Incipit of the Gospel of Luke (Quoniam quidem multi...), fol. 188r from the Book of Kells, created in an Irish or Scottish monastery ca. 800. Now in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.

Love Pope Benedict XVI's Jesus of Nazareth for many reasons, but today it's because he pointed out that the Parable of the Good Samaritan occurs in Luke shortly after a real town of flesh-and-blood Samaritans spurned him

really incredible to see how the reflection of the love of jesus' father is there at his death.

joseph, himself, was not there. probably, he passed before jesus began his ministry. but to think of how jesus probably watched his father, a carpenter, accidentally hit has hand with a hammer or drive a nail into one of his fingers and then as he has nails driven into him and is beaten, he must be thinking of his dad. to carry planks of wood up a hill and remember his father doing the same, to be pulled up to standing on the cross and remember the walls he watched his father lift to uphold the roof of a house. everything there reminds him of the man who laid himself down to the divine plan of the woman he loved, who chose to raise his son when many men would have walked away.

and then for the gospel of luke to tell us that a man named joseph, a member of the council who objected to the crucifixion, cares for his body after his death. to see his body wrapped in linen as he was wrapped in swaddling cloth and his body placed inside the tomb as it was placed inside the manger.

the love of jesus' father is there. by the love of a man who did not have to, he was not required, he just stepped in where he saw someone in need of care, jesus is carried both into this world and out of it.

by this example, we are told to carry one another when one another needs carrying. it is our responsibility to love people who we see missing love somewhere love is meant to be.

The Resurrection of Jesus

1 But on the first day of the week, at dawn, they came to the place where his body had been put, taking the spices which they had got ready. 2 And they saw that the stone had been rolled away. 3 And they went in, but the body of the Lord Jesus was not there. 4 And while they were in doubt about it, they saw two men in shining clothing by them: 5 And while their faces were bent down to the earth in fear, these said to them, Why are you looking for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, he has come back to life: have in mind what he said to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, 7 The Son of man will be given up into the hands of evil-doers, and be put to death on the cross, and on the third day he will come back to life. 8 And his words came back into their minds, 9 And they went away from that place and gave an account of all these things to the eleven disciples and all the others. 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James: and the other women with them said these things to the Apostles. 11 But these words seemed foolish to them, and they had no belief in them. 12 But Peter got up and went to the place where the body had been put, and looking in he saw nothing but the linen cloths, and he went to his house full of wonder at what had taken place. — Luke 24:1-12 | Bible in Basic English (BBE) The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain. Cross References: Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22; Matthew 27:56; Matthew 28:1-2; Mark 6:30; Mark 9:30; Mark 16:1; Mark 16:11; Mark 16:13-14; Luke 2:9; Luke 7:13; Luke 24:1; Luke 24:3; Luke 24:8,9 and 10; John 2:22; John 19:40; John 20:3; Acts 1:21; Acts 2:24; Galatians 2:15; Revelation 1:18

Quiet Time 3/14

What am I feeling today?

Absolutely terrible. I’ve been sick for over a week now and it’s just gotten worse. I haven’t been able to sleep and I’ve lost my voice and I had to miss school and work for two days and I’m not looking forward to having to make all that work up. I also neglected my time with God, I decided to go to other things for comfort during this time instead of turning to Him which has been weighing on me. I feel like a failure since I’ve strayed from my routine. I’ve been wasting away in my bed for a couple days now and I know that technically my body needs the rest, but I feel so useless when I’m not doing anything productive.

Luke 8 NIV

(v. 11-15) ““This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

I will be honest in saying that this parable troubles me at times. I wonder if I’m the rocky soil or the one with thorns. It’s always been something that has bothered me because I don’t want that to be the case. I know I was so joyful when I received my salvation but even with such short time, I’ve struggled and weakened. I wonder if it’s that my faith is wavering or if I’m just experiencing the spiritual desert, I don’t understand how to discern the difference between the two. Maybe the world is also killing my walk, I have so much that I commit myself to that every day I wake up and feel it’s a battle to get through it all. And I’m tired. I’m so young but I’m just so so tired by life, I’m drained, I’m exhausted, I’m deflated, I’m drained, and I just wish I could escape from it all sometimes. I’m tired of fighting but every day I have to keep praying to God to give me the strength. If it weren’t for Him, I’d never be able to keep going through it.

