Art Analysis: Social Justice Issues

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Art AnalysisSocial Justice Issues

• By Rachel Omiliak

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Poor and Marginalized

• Luke deals with many social justice issues
• Categories of "poor" or marginalized people in
  his Gospel
• Sick People
• Outcasts, esp. Lepers
• Women, esp. Widows
• Tax Collectors
• Samaritans
• Children, esp. Orphans

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Leprosy

• Not merely sickness, but a social condition
• Sign of Impurity
• Lepers were considered unclean
• Society did not accept them
• Forced to live on outskirts of society

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Luke 1711-19 Jesus Heals Ten Lepers Caspar
Luiken

• Jesus heals all ten lepers
• They go to show them-selves to the priests, to
  certify that they are "clean" again
• Samaritan is the only one who comes back to thank
  Jesus
• Stand up and go your faith has saved you.

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Women in Society

• Inferior to men
• Not respected by men in society overall
• Lacked political rights
• Lacked credibility in public
• Luke has a great emphasis on women
• Jesus talks to them and helps them
• Widows are especially helpless / vulnerable

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Luke 181-8 The Unjust Judge and the Importunate
Widow Sir John Everett Millais
Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen
ones who call out to him day and night? Will he
be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see
to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith
on earth? (Luke 186-8)
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Tax Collectors

• Most people did not like them
• Collected taxes on behalf of Romans
• Seen by most Jews as traitors and thieves
• Made fraudulent charges as much as possible
• No way to get out of these taxes
• Because Pharisees hated tax collectors, they
  thought Jesus should too
• In next parable, we see how the humility of a tax
  collector gains him favor with God

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Luke 189-14 The Pharisee and the Publican
Gustave Doré
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus God, I
thank thee, that I am not as other men are And
the publican smote upon his breast, saying, God
be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 1811,13)
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Children in the Time of Jesus

• Considered a Burden
• Many died young, before they could give back to
  their family
• While young, they cannot help provide for the
  rest of the group
• Considered Unclean, acc. to Jewish laws and
  customs
• Did not know right from wrong when it came to
  Jewish rules

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Luke 1815-17Jesus Blessing Little Children
Sir Charles Locke Eastlake
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Zacchaeus

• The placement of this story is interesting
• Luke Last story before they enter Jerusalem
• About forgiveness and salvation
• Mark Last story before Jesus enters Jerusalem is
  the Healing of the Blind Man Bartimaeus (Mark
  1046-52)
• About faith in Jesus
• Only Luke's Gospel has the story of Zacchaeus
• Exemplifies proper attitude toward wealth
• gives half his possessions to the poor
• results in achievement of salvation

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Luke 191-10 Zacchaeus Nicolas Fontaine
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and
said to him, Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for
today I must stay at your house. And he came
down quickly and received him with joy. (Luke
195-6)