Reading, Reflection and Prayer

The Rich Young Ruler goes away sad because he cannot respond to Jesus' call to give away his possessions and follow Jesus. Zacchaeus the tax collector spontaneously declares that he will give half of what he has to the poor and repay anyone he has cheated four times over. Jesus declares that salvation has come to his house. Ruth reflects on the connection between these two passages and the way in which repentance is identified by what the two individuals choose to do with their worldly wealth once they encounter Jesus.

We talk about the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Ruth identifies with the expectation of getting good things from God in exchange for the kind of good behavior that the Pharisee demonstrates - prayer, fasting and giving. Yet the only way to be in right relationship with God is humbly on our knees praying 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

Two long parables - the shrewd steward and Dives and Lazarus. The steward is losing his job and so uses the authority he has to make friends while he is still in charge of the master's property. Dives does not take care of Lazarus in this life and so finds himself in the wrong place in the next life. Both stories point us towards the importance of using what God has entrusted us with in this life well.

The stories of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. We think about the compassion of the Father and how Jesus is teaching us about the nature of God and his love for those who return to him. The compassion of the Father is mirrored by the humility of the returning son, and we pray for ourselves to have the grace and humility to return to God in this Lenten season.

When Jesus dines at a Pharisee's house, he gives advice to extend dinner invitations beyond your normal circle. To the poor, crippled, lame and blind. The parable that follows includes the same invitation. Lent invites us to remember and be aware of our own poverty before God and the need to give up everything if we want to follow him.

We think about the strong call to repentance in Luke's gospel. When Jesus tells his hearers to 'make every effort to enter through the narrow door', his emphasis is not on the many who will be unable to, but the demand on the individual who is listening to him. Lent gives us a chance to reflect on our lives, and turn to Jesus again in repentance.

We draw out the links between the parable of the rich fool and Jesus' teaching the disciples not to worry. The rich fool builds bigger barns for his possessions and is determined to eat, drink and be merry. The ravens don't have barns, and the disciples are not to worry about what to eat or drink. We think about the need to let go of the hold that material possessions have over us.

Jesus doesn't pull his punches with the Pharisees and Experts in the Law. Hypocrisy is called out, and their religiosity and pride in their own righteousness leads to Jesus calling down woes on them. It seems much better in Luke's gospel to be a wicked person who can see their need of repentance, than a righteous person who is proud and sees no need of God's work in their heart.

We cover a lot of ground in this bible reading - the parable of the Good Samaritan, Mary and Martha, Prayer, Jesus and Beelzebub. We're struck by the persistence in asking that is covered in the section on prayer along with the gift of the Holy Spirit that is promised. It resonates with the story of Mary and Martha. The most important thing is our desire for God himself.

Ruth reflects on the vision Jesus has of Satan falling from heaven. As the disciples are sent out with Jesus' authority to cast out demons and proclaim the kingdom of God, so is Satan's downfall assured. It's important for us, as disciples of Jesus, to know and have confidence in this ultimate victory.