This week's gospel text immediately follows Jesus' selection of the twelve. It is their first opportunity to observe and listen to Jesus with the new eyes and ears of those totally committed to and securely a part of his ministry.

What a powerful beginning for them all! Returning from the mountain top (Luke's traditional choice for retreats of prayer and meditation), Jesus and his disciples now come down to "a level place." While all three of the synoptic gospels record their own versions of the following events, they all locate the participants in very different geographical areas - the mountains for Matthew, the sea for Mark, and the plain (the "level place") for Luke

Luke's choice of location seems to be not only a "level place," but a leveling place as well. Here the perhaps slightly s…