In Luke 9 and 10 Jesus gives his Apostles and disciples a share in his authority as he sends them out on missions. St. Irenaeus, the second century church father and bishop in what is now France, cites Luke 10 as he explains how Jesus’ teaching authority has been handed down in the church through the apostles and their successors: The Lord of all things gave to his apostles the power of the gospel, and through them, we too, know the truth, that is, the doctrine of God’s Son. To them, the Lord also said, “He who hears you, hears me, and he who despises you, despises me and him who sent me” (10:16)….In point of fact, we received the knowledge of the economy of our salvation through no others than those through whom the gospel has come down to us. This gospel they first preached orally, but later by God’s will, they handed it on in the Scriptures……All, therefor, who wish to see the truth can view in the whole church the tradition of the apostles that has been manifested in the whole world. Further, we are able to enumerate the bishops who were established in the Churches by the apostles, and their successions even to ourselves…..Since, however…..it would be too long to list the successions of all the Churches, we shall here address the tradition of the greatest and most ancient church, known to all, founded and built up at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, the tradition received from those apostles, which has come down to us through the succession of the bishops…..for with this Church, because of her greater authority, it is necessary that every Church, that is, the faithful who are everywhere, should agree, because in her the apostolic tradition has always been safeguarded.
Luke 10:16. On the journey to Jerusalem, Jesus tells the Twelve, the disciples and the evangelists that “whoever listens to you listens to me” and “whoever rejects you rejects me.” This is what apostolic authority means: There is a certain identification between Jesus and those whom he sends. The emphasis has been on rejection since they started the journey to Jerusalem. Ultimately, those who reject both apostles and Jesus also “reject the one who sent” them–God the Father. The inverse is also true: ” Whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
The seventy (2) came back rejoicing. They address Jesus as “Lord” and joyfully tell him that “even the demons are subject to us.” Jesus clarifies the real reason to rejoice: their “names are written in heaven.” This refers to the “book of life,” a familiar Biblical image for those who will be saved.
Luke 10:21. During the preaching in Galilee, people would ask about Jesus’ identity in response to his miracles, but here it is Jesus revealing himself through his teaching. Jesus exults in the Holy Spirit and gives thanks to God, Lord of heaven and earth. He also addresses God as Father, which is not common in the OT. It is preparation for the “Lord’s Prayer” in the next chapter; Luke will also use it in the Garden.
Onward….Luke 10:25-37. A teacher of the Torah tests Jesus by asking him, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This was a question that occupied the rabbis of the late Old Testament period. Jesus turns the question around on the rabbi, who says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.” The idea is that the commandment to love God embraces every aspect of one’s being, although not every aspect is included in every text. The Leviticus text adds “and your neighbor as yourself,” so the connection of God and neighbor was made very early in Israel’s history. Jesus affirms that the teacher had answered correctly. But knowing the right answer and doing the right thing are two different things, so Jesus continues, “do this and you will live.” The stress on DO will repeat in Luke. And it is repeated later in the New Testament. It is good to do something to show one’s love for Christ. To the early church, “works” meant following the Jewish laws, and there was a controversy about making Gentiles observe the laws. It was decided that Gentiles didn’t need to follow the laws or be circumcised. Now, back to the teacher: He wants to know, “Who is my neighbor?” Leviticus says that even the foreigner living among you is your neighbor. Jesus told him the story of the Good Samaritan, who had helped a man who had been beaten-up on the Jericho-Jerusalem Road. Others, read Jews, had passed him, not wanting to get involved. But the good man cleaned his wounds and took him to an inn and left money for his care. That shamed the Jews who passed him rather than help him, especially since the man who helped him was a Samaritan, who are regarded as less than human by the Jews.
I’ve decided to discontinue the alternate blog, or at least make it more positive. The blog on AI and its dangers to humanity was murky, so say the least. The author, Cyrus Parsa, didn’t explain exactly what “bio-digital” means. I googled it, and concluded that its the point where humans and digital devices meet. When we are using a computer or Smartphone, our eyes, hands, finger-tips and brain cells (neurons) are connecting with the digital frequencies coming from the device. But I think the frequencies are mostly going through the eyes to the neurons, and these frequencies affect the neurons in some way. But Parsa didn’t explain that. But the neurons aren’t passive; they are giving off frequencies, so there is a zone where these frequencies are in conflict. Add the AI frequency and that supposedly will dominate the zone. For the first time in human history, brain neurons are in a life or death battle; will they survive? Parsa gives us no hope. He just gives us goobledegook.
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys 