LUCAN GOSPEL AND ITS THEOLOGY, THE

Homilists, teachers and scholars will all find Fr. Fitzmyer’s presentation riveting, informative and inspiriting. Luke’s Gospel and Acts make up a quarter of the New Testament and a knowledge of his writings is indispensable for understanding Jesus and the life of the early Church. Fr. Fitzmyer brings to this presentation a lifetime of research and reflection. He presents Luke’s unique contributions to our knowledge of Christ and presents how Luke’s writings are related to and differ from the other New Testament writings. His clear Christological explanations of the Gospel account of Luke from the infancy narrative to the resurrection account is masterful. Fr. Fitzmyer demonstrates that Luke was interested in prayer, worship and the power of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of the individual and the formation of the Church. His writing was also geared to convincing the Roman authorities that Christianity should be viewed as a legitimate offshoot of Judaism and deserved legal protection under Roman law. Therefore, Luke stresses the continuity of Christianity with Judaism. Fitzmyer defends the traditional identity of Luke and his relationship with Paul. This series of talks will deepen the listeners understanding of Christ and his Church. It will lay a foundation for profound preaching and intelligent teaching of these extremely important New Testament writings. The questions, tensions and challenges that the first Century believing community was forced to face were enormous. The situation of the believing community today in the Twenty-first Century is just as complex as the first. By reflecting on the life experiences of the first generation of the Church we can strengthen the faith life of our own generation. These talks will help all listeners know Luke’s writings better and through that knowledge come to know and love Christ more profoundly and intelligently.