telling stories is not just a way of passing time. It is the way the wisdom gets passed along." When I was visiting my 87 year old father last week, I reflected with him about the expensive plumbing jobs the winter freeze had created in my home. Then I said to him, "Do you remember the days when you use to do plumbing and other odd jobs to help people around their homes?" Without hesitation my dad (who has advanced Parkinson's disease and some dementia) replied, "Sure, I did whatever I needed to do to get the Gospel to those people." As a missionary in Spain my dad had often used his handyman skills as an opportunity to gain others' trust enough to begin sharing the good news of God's love for them. Dad went on to say, "That's what you do in hospice, isn't it? You take care of the body so you can reach the soul." I had to admit that there are many ways that I have followed in my father's footsteps. As my dad retells his stories for me, I find myself better understanding my own life story.

There is wisdom contained in everyone's "story," but perhaps the greatest wisdom of all time is found in the story of Jesus. During this Lenten season maybe we can find the time to stop and "listen" to the stories of Jesus' life and death. And perhaps we will discover new ways to follow Jesus' command to live "in remembrance of me."