Read Reflect Respond

Sundays | Feast Days |  Videos | Latest 

18th October 202

Feast of St. Luke – the Evangelist

READ: (2 Tim 4: 10-17; Lk 10: 1-9)

REFLECT:

Dear friends, today we celebrate the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. According to the Christian tradition, Luke is the author of the Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He is a companion of St. Paul the Apostle. Luke is a physician as mentioned in St. Paul’s letter (Col 4:14) and a co-worker with the apostle Paul (Phile 24).

Luke has written one of the major portions of the New Testament, a two-volume work consisting of the third Gospel and Acts of the Apostles. In the two books he presents the connection between the life of Christ and the life of the Church among early Christians. Luke is the longest of the four gospels and the longest book in the New Testament with 24 chapters, together with Acts of the Apostles which makes up a two-volume work from the same author. Therefore it is called as Luke-Acts. Both Luke-acts is addressed to Theophilus, which means ‘the beloved of God or the one loved by God,’ (Lk 1:3; Acts 1:1).

Luke writes as a Gentile for Gentile Christians. The Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles reveal his proficiency in classic Greek style as well as his knowledge of Jewish sources. The uniqueness of Lucan Gospel is seen in the following episodes. The infancy and childhood of Jesus; Mary’s Magnificat, Zechariah’s Benedictus, the Angels’ Gloria and Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis (Let your servant go in peace), the census of Caesar Augustus, the journey to Bethlehem, Jesus’ birth, the adoration of the shepherds, Jesus’ circumcision, the words of Simeon etc.  

It is the only Gospel to give an account of the Ascension. Among the notable parables found only in Luke’s Gospel are those of the Good Samaritan and the prodigal son. Here are some other parables that are unique to Luke’s Gospel: Parable of two debtors (7: 40-43); Parable of the friend at midnight (11:5-8); Parable of the rich fool (12:13-21); Parable of the barren fig tree (13:1-9); Parable of the lost coin and prodigal son (15:8-32); Parable of the rich man and the shrewd manager (16:1-12); Parable of the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31); Parable of the persistent widow (18:1-8); Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (18:9-14).

We also see in the first reading of the day from St. Paul’s letter that at a point when all his co-workers left the Apostle Paul, the Disciple Luke stayed on with him to help him (2 Tim. 4: 10-11). It indicates the support and companionship of Luke to Paul during his mission and missionary Journey.  Luke the evangelist is also considered as the patron of physicians, surgeons and artists. So with these historical insights about Luke, consider the readings of the feast day celebration, I would like to three important themes in the Lucan Gospel for our reflection.

1.     The theme of Salvation:

Salvation is one of the major themes we find in the gospel of Luke. From the beginning to end Luke presents Jesus as the Savior, Messiah. In the first chapter of Luke, Jesus is pointed as the one who would bring salvation through the forgiveness of sins (Lk 1:77). The attestation of it we hear it from Simeon (Lk 2:30). In the proclamation of John the Baptist while quoting a passage from Isaiah that all humanity will see the salvation of God (Lk 3:6). Jesus offers salvation to Zacchaeus by saying, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is the son of Abraham,” (Lk 19:9). The offer of salvation is given by Jesus to one of the two were crucified saying, “In truth I shall tell you, today you will be with me in paradise,” (Lk 23: 43).

Luke speaks of Jesus as the Savior and redeemer who brings redemption of God to the world. Salvation or redemption is not merely synonymous for forgiveness rather it has a wider meaning and scope; it refers to the saving act or deliverance of God. We see Jesus engaging himself in various activities for the salvific act to save his people during his ministry. He heals, forgives, and brings wholeness and restoration of life to people. It is also worth noting that in the Lucan Gospel, Salvation is not limited to few individuals rather for all. The salvation is a free offer given to all. We find in the gospel of Luke the angel of God bringing news of great joy (Lk 2:10), Simeon’s prophecy (Lk 2:32), a reference from prophet Isaiah during the proclamation of John the Baptist (Lk 3:6) the genealogy of Jesus (Lk 3:23-38) which is seen from Jesus to Adam. Therefore, the salvation Jesus would bring is accessible to all, whoever responds to him in utter faith.   

