Proper 21
Preaching
Preaching Luke's Gospel
A Narrative Approach
The assigned Lukan text for this week is another uniquely Lukan story which is so very well known. In Chapter 1 we talked about two themes from the Magnificat which flow through the Gospel of Luke. One of these themes is: "God has scattered the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly ..." (Luke 1:52). The other is: "God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty" (1:53). Both of these themes can be understood to be part of a larger theme of reversal. The gospel that is incarnate in Jesus Christ turns the world upside down!
There is also a reference to other Lukan stories in the plea to "Father Abraham" by the rich man (16:24). Luke consistently refers to "Abraham" when he thinks of ways in which the people of Israel trusted and/or abused the promises of God (3:8; 13:16; 19:9).
Homiletical Directions
In Chapter 1 we cited stories in Luke which carry out these themes of reversal. We included the story of the rich man and Lazarus under both themes. The Lazarus story, therefore, can be stitched together with these other Lukan stories to demonstrate the reality of the reversal of powerful and lowly or the reversal of rich and poor. This week's text affords a wonderful opportunity to work with one or the other of these dominant Lukan themes by telling a series of Lukan narratives.
We have discussed many of these reversal stories in Luke in earlier chapters of this book. The Homiletical Directions in Chapters 11, 16, 24, and 30 may be consulted for ways in which Luke's reversal stories can be stitched together.
There is also a reference to other Lukan stories in the plea to "Father Abraham" by the rich man (16:24). Luke consistently refers to "Abraham" when he thinks of ways in which the people of Israel trusted and/or abused the promises of God (3:8; 13:16; 19:9).
Homiletical Directions
In Chapter 1 we cited stories in Luke which carry out these themes of reversal. We included the story of the rich man and Lazarus under both themes. The Lazarus story, therefore, can be stitched together with these other Lukan stories to demonstrate the reality of the reversal of powerful and lowly or the reversal of rich and poor. This week's text affords a wonderful opportunity to work with one or the other of these dominant Lukan themes by telling a series of Lukan narratives.
We have discussed many of these reversal stories in Luke in earlier chapters of this book. The Homiletical Directions in Chapters 11, 16, 24, and 30 may be consulted for ways in which Luke's reversal stories can be stitched together.
