Year of the Bible
Luke 7
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The Commentary on The Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 7:
Back in the village of Capernaum, a Gentile military leader (“centurion”) wants Jesus to heal a slave he cares for, but recognizes his unworthiness to approach Jesus directly, and sends Jewish elders to ask Jesus instead (vs. 1-3, 6-7). The Jewish elders assert that this centurian is indeed worthy of this healing, because he helped build their synagogue (vs. 4-5). Jesus marvels at the Gentile centurion's faith, and heals the slave (vs. 9-10). Jesus performs other healings with compassion for outsiders, a woman on the verge of destitution due to the loss of her only son (vs. 12-17) and a lower class woman who was previously healed by Jesus and then seeks him out during a dinner at a Pharisee’s house (vs. 36-38). What response does God desire? The joy of a banquet (vs. 34-35) and the love of one who has experienced forgiveness! (vs. 41-46)
The Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter, 7:
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Slave
1 After he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a slave who was dear to him, who was sick and at the point of death. 3 When he heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7 therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that followed him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave well.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son at Nain
11 Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Messengers from John the Baptist
18 The disciples of John told him of all these things. 19 And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for an other?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” 21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”
24 When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who shall prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John; 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
31 “To what then shall I com pare the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another,
‘We piped to you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not weep.’
33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine; and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was sitting at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “What is it, Teacher?” 41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
This chapter really emphasizes that Jesus came to heal and forgive: "the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them." Lord, what do you desire to heal in me? What do you wish to forgive?
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 Cuando terminó de decir todas estas
palabras al pueblo que le escuchaba,
entró en Cafarnaún.
2 Había allí un centurión que tenía un
siervo enfermo, a punto de morir, a quien
estimaba mucho. 3 Habiendo oído hablar
de Jesús, le envió unos ancianos de los judíos
para rogarle que viniera a curar a su
siervo. 4 Ellos, al llegar donde Jesús, le rogaban
encarecidamente diciendo:
–Merece que hagas esto, 5 porque
aprecia a nuestro pueblo y él mismo nos
ha construido la sinagoga.
6 Jesús, pues, se puso en camino con
ellos. Y no estaba ya lejos de la casa
cuando el centurión le envió unos amigos
para decirle:
–Señor, no te tomes esa molestia,
porque no soy digno de que entres en
mi casa, 7 por eso ni siquiera yo mis
mo me he considerado digno de ir a tu
encuentro. Pero dilo de palabra y mi
criado quedará sano. 8 Pues también yo
soy un hombre sometido a disciplina y
tengo soldados a mis órdenes. Le digo
a uno: «Vete», y va; y a otro: «Ven», y
viene; y a mi siervo: «Haz esto», y lo
hace.
9 Al oír esto, Jesús se admiró de él, y
volviéndose a la multitud que le seguía,
dijo:
–Os digo que ni siquiera en Israel he
encontrado una fe tan grande.
10 Y cuando volvieron a casa, los enviados
encontraron sano al siervo.
11 Después, marchó a una ciudad llamada
Naín, e iban con él sus discípulos
y una gran muchedumbre. 12 Al acercarse
a la puerta de la ciudad, resultó
que llevaban a enterrar un difunto, hijo
único de su madre, que era viuda. Y la
acompañaba una gran muchedumbre
de la ciudad. 13 El Señor la vio y se compadeció
de ella. Y le dijo:
–No llores.
14 Se acercó y tocó el féretro. Los que
lo llevaban se detuvieron. Y dijo:
–Muchacho, a ti te digo, levántate.
15 Y el que estaba muerto se incorporó
y comenzó a hablar. Y se lo entregó
a su madre. 16 Y se llenaron todos de temor
y glorificaban a Dios diciendo: «Un
gran profeta ha surgido entre nosotros»,
y «Dios ha visitado a su pueblo».
17 Esta opinión sobre él se divulgó
por toda Judea y por todas las regiones
vecinas.
18 Informaron a Juan sus discípulos
de todas estas cosas. 19 Y Juan llamó a
dos de ellos, y los envió al Señor a preguntarle:
–¿Eres tú el que va a venir o esperamos
a otro?
20 Cuando aquellos hombres se presentaron
ante él le dijeron:
–Juan el Bautista nos ha enviado a ti
a preguntarte: «¿Eres tú el que va a venir
o esperamos a otro?».
