Spiritualiteit in het Lucasevangelie: verscheidenheid en gemeenschap
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Date
2012
Authors
Welzen, H.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
The themes in the Gospel of Luke connected to building up the community are
important for the intended readers who, in the last quarter of the first century, were
part of Christian communities which comprised various groups. Among them there
were differences in social and economic positions and in cultural and religious
origins. For these intended readers the themes of poverty and wealth were of great
importance. Poverty and wealth relate in the first instance to economic positions.
But they could also denote spiritual openness or spiritual closeness. While the poor
are oriented towards God, the rich are oriented toward themselves and focused
on preserving their future. Jesus’ contact with tax collectors and sinners, and
the Pharisees’ and scribes’ opposition towards this behavior, mirror the social
contact with people who have hardly or no prestige in the Christian community.
Table companionship in which everyone, whatever his or her position, is allowed
to participate is not only realized in Jesus’ relationship with real people, it is also
an image of the eschatological realization of the Kingdom of God. For the Christian
communities with their many groups at the end of the first century, the liberating
initiative of God becomes concrete in a community spirituality with its concern
for the poor, the lowly, the not esteemed and the oppressed. This spirituality is
messianic and prophetic. It is rooted in the orientation on God who has solidarity
with the poor and the oppressed. At the same time this community spirituality is
eschatological. For those who accept the announcement of liberation this liberation
is completely realized in the coming of the Son of Man.
Description
Keywords
Gospel of Luke, Biblical Spirituality, Diversity, Community
Citation
Welzen, H. (2012). Spiritualiteit in het Lucasevangelie: verscheidenheid en gemeenschap. Acta Theologica, 32(2), 321-341.