Luke 3: 1-6

You may have been present at birthday or anniversary celebration when some presents to the guest(s) of honor the front page of a newspaper from the day when they were born or the wedding took place. This type of gift often evokes our sense of humor, but it roots the birth or the wedding in history. Luke is writing at a time when most of our contemporary ways of tracking history and time did not exist. Therefore he draws on both religious and civil history to tell his readers and those who would follow when the events he will describe took place.

Significant is the fact that he draws on both civil and religious history. These were the two sources of power and authority that existed at the time. They gave meaning and structure to life. People who were esteemed by one of these two structures were important and had status. By sighting historical figures from both structures Luke is suggesting, the events that he will describe are important for both the religious world and the civil world. These events are significant for all of creation. The end of our text marks this event. Mountain and valleys will be made level, roads will be straightened. These events are not meant just of the Jews, but God's salvation will be seen by all.

1. What is the biggest, most significant event of your life? How has that event impacted your life?
2. What do you know about your own baptism? How does that event impact your life?
3. How has sin eroded your desire or commitment to live your life in response to God's love for you?
4. Have there been times of conversion or repentance in your life? Were these difficult times? How do you feel about them now?
5. What in this gospel seems to speak to you as you hear it today? How does that fit with your sense of what advent is about? How might God be speaking to you as you prepare to celebrate Christmas this year?

(Comments to Paul at frpaul@franoutreach.org.)

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