We have entered into the Season of Advent, the beginning of a new year in the church when we are all expectantly waiting for Christmas. Many people are waiting for something specific to happen: a family that has a child with cancer awaits test results; another family stands vigil while an elder begins the journey home.

In the Preamble to his Gospel, Luke expresses his dissatisfaction with the previous attempts of other Christian writers “to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us.”

More than the other three Gospels, Luke’s Gospel is a “social” Gospel, a Gospel of mercy, a Pope Francis Gospel. Luke’s “social” theme is emphasized in the first part of this Sunday’s Gospel.