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<DIV><FONT size=4> Sometime ago there was a TV show where they interviewed
a doctor who was treating people with AIDS. To paraphrase one of his comments:
There are other doctors in this town who give lectures to dying AIDS victims
rather than helping them. "You are just getting what you deserved," is what some
doctors have said. Who is in more need of a sign of love and care than a person
who has been informed that they are going to die within a short time? The TV
program showed the helpful doctor hugging a person with AIDS.
<DIV align=justify> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify>A related image: The image we are given is of </DIV>
<DIV align=justify>God/Jesus as a hen gathering a whole bunch of chickens under
her wings. What might that imply about our relationship with those other
chickens? It requires a physical closeness to be packed together under those
wings. It implies a learning to get along with one another if we wish to stay
packed together under those wings. How do we balance our own comfort level of
space with this image of physically gathered together under God's loving wings?
being packed together in a pew? rubbing shoulders with others on the way out of
church? sharing the peace by touching others with a handshake -- or an embrace
(when appropriate) -- or even a kiss between spouses?</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/luke13x31.htm">http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/luke13x31.htm</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=5><FONT size=4>Brian P. Stoffregen</FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>All told, Luke mentions Jerusalem 90 times in his Gospel,
while all the other New Testament writers combined mention it only 49 times. It
is hard to avoid the conclusion that Luke loves the place -- so rich in history
and symbol, so dense with expectation and fear. Jerusalem is the dwelling place
of God, the place where God’s glory shall be revealed (Isa. 24:23).
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=638">http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=638</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Barbara Brown Taylor, 1998</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>In 14:1-4, Jesus eats at the table of a Pharisee; and although
a controversy arises and Jesus criticizes some lawyers and Pharisees who are
present, he does not criticize the host himself. In Acts, moreover, we find
Pharisees playing positive roles. In Acts 22:3, Gamaliel persuades the council
not to interfere with the apostles’ preaching; and in 23:9-10 some Pharisees
take Paul’s side against the Sadducees. If we read Luke 13:31-35, along with the
other passages noted in light of the "second-chance" motif of Luke-Acts (Paul is
preaching to non-Christian Jews right up to the end of Acts), we can interpret
the instances of positive portrayal of the Pharisees as another aspect of the
theme of inclusiveness that pervades the narrative. Even those who bitterly
rejected Jesus are potentially included in the circle of his followers. [Russell
Pregeant]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4>Thus, although nothing prior to 13:31-35
prepares the reader for a positive view of the Pharisees, this passage may serve
as preparation for the hints at their possible inclusion that emerge in
Acts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=28"><FONT
size=4>http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=28</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=4>James C. Howell</FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Jerusalem will not see Jesus properly until they recognize him
as the one sent from God. Tannehill argues that Jesus is speaking for
God in verses 35. Jerusalem's divine protection will depart--their house
is left to them--and that protection will not return until Jerusalem
blesses the true Messiah.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=4>This is a flicker of good news. The possibility
is left open that such recognition may yet occur. Jerusalem is being
given clear warning, yet the invitation is still open. Yet, while Jesus
clearly "desires" that Jerusalem change its ways, he does not expect it to do
so, and indeed, it did not.</FONT></DIV>
<P dir=ltr><A
href="http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2010/02/lectionary-blogging-luke-13-3135.html"><FONT
size=4>http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2010/02/lectionary-blogging-luke-13-3135.html</FONT></A></P>
<DIV><FONT size=4>John Petty, 2010</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV>A thought experiment: read through the gospel text substituting the name of
your town for "Jerusalem" wherever it appears. (You could try "Washington" too,
but the US government feels so distant from most of us that it might not have
the desired effect.) Does anything about that reading ring true? </DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>This is one time when we are not hearing the story correctly
if we hear in it only someone else's problem.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://maryhinkle.typepad.com/pilgrim_preaching/2004/03/wide_open_are_y.html"><FONT
size=4>http://maryhinkle.typepad.com/pilgrim_preaching/2004/03/wide_open_are_y.html</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Mary Hinkle Shore</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
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