(v. 17-18) “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.””

Just further reinforcing that He knows all we do and that there’s no hiding anything from Him. How foolish would we be if we thought we could conceal some of our sins? Something I’m currently battling is idolatry in a few areas. I know that it’s empty and that the feeling fades and it’s a sin and everything else but I’m having a hard time shaking it. If God needs to destroy it then so be it because I don’t know how to do it myself. Idk I think I’m just having a hard time and feel stuck and trapped in my own skin if that makes sense. I can’t shake the feeling of me existing and it’s bothering me so much.

(v. 24-25) “The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.””

I think this is something that applies to every trial of our lives. The disciples were scared and worried and Jesus had to ask where’s the faith. I think he asks the same of us when we go through tough times and don’t fully rely on him. I think he may be asking me that right now because my anxiety gnaws at me like a dog with a bone and it’s so hard to take it away.

(v. 30-31) “Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.”

I just wonder about the Abyss. That struck my interest because I wonder if it’s just hell, a part of hell, or something else entirely.

(v. 47-48) “Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.””

I just think this is comforting. She had faith so strong that just by touching Jesus she was healed. How incredible is that? How inspiring is it? Our faith is a powerful thing and something we should not treat lightly. I wish to continue growing my faith, I wish to be the good soil.

IF JESUS HAD DIED IN 2000

Paul would be writing his various letters* in the 2020's *the letters that most scholars consider genuine; Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, 1-2 Corinthians, Romans, Philipians & Philemon - a generation later and having never known Jesus in person

Gospel of Mark won't be written until around the 2030's - with no claims of Jesus' virgin birth, ascension and divinity

Gospel of Matthew won't be written until around the 2040's - with the first record of virgin birth, Bethlehem origin, guards & angel at tomb

Gospel of Luke won't be written until around the 2050's - with the first record of a post-resurrection Jesus eating, appearing & disappearing and ascension to heaven

Gospel of John won't be written until around the 2060's - with the first record of the incarnation of Jesus (god-man), divinity claims of Jesus, the seven "I am" sayings of Jesus and Jesus' lengthy discourse with Pilate

This sure sounds like something that people just made up.

"I am the Lord's servant," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38

why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!

October 18 is the Feast Day of St Luke. He appears here at the start of the Gospel that bears his name in the Evangelium of Judith of Flanders (Cantorbéry, 1065). The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, ms M.709, f° 77v, 29,3 × 19,1 cm. :: [Robert Scott Horton]

* * * *

Night Surrender to Praise at Dawn – Nov. 16, 2021

“In the middle of the night I hold hands with trust and surrender to the One who sees without a light… My prayer travels deep into my soul space, into the essence of my being.

Rising from sleep, I raise high the chalice of my life. Dressed in robes of joyful anticipation, I enter this day with an open heart. This is the awakening hour. This is the hour of praise. ‘O medicine of dawn; O healing drink of morning!’ Offering both words and silence, I join in the dance of creation.”

–Macrina Wiederkehr, Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day, p. 29 and 47

[alive on all channels]

You Have Found Favor with God (Luke 1:26-38)

There is nowhere we can go, no place on earth, no situation whatsoever that is beyond God’s ability, reach, and power to effect the divine will.

The Annunciation, by Liviu Dumitrescu Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.” She was startled by what…

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Who Looks Good?

This many seem like an obvious question—who exactly am I trying to make look good: me or Jesus?—but a biography in the Gospels caused me to ponder this question in a different way.

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.  https://craigtowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/who-looks-good.mp3 The Gospel of John introduces John the baptizer to us like this, “He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light” (John 1:8).  John had a similar birth announcement as Jesus had…

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[Christ's] prayer to God was pure, His alone out of all mankind, for in the midst of His suffering He prayed for His persecutors: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing [Luke 23:34]. Is it possible to offer, or even to imagine, a purer kind of prayer than that which shows mercy to one's torturers by making intercession for them? […] Paul speaks of the sprinkled blood that calls out more eloquently than Abel's [Hebrews 12:24]. Of Abel's blood Scripture had written: The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the earth [Genesis 4:10]. The blood of Jesus calls out more eloquently than Abel's, for the blood of Abel asked for the death of Cain the fratricide, while the blood of the Lord has asked for, and obtained, life for His persecutors.

