Socio-Economic Parables in Luke- A Mizo Tribal Reading (Biblical Hermeneutics Rediscovered-38)

About the Book The scholarly work deals with Lucan parables such as 1) Parable of the Unjust Steward, 2) Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, 3) Parable of the Mina, 4) Parable of the Sower, 5) Parable of the Rich Fool, and 6) Parable of a Mustard Seed; from socio-economic perspective. The method adopted in doing this research is a Mizo Tribal reading.

The author has wisely utilized Mizo oral traditions and cultural heritages such as folktales, folksongs, images, sayings, proverbs, stories and maxims, as hermeneutical tools to interpret the selected parables.

About the Author H. Joseph Lalfakmawia earned his theological degrees (BD, MTh and DTH) from Senate of Serampore College (University). In 2009, he joined Master's College of Theology, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (Senate of Serampore) as a lecturer of New Testament, then as Academic Dean till 2014. After completion of doctoral studies, he joined pastoral ministry under the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church of India.

Apart from academic articles published in journals and books, Joseph has published eight books; three books in Mizo, and five books are published by the SCEPTRE, Kolkata (Senate of Serampore College): Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels (2013), Re-Reading the Gospel of John from Indian Perspective (2013), Understanding the New Testament (2013), General Introduction to Post Biblical Judaism (2013) and Basic Methodological Study Aid for Theological Students (2014). He is also a co-editor of Ekklesia: Indian Conversation (2015). He married Esther Lalruatpua, and are blessed with a daughter, H. Tirzah Remruati and a son, H. Zefania Hruaizela.

Foreword Studying Parables of Jesus has gained an important interest, over the years, among students of the New Testament due to their importance as probably the most authentic words of the teaching of Jesus. We have several outstanding studies on parables using diverse methodological perspectives. Recent years have seen a number of readings of the parables using methods derived from literary, sociological, ecological and postcolonial perspectives. However, it's Lukan parables that have received more attention for a sociological reading as the good news proclaimed by Jesus as presented by Luke generally been perceived has a slant towards social concerns.

It's only appropriate that when Dr. H. Joseph Lalfakmawia chose to study the parables of Jesus from a socio-economic perspective for his doctoral work, he focused his attention on Lukan parables. What makes the study most interesting is his concentration on the Mizo cultural context where he hails from and looking at the parables as a Mizo tribal Christian, using Mizo folk songs, folk stories and myths to read and interpret them. This is done after an extensive research on Mizo oral cultural traditions and the role they played in the socio-economic practices of the Mizos' life. On the way he also provides substantial codified oral materials for research in Mizo cultural traditions in the form of Appendix. However, this has in no way slackened his interest in the study of the texts of the parables. Careful attention has been paid to the textual issues arising out of the chosen texts while reading them. His focus is on select parables of Jesus peculiar to the Gospel of Luke, reading them as a Christian from a socio-economic perspective. The agenda provided in interpreting the parables of Jesus from a socio-economic perspective opens up new ways of looking at the message of Jesus.

"Socio-Economic Issues Parables in Luke: A Mizo Tribal Reading" provides a unique perspective on understanding the parables of Jesus as Dr. Joseph's reading of the parables from a Mizo matrix provides a fresh perspective on Lukan parables. Studying parables in the light of the tribal traditions provide a nuanced understanding of the parables that has otherwise been missing.

Preface The original title of the thesis is "Socio-Economic Issues in the Parables of Luke: A Mizo Reading." I have made a slight change in the title as 'Socio- Economic Parables in Luke: A Mizo (Tribal) Reading' with a clear intent. I have done like this because I categorize the select parables as well as some other (that are mentioned in the "introduction") as 'socio-economic parables' because the implicit teaching of Jesus, according to my understanding, is socio-economic liberation of the really poor in the real sense, here on earth. Accordingly, one of the major departures I have made from scholarly consensus is about Jesus' attitude on wealth and wealthy. I have gone through various hurdles during my doctoral studies especially in financial matters. However, those hurdles served only as speed-breakers but not stumbling blocks. I am indebted to Upa L. Khuma Varte (Vengthlang North, Champhai) who financially covered my first year tuition fee. Rev. Dr. B. Lalnunzira sponsored my German (A1) course fee at the right time. My close friend, Ms. Medalpari spared some portion of her tithe for the course fee of 'DTH Research Methodology Seminar' which is a mandatory requirement for prospective doctoral students.

My dad said (over the phone), "You know too well that we do not have resources to sponsor your doctoral studies financially. However, the response to my prayer is that you go ahead. Jordan river overflows all its banks (Jos 3.15) that only those who are courageous to step into it by faith, will cross over." So I did, and so I crossed over. God utilized earthly money and wealthy to be my aids in times of need. For me, Jos 3.15 and my father's influential and encouraging words are the forces that pushed me on and on.

My wife, who suffers from dreadful (severely painful) keloid on her chest, has still been a constant support to keep me busy like a bee during my course works. She kept on reminding me that I have more works to complete on time.

I am also indebted to Rev. Dr. V. J. John, my mentor and supervisor, in every aspect. He rigorously prepared me academically, but profoundly upheld me as a spiritual father.

Introduction Economy is one of the most important aspects of a society of all times. In a social sense, complete separation of economy and religious aspects is impossible. The same is true in an individual life. A religious person often counts economic security or improvement as a divine blessing while irreligious person considers it as fate or meritorious profit. In almost all societies economic soundness is an automatic foundation of social high status because wealth buys luxury and pleasures of life. Money/wealth plays such a great role in life that it affects men and women, rich and poor, religious and irreligious equally in one way or the other. Almost everyone is on the race to attain economic security or improvement.

Money/wealth is so powerful and dominant that many people pursue it in every possible way. It divides society into rich and poor. The rich have better opportunities to get richer while the poor have less chance to raise whatever they have. Economic disparity causes social gap and division in a society. Money/wealth is almost idolized and metaphorically speaking, worshipped. In the midst of that socio-economic chaos, biblical, especially Jesus' teaching on economy or wealth as well as on the rich and the poor, is taken seriously. Our research is one of such attempts to see wealth/economic improvement from positive angle in order to serve the poor in particular and the society at large in general.

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