Weekends can be a busy thing around the holidays. Ironically Advent invites us to slow down while the world around us is speeding up with decorating, parties, shopping, etc. That's why a challenge like reading a chapter of Luke every day is important - it refocusses you. Chapter 8 starts out with a parable about a farmer sowing seeds. Most of the seed ends up useless, while the seed that fell on good soil yielded a massive harvest. When the disciples asked what the parable is about, Jesus described it in terms of the Word of God, often falling on hearts that are either unwilling or unready, and it doesn't take hold. But for some, it lands on a heart that's willing and ready, and bears much fruit. This sets the stage for two miracles that come next - the calming of the sea and the healing of a demoniac. Jesus and the disciples went out on a boat, and a big storm came upon them. While everyone else was panicking, Jesus was fast asleep in the stern...
Luke was a genius when it came to structuring this Gospel. Chapter 5 is framed on two sides by calling of disciples, with two miraculous healings in between them. The chapter starts with Jesus calling Peter, James, and John, and as part of the calling provides them with a huge catch of fish. The payload was so big that several other boats were brought in, yet they all started to sink because they were so full. When Peter expressed his unworthiness, Jesus simply told him to follow, and Jesus would make him fish for people. This miracle foreshadowed the role Peter would play in the early Church. On the first day of Pentecost in Acts, Peter's preaching converts several thousand souls in one day, and tradition holds that they returned home and began their own local Churches in their communities. But the question remains, what are all of these conversions for? The next two sections in Luke 5 gives us a clue as to the answer. First Jesus heals a leper, and ...