THEOLOGICAL CLUE

The Second Sunday in Lent reminds the people of God, who gather for worship this day, that they are following Jesus to Jerusalem, according to the Roman Catholic ORDO, or, in the other lectionaries, are given a preview of what is going to happen in the Holy City. Almost any Gospel for the Day that is selected from St. Luke, which would fit into the liturgical/theological scheme of Lent, will have some sort of orientation to Jerusalem; Luke's whole gospel makes it absolutely clear that Jesus' ministry will reach its climax in the Holy City. This is so because Luke, writing after the resurrection, of course, really comprehends what Jesus was to do in Jerusalem on behalf of sinful humanity, and he actually believes that the crucified and risen Christ is the Lord. All of this…