Pope Gregory the Great, Moral Reflections on Job (13.25, 26)

The dropping of His blood is as the music of heaven to the penitent sons of the earth. We are full of sin, but the Saviour bids us lift our eyes to Him, and as we gaze upon His streaming wounds each drop of blood, as it falls, cries "It is finished; I have made an end to sin; I have brought in everlasting righteousness." Oh! Sweet language of the Precious Blood of Jesus!

Charles Spurgeon

if things that are impossible for man are possible through jesus, then jesus can get pregnant, so sayeth the lord (Luke 3:8)

The Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" 27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, 34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." — Luke 10:25-37 | Revised Standard Version (RSV) Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Cross References: Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Deuteronomy 6:24; Leviticus 18:15; Leviticus 19:18; Isaiah 58:7; Matthew 10:5; Matthew 18:28; Matthew 19:16; Matthew 24:34; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:52; Luke 10:38; Luke 16:15; Luke 18:31; Luke 19:28

Quiet Time 3/4

What am I feeling today?

Sick/pain, my throat hurts even more today, I can’t really swallow, looks red and swollen, I’ll be going to the doctor after I spend this time with God. I’m also feeling confused, conflicted, hopeful??? bc of smth that happened yesterday and some dreams I had too, just not sure how to interpret it🧍🏻‍♀️

Luke 6 NIV

(v. 1-5) “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.””

Jesus was making it known that he and his disciples were not guilty of violating the Sabbath (just some of the rules that the Pharisees had come up with). Also, he staked his claim of his power, that he’s Lord even on the Sabbath.

(v. 12-16) “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

I love when the Bible shows us just how much Jesus prayed. Even though he was powerful and righteous, he still felt the need to talk to God the Father consistently because Jesus was also human. Also, I don’t think I ever took into account that Jesus had more disciples but chose these twelve out of them to be the apostles.

(v. 22-23) “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”

Good reminder to have, sometimes I can get in my head about rejection when it comes to sharing with other people, I can lack boldness and courage because of fear. But why should I fear that? We are told to rejoice and be joyful!!

(v. 27-31) ““But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

When I was younger, I always thought that the term to turn the other cheek was to strike them back. Upon looking at other versions, I’m seeing it means to offer the other cheek (basically, to simply ignore insignificant insults or losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity). I do wonder if there’s a difference between what Jesus is saying here and allowing people to walk all over you and treat you however they please?

(v. 35-36) “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

One, I feel like the motivation behind doing good shouldn’t be an incentive but because you genuinely desire to do what’s right. But it also shows here that in doing what’s kind and righteous, our reward will be great.

(v. 37-38) ““Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you…””

I need to work on judgement. I know that I can be quite judgmental, questioning people’s motives/intentions, how they operate, how they treat me or others. But I do understand that I need to refrain from judgment because what about me? I am no better, I am a sinner, I’m not perfect. How can I judge others when I’m no better than them?

(v. 39-42) “He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

I don’t wish to be a hypocrite. This is also part of being held accountable, sometimes we’re oblivious to the sin we’re in and need the help of others. But also, if we struggle ourselves, and give the same advice to others but don’t follow, we’re being hypocrites.

(v. 45) “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

This really sticks out to me, the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Kinda like the saying drunk words are sober thoughts. Whatever we end up saying is coming from somewhere inside. We need to analyze whether it’s righteous or sinful. If sinful, need to further examine our hearts and where it’s coming from.

(v. 46-49) ““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.””

I want to have a strong foundation. I like to believe that I follow relatively well but there are other times when I doubt whatever I do. It’s this frustrating up and down and I just wish I knew what the right thing to do was every time and actually obeyed it.

The prompt is: "Chosen/Choice."

"...but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus."

"Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.'"

Luke 1: 30-31. 38.

Made with pencil colors and pens at March 20 of 2024.