Saint Luke

Readings for Monday October 17, 2010

Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

First Reading: 2 Timothy 4:10-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145
Gospel: Luke 10:1-9

Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. (2 Tim. 4:10-13)

Today, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Luke the evangelist (or gospel writer). When most people hear of Saint Luke, they know of his work in writing one of the gospels, but that is typically where knowledge of him ends. He also wrote the book of Acts, where he described how the Church first grew and spread, as well as some the mighty deeds worked through the Apostles. We can imagine that Luke, like the rest of the evangelists, was blessed with special insight for he knew and spoke to many of the apostles of which he recorded many things. He traveled with Paul on his journeys spreading the gospel message. He probably heard all about Paul's conversion and encounter with Christ. It is also believed that Luke had the opportunity to personally spend time with and talk with the Virgin Mary; who I am sure gave him amazing personal accounts of things like the Annunciation, the visitation to Elizabeth, the birth of John the Baptist, the birth of Jesus, about Joseph, and many more things. (To be honest with you, I am not sure how Luke did it, I think that I would be too in awe of the mother of God to even write anything!)

We also know that Luke was a gentile and a physician. Luke certainly knew a thing or two about physical healing. But it wasn't until he met Paul and came to know Christ that he began to learn about spiritual healing. And like everyone else, we can naturally assume that Luke was just as in need of spiritual healing as any other gentile or Jew. Luke teaches us a great deal about the importance of loyalty and of sacrifice. I can guarantee you that it would be very difficult to follow around the Apostle Paul, I am sure that it was a very grueling journey, and I doubt that Paul ever slowed down. But we read today that Luke was loyally by him, and journeyed with him because he wanted others to come to know God's loving and healing hand, just as he had experienced. Along with loyalty, Luke also teaches us about sacrifice. It is safe to assume that as a physician Luke had a pretty good living; but instead of staying where he was comfortable, he decided to sacrifice everything and follow Christ. By choosing to follow Christ, he was blessed to be on a journey that brought him to meet many other fellow Saints, and especially a chance to spend time with his mother Mary!

Saint Luke, pray for us as we read your gospel. Pray that we can come to a deeper relationship with the good physician, Jesus, and that we may be led closer to our Queen and Mother, Mary.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with in this life. Help us to not be afraid of the path which you set before us. Lord, your plan is perfect, help increase our faith so that we might trust in you in all that we do. Lord, you are our rock and our salvation, may we never stray from your loving arms. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.