Minka Shura Sprague.  One to Watch, One to Pray: A Devotional Introduction to the Gospels. BSC Litho, 1985. 

            I remember when a seminary professor told me that critical Biblical study forces students to confront what they believe about the Church, among other things. He thought that was a good thing. I suppose any time we are forced to think about something is a good thing, albeit somewhat painful, kind of like growing.  I came to the conclusion as a result of my Biblical study that the Bible is the Church’s book. After all, the Church did create it, sort of. But, it is also the Church’s chief source of nourishment, the chief means of grace whereby the Church is kept honest in its experience of God. So, it is refreshing when I read a book from the critical perspective that tends to nourish, to suggest, the experience of God that blesses and refreshes as well as challenges.

            I particularly liked Minka’s discussion of “Luke the Healer.” Minka is not any wild-eyed fundamentalist charismatic. (Having met her, I can hear her sputtering, spitting, and choking right now at the mere suggestion).  In her analysis/introduction to Luke, she suggests, following Brueggemann, that Luke links healing with what happens when people are enabled to act justly. Then, both healing and curing take place (there is a difference between the two). In fact, healing and justice are the same. How that expands our narrow definitions of healing, already narrowed by our preoccupation with our body’s appetites and denial of death! Add to this that Luke-Acts has no ending – just the continuation that we are adding today to it. Gives one room to ruminate.

            And you should read what she says about the other gospels. You really should. 

2/18/05