30 Days with the Gospel of Luke

Cover

Download PDF (127.0 KB)
 

Title Page

Download PDF (12.2 KB)
pp. 1-

Copyright Page

Download PDF (11.8 KB)
pp. 2-

Table of Contents

Download PDF (18.1 KB)
pp. 3-4

Introduction

Download PDF (61.5 KB)
pp. 5-6

I am trained as a New Testament scholar. Some years ago I began the huge project of translating and annotating St. Bonaventure’s three-volume Commentary on Luke’s Gospel. During the course of my work I realized that Bonaventure...

Day One: Read and meditate on Luke 1:26-38

Download PDF (28.0 KB)
pp. 7-9

Her voice is most pleasant to humans, angels, and her Spouse who sought her as The Song of Songs 2:14 says: “Let your voice sound in my ears since your voice is pleasant and your countenance beautiful.” St. Bernard of Clairvaux...

Day Two: Read and meditate on Luke 2:1-8

Download PDF (28.3 KB)
pp. 10-11

Jesus’ poor mother gave birth to the poor Christ in such a way that he might invite us to embrace poverty and to be enriched by his penury, according to what 2 Corinthians 8:9 says: ‘You know the graciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ...

Day Three: Read and meditate on Luke 2:22-40

Download PDF (33.2 KB)
pp. 12-13

So Christ is glorified because of the salvation of all people, the light for the Gentiles, and the glory for the Jews. The first manifests clemency, the second wisdom, the third power. And because of the peace he brings to console an elderly man...

Day Four: Read and meditate on Luke 3:1-14

Download PDF (28.0 KB)
pp. 14-15

These simple folks are more eager to learn than the worldly wise. Thus John 7:48-49 says: “Have any of the rulers believed in him? … But this crowd, which is ignorant of the Law, is accursed.” Although these folks are considered...

Day Five: Read and meditate on Luke 4:16-30

Download PDF (28.0 KB)
pp. 16-17

The text notes the fittingness of Christ’s testimony to the people, for it gives expression to four notes of excellence which were in our Savior. He is mediator, teacher, restorer, and rewarder…. It is indicated that he is a teacher by the...

Day Six: Read and meditate on Luke 5:1-11

Download PDF (36.7 KB)
pp. 18-19

He was humbled at the sight of the miracle and magnified the divine majesty and rightly so, for Philippians 2:10 reads: “At the name of Jesus every knee must bend,” etc. And Isaiah 45:23 has: “Every knee will be bowed to me, and every...

Day Seven: Read and meditate on Luke 6:27-38

Download PDF (33.7 KB)
pp. 20-21

The gift of external relief is to be given to one’s neighbor, according to what Deuteronomy 15:11 says: “I command you to open your hand to your needy and poor brother.” And the gift of internal compassion is to be given one’s neighbor, as...

Day Eight: Read and meditate on Luke 7:24-30

Download PDF (33.6 KB)
pp. 22-23

He commands the disciples of John the Baptist to tell him of the prodigies: restoration of sight, reconstitution of right walking, cleansing of the entire body, recovery of hearing, restoration to life, and exaltation of the needy … Lastly...

Day Nine: Read and meditate on Luke 7:36-50

Download PDF (28.1 KB)
pp. 24-25

“And those who were at table with him began to say within themselves,” that is, rendering a wicked judgment and heaping scorn on him: “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” As if to say: Since he is a trifle and a nobody, how can...

Day Ten: Read and meditate on Luke 8:26-39

Download PDF (33.8 KB)
pp. 26-27

The man was in his right condition against the restlessness he had previously experienced, for he never had any rest when the devil possessed him. Isaiah 57:20 reads: “The wicked are like the raging sea which cannot rest.” It is...

Day Eleven: Read and meditate on Luke 9:10-17

Download PDF (28.3 KB)
pp. 28-29

From this a lesson is provided for preachers that they should not search out new things from their hearts, for the Lord did not create new loaves to feed the crowd. But as the Lord multiplied five barley loaves by means of a divine...

Day Twelve: Read and meditate on Luke 10:1-12

Download PDF (28.4 KB)
pp. 30-31

One interpretation is this: “Go,” that is, expose yourselves to dangers for the salvation of the sheep according to what John 10:11-12 has: “The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. But the hireling sees the wolf coming and leaves...

Day Thirteen: Read and meditate on Luke 10:25-36

Download PDF (33.6 KB)
pp. 32-33

The first point deals with learning on an intellectual level. So Christ asks the lawyer, so that he might elicit the truth from his own mouth. So the text continues: “And he said: The person who showed him mercy.” Thus, Bede says...

Day Fourteen: Read and meditate on Luke 10:38-42

Download PDF (33.7 KB)
pp. 34-35

The contemplative life, seen by itself and represented by Mary, is highly desirable, because it is better and to be preferred on its own merits. For it is more secure, more pleasant, and more stable. Nevertheless, the active life, represented...