Further, in the role of Salvation Holy Spirit too plays a significant role and that’s very well portrayed in the Lucan Gospel. Luke points out the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ birth and during his public ministry and at the birth of John the Baptist. Jesus’ ministry begins with an announcement that the Spirit of has anointed him for specific mission (Lk 4:14-19). The Pentecostal event in the Acts of the Apostles, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people gathered. All these show that the theme of salvation plays a significant part in the Lucan writing and those who respond to the offer of salvation of God in faith will obtain the great offer of salvation.

2. The importance of the poor:  

The Gospel of Luke is also called as the Gospel of the poor. It is because of the importance and the preferential option given by Jesus to the poor, the despised, the marginalized and those at the periphery of the society. The announcement of glad tidings of the birth of Messiah was given to the people with little or no status in society, the shepherds (Lk 2:8-20). In the town of Nazareth Jesus makes a glorious announcement that he was appointed to preach good news to the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed (Lk 4:18); the account of the centurion and the sick servant who was restored to health (Lk 7:2-10);

Jesus responds to the disciples of John  about the blind, lame, deaf, diseased, dead are healed and restored; (Lk 7:22), the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), the parable of the wedding guest and the great supper (Lk 14:7-24); the parable of the lost sheep, lost coin and the prodigal son (Lk 15:4–32); the story of the ten lepers and the only one who returned with gratitude to Jesus was a Samaritan (Lk 17:11-19); the prayer of Pharisee and the tax collector the temple (Lk 18:9–14); the widow’s generous offering into the treasury (Lk 21: 1-4); Jesus clarifies the disciples as who is greatest (Lk 22: 24-27). All the above episodes show, the Lucan gospel gives importance to the poor and portrays how Jesus gave importance to the least of the society and poor has been a preferential option and privileged ones in the ministry of Jesus. 

3. The importance of Women:

The Gospel of Luke presents before us the presence of women in the gospel and shows great respect for women. Some of the examples are the following; At the start in the infancy narratives, we have Elizabeth (Lk 1: 39-45) and the Prophetess Anna (Lk 2: 36-38). In his genealogy there are mentions of the women namely Tamar, Rehab, Ruth and Bathsheba as ancestors of the Messiah (Lk 3: 23-38). There are details about the women who traveled with Jesus, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources, (Lk 8: 2-3). A sinful woman who anointed Jesus and was forgiven (Lk 7: 37-50); the listening Mary listened and busy working Mary (Lk 10: 38-42); A widow who obtains justice from the judge by persistence (Lk 18: 1-5); the women were the first to find Jesus’ tomb empty (Lk 24:1-3).

Indeed all of us know that a special importance and privilege is given to Mary our Blessed Mother. We hear in the Gospel of Luke that the angel addresses Mary as, “Hail Mary, full of grace,” and Elizabeth calls Mary as “Mother of my Lord.”  There is a song of Mary praising God through the Magnificat and we see the presence of Mary again together with the Apostles at Pentecost (Acts 1: 13-16). The names and episodes of women in the ministry of Jesus are clear indications that Jesus too had a great concern and care for women during his ministry. Luke the evangelist portrays these episodes very meaningfully and carefully in his gospel.

Moreover, the gospel reading of the day presents before us the mission of the seventy –two disciples. They were given instructions as to what they should take and what they should not for mission work. The specific mission of the disciples we see in Lk 10: 9 “cure those in it and say the Kingdom of God is near to you.” One of the ways that Luke, the evangelist made known the kingdom of God to all is by his writing of the Gospel and sharing the good news of Jesus to all of us. Luke, evangelist becomes an instrument to know Christ, his message to the world.  So we too as Disciples of Christ make known the kingdom of God to all by the talents and resources that we have received from God.  May our efforts to fulfill our calling be the tribute to God.

RESPOND:

Do I believe in the Salvation that God offered us in Jesus Christ and through his Holy Catholic Church?

Do we have love for the poor and those at the periphery in our community, society and world today?

Do we respect, support, have care and concern for the women in our world?

Let us build the kingdom of God by the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ, loving the poor and the needy, having concern and care for the women in our world. Amen.

“You will fulfill your mission by proclaiming good news so that they may have life. They will grow in this life by the good example that you provide them by your own life. Do not be worried whether your efforts bear fruit for you to see. You are expected only to be faithful in working to prepare the barren and arid land. You will only be asked how well you have sown the seed, not how much you have harvested.” (AE VI, 89, Conf. 6, SC II, p.101, taken from spoonful of Honey by Fr. Suresh Babu MSFS).

Wish you all a happy feast. God bless us all…

 Live Jesus