Luke 12-19:27

A priest of my parish was just this week preaching on the parable of the prodigal son. He pointed out a couple things about Luke's gospel which I had not previously noticed and which I think enhance the reading of it.

1. Throughout much of Luke's gospel, Christ is on a journey toward Jerusalem. He walks to his foretold end, teaching along the way. Look at these examples taken only from today's assigned portion:

"There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over!"
Luke 12:50

Through towns and villages he went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem.
Luke 13:22

"But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem."
Luke 13:33

Great crowds accompanied him on his way and he turned and spoke to them.
Luke 14:25

Now on the way to Jerusalem he traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
Luke 17:11

Then taking the Twelve aside he said to them, "Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written about the Son of Man is to come true."
Luke 18:31

2. Also, throughout the gospel, Christ eats a series of meals and much of the action of his parables revolves around meals. Just in today's portion:

"See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks."
12:35-36

Now on a sabbath day he had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely.
Luke 14:1

"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honor."
Luke 14:8

Then he said to his host, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations, or rich neighbors, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again."
Luke 14:12-14

...and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. "This man," they said, "welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Luke 15:2

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.' And they began to celebrate."
Luke 15:22-24

I have to considerably pare down this list of citations because to insert them all would be too much for one post.

Luke organized so much of his gospel to point to the culmination of Christ life. Christ teaches on his way to his death, and he eats and speaks of suppers on his way to his last.