St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Luke 10; 17-24

Assisi view by Mark

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: WILLIAM . . .
To: Donald . . .
Sent: Sunday, 2 October 2011, 10:21
Subject: Re: Luke 10:21 on the face of a child

Dear Father Donald,

 

This is fascinating!

 

The "Complete Gospels", which also provides the text of the non-canonical gospels, uses its own translation known as the Scholar's Version (which is described a being "free of eccelesiastical and religious control"). Verse 21 is translated as follows: "hiidden these things from the wise and the learned but revealed them to the untutored".

 

Against this verse, in the margin, there is a direct reference to the Q source, and a note to compare a 'logion' (Chambers dictionary: a saying from an early collection of sayings attributed to Christ) in The Gospel of Thomas.

 

I think I was a little disappointed when I turned to the Q source, for the text given is "a hypothetical construct" as "no independent copy of it exists". It takes the form of a collation of texts found in Luke (primarily) and Matthew that are considered to be derived from this common source, matching lines from both Gospels where possible. It does, however, on later reflection, fulfil its purpose; to present, after scholarly investigation, those passages that later inspired the writers of the two Gospels.

 

The reference to The Gospel of Thomas, whilst only given to 'compare', ie not a 'proven' source parallel for this particular passage, is tantalizing!

Logion 4:1 : "Jesus said, "The person old in days won't hesitate to ask a little child seven days old about the place of life, and that person will live".

Brilliant! the innocence on the face of a child, totally trusting without any forced, or indeed, conscious awareness of that faith in those who love it.

 

On the face of a child - that captures the meaning of the moment for me!

 

With delight,

 . . .   in Our Lord,

William

 + + + 

Patroness of the Missions, Doctor of the Church.

Saint Theses - statue at the back porch

"I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies. To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul." These are the words of Therese of the Child Jesus, a Carmelite nun called the "Little Flower,"    (L. Foley OFM)

Comment: The Mass Gospel is of Luke 10:17-24, as in the current liturgical series, proves appropriate for St. Therese.
The Amplified Bible, Verse 21, "and learned, and revealed them to babes - the childish, unskilled and untaught."
Adding to the interest is the HARMONY with the Gospel of Matthew:11:25, both drawing from Q. (Knox, Harmony *53 'The Seventy-Two Disciples.')
Pending, Sacra Pagina provides Interpretation from Matthew.

Parallel Versions:

LUKE 10

Vulgate	RSV	NRSV	KJV+
21  in ipsa hora exultavit Spiritu Sancto et dixit confiteor tibi Pater Domine caeli et terrae quod abscondisti haec a sapientibus et prudentibus et revelasti ea parvulis etiam Pater quia sic placuit ante te	21  In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.	21 At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.	21  In1722 that846 hour5610 Jesus2424 rejoiced21 in spirit,4151 and2532 said,2036 I thank1843 thee,4671 O Father,3962 Lord2962 of heaven3772 and2532 earth,1093 that3754 thou hast hid613 these things5023 from575 the wise4680 and2532 prudent,4908 and2532 hast revealed601 them846 unto babes:3516 even so,3483 Father;3962 for3754 so3779 it seemed1096 good2107 in thy sight.1715, 4675