Day Fifteen: Read and meditate on Luke 11:1-4

Download PDF (33.5 KB)
pp. 36-37

Christ is teaching his disciples how to pray. In the Our Father verse 3 reads: “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are seeking whatever is necessary for the nourishment of this life, and that is what is meant by “this day.” Spiritual...

Day Sixteen: Read and meditate on Luke 12:13-21

Download PDF (33.7 KB)
pp. 38-39

1 Timothy 6:9-10 says: “Those who seek to become rich fall into temptation and a snare of the devil and many useless and harmful desires, which plunge men and women into destruction and damnation. For avarice is the root of evils,”...

Day Seventeen: Read and meditate on Luke 13:31-35

Download PDF (33.6 KB)
pp. 40-41

Christ is compared to a hen on account of its conduct, for the hen is moved by its dedication and vigilance to its chicks, and gathers them together, and defends them with her wings against the rapacity of the hawk. Thus, too, did Christ act...

Day Eighteen: Read and meditate Luke 14:1-24

Download PDF (28.3 KB)
pp. 42-43

Isaiah 58:7 says: “Break your bread with the hungry, and bring the needy and the wanderers into your house.” And this was commanded in the Law.… Thus, Sirach 12:5-6 states: “Give to the good, and receive not a sinner. Do good to...

Day Nineteen: Read and meditate on Luke 15:11-32

Download PDF (28.2 KB)
pp. 44-45

“The embrace” of the divine arm is the humanity of the incarnate Word. So the Ordinary Gloss observes: “He humbled the arm, that is, the Son, in embracing the returning son.” About this arm the Psalm says: “The Lord’s right hand...

Day Twenty: Read and meditate on Luke 16:16-31

Download PDF (28.2 KB)
pp. 46-47

This poor person was truly abandoned … since no one had remedied his neediness. Nor has anyone cared for his sickness: “But even the dogs used to come and lick his sores.” The Ordinary Gloss comments: “Neither could he chase them...

Day Twenty-one: Read and meditate on Luke 17:1-10

Download PDF (33.8 KB)
pp. 48-49

From the mention of seven the sevenfold troubles, by which a person harms his neighbor, may be inferred: by seducing the intellect, corrupting the affections, afflicting the body, stealthily removing one’s property, refusing to give...

Day Twenty-two: Read and meditate on Luke 18:9-14

Download PDF (33.8 KB)
pp. 50-51

Now although both the Pharisee and the Publican traveled to the same place, their ways of life were exceedingly different. And so the text continues: The one a Pharisee, the other a publican because of their dissimilar ways of life. So...

Day Twenty-three: Read and meditateon Luke 18:15-19:10

Download PDF (28.5 KB)
pp. 52-53

Jerome comments: “Here is great trust. Peter was a fisherman. He was not rich. He earned his food through manual work at his trade. And nevertheless, he confidently says: ‘We have left all.’” And Gregory gives the reason for this: “Indeed...

Day Twenty-four: Read and meditate on Luke 19:1-10

Download PDF (33.8 KB)
pp. 54-55

Not only does Zacchaeus offer hospitality swiftly, but he also does so joyfully. Such a ready disposition is especially necessary. 1 Peter 4:8-9 states: “Above all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves…. Be hospitable to...

Day Twenty-five: Read and meditate on Luke 20:9-19

Download PDF (28.6 KB)
pp. 56-57

These words are taken from the Psalm where the text immediately continues: “This is the Lord’s doing; it is wonderful in our eyes” (117:22-23). In this is shown the admirable humility of Christ, who was willing to be rejected. In this is...

Day Twenty-six: Read and meditateon Luke 20:45-21:4

Download PDF (28.6 KB)
pp. 58-59

This woman was beginning to be an evangelical woman, fulfilling that counsel of the Lord found in Luke 18:22 above: “If you wish to be perfect, go and sell all you have.” But it does not seem that this widow should be praised for her action...

Day Twenty-seven: Read and meditateon Luke 22:39-46

Download PDF (28.2 KB)
pp. 60-61

This cup refers to the passion, according to the measure of the drink that the cup contains. The Psalm says: “You will feed us with the bread of tears and will give us for our drink tears in measure” (79:6). Christ drank this cup when he...

Day Twenty-eight: Read and meditateon Luke 23:33-43

Download PDF (28.7 KB)
pp. 62-63

The second thief not only acknowledges his own sin, but also proclaims Christ’s innocence. The text says: “But this man has done nothing wrong.” He acknowledges not only Christ’s innocent life, but also his extraordinary power. So...

Day Twenty-nine: Read and meditateon Luke 24:13-35

Download PDF (28.3 KB)
pp. 64-65

With regard to their loving acceptance of Christ the text states: “And they drew near to the village to which they were going, and he acted as though he were going on.” Now the Lord did this, not through simulation, but rather to provide...

Day Thirty: Read and meditate on Luke 24:50-53

Download PDF (34.3 KB)
pp. 66-67

They return “with joy” on account of the victory of the Lord, whom they saw penetrate the heights of heaven in his Ascension. Christ has triumphed in a plenary way, according to what Colossians 2:15 proclaims: “Having disarmed the...