21 En aquel momento curó a muchos
de sus enfermedades, de dolencias y de
malos espíritus y dio la vista a muchos
ciegos. 22 Y les respondió:
–Id y anunciadle a Juan lo que habéis
visto y oído: los ciegos ven, los cojos
andan, los leprosos quedan limpios
y los sordos oyen, los muertos resucitan
y a los pobres se les anuncia el Evangelio.
23 Y bienaventurado el que no se escandalice
de mí.
24 Cuando los enviados de Juan se
marcharon, se puso a hablar de Juan a
la multitud:
–¿Qué salisteis a ver en el desierto?
¿Una caña sacudida por el viento? 25 Entonces,
¿qué salisteis a ver? ¿A un hombre
vestido con finos ropajes? Daos
cuenta de que los que visten con lujo y
viven entre placeres están en palacios de
reyes. 26 Entonces, ¿qué salisteis a ver? ¿A
un profeta? Sí, os lo aseguro, y más que
un profeta. 27 Éste es de quien está escrito:
Mira que envío a mi mensajero delante
de ti,
para que vaya preparándote el camino.
28 »Os digo que entre los nacidos de
mujer nadie hay mayor que Juan; pero
el más pequeño en el Reino de Dios es
mayor que él.
29 »Y todo el pueblo –incluso los publicanos–
le escuchó y reconoció la justicia
de Dios, recibiendo el bautismo de
Juan. 30 Pero los fariseos y los doctores
de la Ley rechazaron el plan de Dios sobre
ellos al no querer ser bautizados por
él.
31 »Así pues, ¿con quién voy a comparar
a los hombres de esta generación?
¿A quién se parecen? 32 Se parecen a los
niños sentados en la plaza y que se gritan
unos a otros aquello que dice:
«Hemos tocado para vosotros la
flauta
y no habéis bailado;
hemos cantado lamentaciones
y no habéis llorado».
33 »Porque viene Juan el Bautista,
que no come pan ni bebe vino, y decís:
«Tiene un demonio». 34 Viene el Hijo
del Hombre, que come y bebe, y decís:
«Fijaos: un hombre comilón y bebedor,
amigo de publicanos y de pecadores
».
35 »Pero la sabiduría queda acreditada
por todos sus hijos.
36 Uno de los fariseos le rogaba que comiera
con él; y entrando en casa del fariseo
se recostó a la mesa.
37 Y entonces una mujer pecadora
que había en la ciudad, al enterarse de
que estaba recostado a la mesa en casa
del fariseo, llevó un frasco de alabastro
con perfume, 38 y por detrás se puso a
sus pies llorando; y comenzó a bañarle
los pies con sus lágrimas, y los enjugaba
con sus cabellos, los besaba y los ungía
con el perfume.
39 Al ver esto el fariseo que le había
invitado, se decía: «Si éste fuera profeta,
sabría con certeza quién y qué clase
de mujer es la que le toca: que es una
pecadora».
40 Jesús tomó la palabra y le dijo:
–Simón, tengo que decirte una cosa.
Y él contestó:
–Maestro, di.
41 –Un prestamista tenía dos deudores:
uno le debía quinientos denarios y
otro cincuenta. 42 Como ellos no tenían
con qué pagar, se lo perdonó a los dos.
¿Cuál de ellos le amará más?
43 –Supongo que aquel a quien perdonó
más –contestó Simón.
Entonces Jesús le dijo:
–Has juzgado con rectitud.
44 Y vuelto hacia la mujer, le dijo a Simón:
–¿Ves a esta mujer? Entré en tu casa
y no me diste agua para los pies. Ella en
cambio me ha bañado los pies con sus
lágrimas y me los ha enjugado con sus
cabellos. 45 No me diste el beso. Pero ella,
desde que entré no ha dejado de besar
mis pies. 46 No has ungido mi cabeza
con aceite. Ella en cambio ha ungido
mis pies con perfume. 47 Por eso te digo:
le son perdonados sus muchos pecados,
porque ha amado mucho. Aquel a quien
menos se perdona menos ama.
48 Entonces le dijo a ella:
–Tus pecados quedan perdonados.
49 Y los convidados comenzaron a
decir entre sí:
–¿Quién es éste que hasta perdona
los pecados?
50 Él le dijo a la mujer:
–Tu fe te ha salvado; vete en paz.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Este capítulo en verdad enfatiza que Jesús vino a sanar y perdonar: "los ciegos reciben la vista, los mancos caminan, los leprosos son limpiados los sordos escuchan, los muertos son resucitados, A los pobres les llegan buenas nuevas." Señor, ¿qué deseas sanar en mí? ¿Qué quieres perdonar?
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).