Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

In Chapter 6, Luke presented Jesus as saying that the people are blind to the truth and that he is trying to open their eyes to see what God has in store for them. They "see" themselves as poor and enslaved, with no real hope for a brighter future. 

Through his "Sermon on the Plain" Jesus has opened the eyes of the blind and given them God's blueprint for a brighter future.

As we move into Chapter 7 of Luke's Gospel, Jesus has revealed the character of his mission to the poor and now, through three events, demonstrates the new values, commitments, and behaviors that would be shared by those who join in the new community now forming around Jesus. These events are the healing of the Centurion's servant (Lk 7:1-10); the raising to life of the son of the widow of Nain (Lk 7:11-17); and the forgiveness of the "sinful" woman who wiped his feet with her tears and ointment in the home of one of the Pharisees (Lk 7:36-50). In between these events, John the Baptist sent word from prison asking if Jesus was indeed the Messiah        (Lk 7:24-35).
  

He seeks to restore their faith in a loving God who will not desert the people whom God has called out to be a light to the nations. As we study these healings and Jesus calling of those whom he has chosen to be his disciples, we face the questions of would God heal us as well and have we been called out to be Christ's disciples in this place at this time?  

Since I post this study on Face Book as well as the St Jerome's website, I invite comments and questions from any of you who are not able to be physically with us, but find this study meaningful and would like to be a part of it.

Bless you all,

Fr Colin Kelly