Meeting St. Luke Today: Understanding the Man, His Mission, and His Message

by Daniel J. Harrington

The theological and literary beauty of the Gospel of Luke comes to life in Meeting St. Luke Today , written by preeminent biblical scholar Daniel J. Harrington. What truly sets this book apart is the way in which Harrington effectively bridges the gap between modern biblical scholarship and Christian spirituality. In addition to a brief but complete narrative analysis of the Gospel of Luke and essential background information on the Evangelist himself, this book includes suggestions for ways we might "pray" Luke's Gospel and live out its transforming message in our daily lives.

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Rev. Father Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, was a professor of New Testament studies and chairman of Biblical Studies at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry. He received a PhD in biblical languages and literatures from Harvard University. A past president of the Catholic Biblical Association, he wrote more than two dozen books about the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Reviews

[Cathryn Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gospel of Luke may be one of the most beautiful books ever written, says the author of this short book, the late Daniel J. Harrington, who was a Roman Catholic priest, prolific writer, and professor of the New Testament at Boston College's School of Theology and Ministry.

Luke has a challenge for us: We should imitate Jesus's example and "go and do likewise."

Luke is a master of details as he recounts the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection in an orderly narrative. It is often called the Gospel of prayer because of Luke's frequent mentions of Jesus praying and offering instructions for how to pray. Harrington summarizes each of the 24 chapters, using classic narrative analysis with attention to the characters, their interactions, the plot, story structure, and the viewpoint of the narrator. To get the most from it, read this section of the book together with your favorite New Testament translation of the Gospel of Luke.

The real treasure in this book is in the three sections that follow:
• Luke's literary artistry is analyzed, including Luke as a creative interpreter of tradition, as well as an exploration of the top 10 themes in the Gospel of Luke—from salvation history to women to prayer to the Holy Spirit.

• Detailed instructions on how to use two well-tested methods—lectio divinia or sacred reading and Ignatian contemplation—for a serious reading of any Gospel text that involves both heart and mind. As examples, Harrington uses the parable of the prodigal son for lectio divinia and the appearance of the risen Jesus in Jerusalem to his 11 remaining disciples for Ignatian contemplation.

• A homily based on Luke's account of Jesus's crucifixion.

This is a short, highly understandable, and fascinating summary and analysis of the Gospel of Luke.

[BJ Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief, clear summary by a master--a joy to spend time in the presence of both Luke and Dan Harrington.