Year of the Bible
Luke 8
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Commentary on The Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 8:
Jesus continues to announce the “good news of the kingdom of God” as he travels, accompanied by the Twelve, as well as many other disciples (vs. 1-3). Jesus tells his followers that they are being given an understanding of God’s Kingdom (vs. 9-15), receiving divine wisdom as gift (7:35). This gift comes with the expectation of response (vs. 18) and the blessing that all those who do respond are truly Jesus’ family (vs. 19-21). God’s Kingdom is meant to grow and God’s family goes beyond all earthly boundaries. Jesus demonstrates this through the healing and commissioning of a evangelist (one who announces the Good News) in a Gentile area (vs. 26, 39), healing a woman viewed as ritually impure under Torah Law (vs. 43-48), and the daughter of a synagogue ruler (vs. 40-42, 49-56).
The Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 8:
Some Women Accompany Jesus
1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Her od’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
The Parable of the Sower
4 And when a great crowd came together and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Explanation of the Parable
9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.
A Lamp Is Not Hidden
16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hid den that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. 18 Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
The True Kindred of Jesus
19 Then his mother and his brethren* came to him, but they could not reach him for the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brethren are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he said to them, “My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
Jesus Calms a Storm on the Sea
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one an other, “Who then is this, that he commands even wind and water, and they obey him?”
Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac
26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And as he stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and shackles, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he begged him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As he went, the people pressed round him. 43 And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by any one, 44 came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
Twice in this chapter Jesus commands us to listen: "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" and "Pay attention to how you listen." Lord, what is there in my life that is preventing me from hearing your voice?
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. cbsmich.org/join
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Sucedió, después, que él pasaba
por ciudades y aldeas predicando
y anunciando el Evangelio del Reino
de Dios. Le acompañaban los doce 2 y
algunas mujeres que habían sido libradas
de espíritus malignos y de enfermedades:
María, llamada Magdalena, de
la que habían salido siete demonios; 3 y
Juana, mujer de Cusa, administrador de
Herodes; y Susana, y otras muchas que
les asistían con sus bienes.
Reuniéndose una gran muchedumbre
que de todas las ciudades acudía a él,
dijo esta parábola:
5 –Salió el sembrador a sembrar su
semilla; y al echar la semilla, parte cayó
junto al camino, y fue pisoteada y se la
comieron las aves del cielo. 6 Parte cayó
sobre piedras, y cuando nació se secó
por falta de humedad. 7 Otra parte cayó
en medio de las espinas, y habiendo crecido
con ella las espinas la ahogaron. 8 Y
otra cayó en la tierra buena, y cuando
nació dio fruto al ciento por uno.
Dicho esto, exclamó:
–El que tenga oídos para oír, que
oiga.
9 Entonces sus discípulos le preguntaron
qué significaba esta parábola. 10 Él
les dijo:
–A vosotros se os ha concedido el
conocer los misterios del Reino de Dios,
pero a los demás, sólo a través de parábolas,
de modo que viendo no vean
y oyendo no entiendan.
11 »El sentido de la parábola es éste:
la semilla es la palabra de Dios. 12 Los
que están junto al camino son aquellos
que han oído; pero viene luego el diablo
y se lleva la palabra de su corazón,
no sea que creyendo se salven. 13 Los que
están sobre piedras son aquellos que,
cuando oyen, reciben la palabra con
alegría, pero no tienen raíz; éstos creen
durante algún tiempo, pero a la hora de
la tentación se vuelven atrás. 14 Lo que
cayó entre espinos son los que oyeron,
pero en su caminar se ahogan a causa
de las preocupaciones, riquezas y placeres
de la vida y no llegan a dar fruto. 15 Y
lo que cayó en tierra buena son los que
oyen la palabra con un corazón bueno y
generoso, la conservan y dan fruto mediante
la perseverancia.
16 »Nadie que ha encendido una lámpara
la oculta con una vasija o la pone
debajo de la cama, sino que la pone sobre
un candelero para que los que entran
vean la luz. 17 Porque nada hay escondido
que no acabe por saberse; ni
secreto que no acabe por conocerse y
hacerse público. 18 Mirad, pues, cómo
oís: porque al que tiene se le dará; y al
que no tiene incluso lo que piensa tener
se le quitará.
19 Vinieron a verle su madre y sus
hermanos, y no podían acercarse a él a
causa de la muchedumbre. 20 Y le avisaron:
–Tu madre y tus hermanos están ahí
fuera y quieren verte.
21 Él, en respuesta, les dijo:
–Mi madre y mis hermanos son los
que oyen la palabra de Dios y la cumplen.
22 Un día, subió él a una barca con
sus discípulos y les dijo:
–Crucemos a la otra orilla del lago.
Y partieron. 23 Mientras ellos navegaban,
se durmió. Y se desencadenó
una tempestad de viento en el lago, de
modo que se llenaban de agua y corrían
peligro. 24 Se le acercaron para despertarle
diciendo:
–¡Maestro, Maestro, que perecemos!
