The Hospitality of God: A Reading of Luke's Gospel

by Brendan Byrne

Luke portrays the life and ministry of Jesus as a divine visitation" to the world, seeking hospitality. The One who comes as visitor and guest becomes host and offers a hospitality in which the entire world can become truly human, be at home, and know salvation in the depths of their hearts. In The Hospitality of God Brendan Byrne, SJ, provides to-the-point commentary on those parts of Luke's Gospel that bring home to people a sense of the extravagance of God's love for them. The Hospitality of God approaches Luke's Gospel through the interpretive key of "hospitality." It looks at the Gospel as a whole, yet lingers upon scenes where the theme of "hospitality" is particularly prominent, such as the infancy stories, Jesus at Nazareth, Jesus in the house of Simon, the Good Samaritan, Martha and Mary, the banquet in 14:1-35, the Prodigal Son, Jesus' visit to the tax collector Zacchaeus, the institution of the Eucharist, and the Emmaus event. Byrne stresses that those in Luke's Gospel who readily offer hospitality - chiefly the marginalized and the poor - find themselves drawn into a much deeper sphere of hospitality, the hospitality of God. Those who have difficulty sharing are challenged by Jesus to conversion so that they, too, may not be left out of the banquet of life to which God calls all human beings. Luke's Gospel, ever interested in the process of human transformation, explores this resistance to God's gift and the ways in which individuals need to be converted if they are to come to "knowledge of salvation." Luke's Gospel is written out of faith in the risen Lord. Its primary intent is to bring people of al subsequent Christian generations into saving encounter with the Lord who was raised from the dead and lives among us in the power of the Spirit. Reading and hearing the Gospel in faith allows individuals and communities to access the hospitality of God brought by Jesus. In this work, Byrne offers an invitation for all to join in the life-giving "hospitality of God." Chapters are "The 1:1-4 and the Lukan Time Frame of Salvation," "The Infancy Stories Before the Birth of 1:5-80," "The Infancy Stories The Birth and Childhood of 2:1-52," "Prelude to the Ministry of 3:1-4:13," "Hospitality and Inhospitality at Jesus Inaugurates His 4:16-30," "The Early Galilean 4:31-6:11," "The Community of the 6:12-49," "Response to the Ministry of 7:1-8:3," "Later Galilean 8:4-9:17," "Climax of the Galilean 9:18-50," "The Journey to Jerusalem 9:51-10:24," "The Way to Eternal 10:25-11:13," "The Prophet Continues His Way 11:14-12:53," "The Prophet Continues His Way 12:54-14:35," "Celebrating God's 15:1-32," "The Hospitality of the Two Responses to 16:1-31," "Towards the End of the 17:1-18:30," "Hospitality in 18:31-19:27," "Jesus in 19:28-21:4," "Hope and Discourse on the 21:5-38," "Jesus' Journey to The Passion Narrative 22:1-53," "Jesus' Journey to The Passion Narrative 22:54-23:56,""Hospitality The Community of the Risen 24:1-53."

Genres: Theology

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Rob McMonigal]

Part of my supplemental reading for the Good Book Club.

This was an excellent look at Luke's Gospel from the perspective of hospitality, which means that there is a strong focus on things such as the parables relating to the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, among others. Byrne's approach to these ties them strongly to the idea of providing open and unabashed kindness to others, going so far as to say that the traditional focus on the "good" son in the parable misses the point. I'd never thought of it that way before, so I was really intrigued.

Byrne's main thrust is that God, though Jesus, opens His hospitality to us in the form of salvation, and the multiple appearances of Jesus dining with others--whether the loaves and fishes or at Martha's house--are an echo of the idea of how God invites us to "dine" with him in faith. It's really interesting perspective that really puts front and center something that's been on my mind as a returned Christian--the fact that we are called to do more for those around us than we are currently doing, and blessed are those who are being ignored, while there is woe for any who don't try to help.

I enjoyed this one a lot, and would definitely recommend it to those looking for a way to explore the Gospel of Luke beyond your own reading, or Sunday sermons.

[Mark Ackerman]

Informative Read

The book offers a good analysis into the Gospel of Luke and preents the events as portrayed by Luke in the life of Christ is a readable and understandable manner. I thought informative and enlightening.

[Sue]

Helpful text for exploring the gospel of Luke with an emphasis on main Lucan themes and links to the Acts

[E.]

An excellent commentary for preaching from Luke.