Article 21
Prayer in the Gospel of Luke - Part Two
“It is especially necessary that listening to the Word of God should become a life-giving encounter.. which draws from the biblical text the living Word which questions, directs and shapes our lives.” Starting afresh from Christ 2002 (24)
We continue to explore how important Jesus’ prayer was for Luke, as he wrote his gospel. This encounter with the Word of God is going question, direct and shape our lives. It is going to be much more than just an article in the Archdiocesan News.
The first scene in Luke’s gospel takes place in the Temple. The priest Zechariah is officiating in the Temple. “At the hour incense the whole congregation was outside, praying.” (1: 10) This prayerful setting will continue throughout the gospel right to the final sentence, “They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy; and they were continually in the Temple praising God. (24: 52-53)
In chapter one, two annunciations take place, both are in the context of prayer. The birth of John the Baptist is announced to Zechariah as he is at prayer in the temple. Mary is at home when the Angel Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus. Luke is telling us that our prayer is to be practiced equally in church with the Christian community and in the home in the context of family.
Chapters one and two of this gospel contain the infancy narratives. (These are a very special literary genre. This will be a topic for later study.) Luke places four beautiful prayers within these chapters; the “My soul magnifies the Lord..” (The Magnificat); “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;” (Benedictus); “Glory to God in the highest heaven;” (Gloria) and the “Now Master, you can let your servant go in peace.” (Nunc dimittus) Scholars tell us that these were possibly hymns sung in Luke’s community. They must have been really popular because their popularity has continued for two thousand years. They were so good that Luke places them on the lips of Zechariah , Mary, Simeon and Anna. The composers of these hymns drew their inspiration from the Old Testament. They strengthen the unity between Old and New Testaments.
A glance at Hannah’s prayer, in 1 Sam 2: 1 – 10, reveals where the composer of the Magnificat got his inspiration. “My heart exalts in Yahweh – The bow of the mighty is broken but the feeble have girded themselves with strength – He raises the poor from the dust.” How important it is that we should prayer Mary’s Magnificat as our prayer.
Let us pray: “My soul (life) proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” It may take time for this to really sink in. “The Almighty has done great things for me.” Do I really appreciate all that God has given me? You may need more time to ponder this phrase so as to hear the full implications of praying it. (1: 46; 49)
If you take a close look at Simeon’s prayer you will realise that Luke is describing the action of the Risen Christ in Luke’s community. Indeed the impossible had taken place there. Jew and Gentile, Christian and Pagan were coming together to pray and worship. Jesus is the “light to the pagans and the glory of the people of Israel.” (2: 32)
Before becoming one who hands on the Word… Every member of the faithful, like the Church herself, must be a hearer of the Word. He should live “within” the Word and allow himself to be protected and nourished by it, as by a mother’s womb. Paul VI 1975
Although these words were written two thousand years after Jesus human life on earth he certainly lived out their meaning. In the beautiful scene in which Jesus walks with the disciples on the road to Emmaus he opens the Scriptures . “Then starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the Scriptures that were about himself.” (24: 27) This opening up of the Scriptures changed their lives. “Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us.” (24: 32)
This was a really life-giving encounter with the Word for Cleophas and his companion. (24: 18)
It is especially necessary that listening to the Word of God should become a life-giving encounter.
The Hebrew Scriptures must have been the very essence of Jesus spirituality.
In the synagogue at Nazareth he uses a text from Isaiah to proclaim his mission.
The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, and proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. (4: 18)
This is our mission, too!!