Puesto en pie, increpó al viento y a
las olas, que cesaron; y sobrevino la calma.
25 Entonces les dijo:
–¿Dónde está vuestra fe?
Ellos, llenos de temor, se asombraron
y se decían unos a otros:
–¿Quién es éste que manda a los
vientos y al agua, y le obedecen?
26 Navegaron hasta la región de los
gerasenos, que está al otro lado, enfrente
de Galilea. 27 Y cuando saltó a tierra,
vino a su encuentro un hombre de la
ciudad endemoniado; desde hacía mucho
tiempo no llevaba ropa, ni habitaba
en casas sino en los sepulcros. 28 Al
ver a Jesús, cayó ante él gritando y dijo
con gran voz:
–¿Qué tengo yo que ver contigo, Jesús,
Hijo del Dios Altísimo? Te suplico
que no me atormentes.
29 Pues Jesús mandaba al espíritu impuro
que saliera de aquel hombre; porque
muchas veces se apoderaba de él,
y aunque le sujetaban con cadenas y le
ponían grillos para custodiarle, rotas las
ataduras, era impulsado por el demonio
al desierto.
30 Jesús le preguntó:
–¿Cuál es tu nombre?
Él dijo:
–Legión –porque habían entrado en
él muchos demonios.
31 Y le suplicaban que no les ordenase
ir al abismo.
32 Había por allí una gran piara de
cerdos que estaban paciendo en el monte; y le suplicaron que les permitiese entrar
en ellos. Y se lo permitió. 33 Los demonios
salieron del hombre y entraron
en los cerdos; y la piara se lanzó corriendo
por la pendiente hacia el lago y se
ahogó. 34 Al ver los porqueros lo ocurrido,
huyeron, y lo contaron por la ciudad
y por los campos. 35 Salieron a ver lo que
había pasado, llegaron hasta Jesús, y encontraron
al hombre del que habían salido
los demonios, sentado a los pies de
Jesús, vestido y en su sano juicio, y les
entró miedo. 36 Los que lo habían presenciado
les contaron cómo había sido salvado
el endemoniado. 37 Y toda la gente
de la región de los gerasenos le pidió
que se alejara de ellos, porque estaban
sobrecogidos de temor. Él subió a la barca
y se volvió. 38 El hombre de quien habían
salido los demonios le pedía quedarse
con él; pero lo despidió diciendo:
39 –Vuelve a tu casa y cuenta las grandes
cosas que Dios ha hecho contigo.
Y se marchó proclamando por toda
la ciudad lo que Jesús había hecho con
él.
40 Al volver Jesús le recibió la muchedumbre,
porque todos estaban esperándole.
41 Entonces llegó un hombre, llamado
Jairo, que era jefe de la sinagoga, y
se postró a los pies de Jesús suplicándole
que entrase en su casa, 42 porque tenía una
hija única de unos doce años que se estaba
muriendo. Mientras iba, la multitud le
apretujaba.
43 Y una mujer que tenía un flujo de
sangre desde hacía doce años y que había
gastado toda su hacienda en médicos
sin que ninguno hubiese podido curarla,
44 se acercó por detrás, le tocó el
borde del manto y al instante cesó el flujo
de sangre. 45 Entonces dijo Jesús:
–¿Quién es el que me ha tocado?
Al negarlo todos, dijo Pedro:
–Maestro, la muchedumbre te aprieta
y te empuja.
46 Pero Jesús dijo:
–Alguien me ha tocado, porque yo
me he dado cuenta de que una fuerza
ha salido de mí.
47 Viendo la mujer que aquello no
había quedado oculto, se acercó temblando,
se postró ante él y declaró delante
de todo el pueblo la causa por la
que le había tocado, y cómo al instante
había quedado curada. 48 Él entonces
le dijo:
–Hija, tu fe te ha salvado. Vete en
paz.
49 Todavía estaba él hablando, cuando
vino uno de la casa del jefe de la sinagoga
diciendo:
–Tu hija ha muerto, no molestes
más al Maestro.
50 Al oírlo Jesús, le respondió:
–No temas, tan sólo ten fe y se salvará.
51 Cuando llegó a la casa, no permitió
que nadie entrara con él, excepto
Pedro, Juan y Santiago, y el padre y la
madre de la niña. 52 Todos lloraban y se
lamentaban por ella. Pero él dijo:
–No lloréis; no ha muerto, sino que
duerme.
53 Y se burlaban de él, sabiendo que
estaba muerta. 54 Él, tomándola de la
mano, dijo en voz alta:
–Niña, levántate.
55 Volvió a ella su espíritu y al instante
se levantó, y Jesús mandó que le dieran
de comer. 56 Y sus padres quedaron
asombrados; pero él les ordenó que no
dijeran a nadie lo que había sucedido.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).