The Feast of St. Luke
October 18th Readings Reflection: Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist
Today is the feast of St. Luke, the author of the Gospel from which today’s reading is taken. St. Luke was a physician and disciple of St. Paul. Born in Syria, he was most likely a convert of St. Paul, whom he joined in Troas and accompanied into Macedonia. Their travels are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, which St. Luke also wrote. St. Luke was martyred in Greece.
St. Luke’s Gospel sought to emphasize that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim 2:4 DRB).1 St. Luke wrote his Gospel in a way that all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—would be able to understand, in order that they might come to know the Truth and message of salvation.
St. Luke’s Gospel has sometimes been called the Gospel of Women, because he wrote about many important holy women in his Gospel. In particular, St. Luke wrote a great deal about the life of Our Lady, whom he was blessed to know personally. Christians are deeply indebted to St. Luke for his passages on Our Lady, from which we know her as “blessed…among women” (Lk 1:28).
Today’s Gospel reading ends with the words, “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” St. Luke spent his life preaching the Gospel, the Good News that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He firmly believed that the Gospel is universal and that we Christians have an obligation to spread the Gospel to those who do not yet believe, in order that they may be saved. As a physician, St. Luke healed physical infirmities, but as a Christian, he recognized that the infirmities of the eternal soul are far more serious and deserve our full attention. St. Luke ultimately gave his life in his missionary endeavors, leaving us a beautiful example of how we, too, should dedicate our lives to leading others to Christ.
St. Luke, pray for us!
Fr. John Laux, Introduction to the Bible (Charlotte: TAN Books, 2012), 235.
Is there a good app for the Liturgical Calendar? I’m a Protestant, but am becoming more and more interested in the liturgical calendar and am interested in participating in the practices. I think Protestants have done themselves a disservice by not really caring about the liturgical calendar. I think following it would be a good way for us to always remember the Christian community and family we are part of.
St Luke is my patron saint and I always perk up when I hear about St Luke or when his Gospel is one of the readings. I don't pray to him often enough--but enjoyed this reflection greatly. Friend of Our Lady, healer of souls, evangelist to the gentiles--I even read somewhere (Possibly from Manly Saints Project?) that he may have been one of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Thank you very much for this reflection!
St Luke, Pray for us!