St. Luke, Evangelist

Readings: 2 Tm. 4:10-17;

Ps. 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18;

Lk. 10:1-9

Some Notes on St. Luke, Evangelist:

1. Ancient traditions, early church writers, and what we know from the New Testament attribute the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles to Luke. He was born in Antioch, Syria. He was a Greek and

Gentile-convert, making him the only non-Jewish author in the New Testament. Col. 10-14 does not include Luke among the Jews, those “in the circumcision.”

2. In his missionary ministry that can be traced in the Acts of the Apostles, Luke shows special sensitivity to evangelizing Gentiles. It is only in his Gospel that we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus praising the faith of Gentiles, such as the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian (Lk. 4:25-27), the grateful Samaritan leper (Lk. 17 11-19).

3. Acts is written in the third person, as a historian recording facts, up until the 16th chapter. In Acts 16:6-9, we learn of Paul’s journey. “Passing by Miesian, they went down to Troas.” Then Paul had a vision for him to go to Macedonia. In Acts 16:10, “they” becomes “we.” “When he had seen the vision, ‘we’ immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia...” The use of the word “we” indicates that Luke was a co-worker and companion of Paul in the ministry of evangelization.

4. About the year 51, he journeyed with Paul from Troas and Macedonia to Samothrace, Neapolis, and finally Philippi. It seems that Luke stayed behind in Philippi for seven years, while Paul continued on his journey. Luke then rejoined Paul in 58. From Troas, they traveled together through Miletus, Tyre, Caesarea, to Jerusalem, where Paul was arrested and imprisoned. Luke then accompanied Paul to Rome and remained with him in his final imprisonment and suffering (2 Tm. 4:11).

5. Scholars say that Luke was a highly educated Greek. They recognize his sophisticated literary form and his references to ancient and classical Hellenistic Greek authors. His Gospel is the longest of the 4 Gospels, which includes Mary and the Infancy Narratives, as well as many parables that are only found in Luke. Luke-Acts together account for 27.5 percent of the New Testament, the longest contribution by a single author.

6. It is Luke who has given us the Scriptural parts of the Hail Mary. “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.... Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb,” Jesus.

7. Luke-Acts emphasizes mercy, compassion, and the inclusivity of Jesus’s ministry, with special focus on marginalized groups. Hence, Luke’s gospel is considered the gospel of the poor and of social justice. He tells the story of Lazarus and the rich man, and has Mary’s canticle which proclaims, God has lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty” (Lk. 1: 52-53).

8. He tells the story of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, which highlights forgiveness, love, and mercy. From his gospel, we can see him as one who loved the poor, who wanted God’s kingdom to be open to all, and who respected women.

9. Paul, St. Jerome, and St. Irenaeus refer to Luke as a physician. A tradition that began in the 8th century also states that he was a painter. He is said to have painted pictures of the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus, including the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. The St. Thomas Christians in India claim to have one of the Theotokos that St. Thomas painted and brought to India.

10. There are conflicting stories about his death. Some early writers say that he was martyred. Others say he lived a long life. The earliest tradition says that Luke died at the age of 84 in Thebes, Boeotia, after settling in Greece to write his Gospel. His relics are situated in the following places: his body is in the Abbey of Santa Gustina in Padua; his head at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague; and his rib at his tomb in Thebes.

11. Prayer — Lord God, you chose St. Luke to reveal by his preaching and writings the mystery of your love for the poor. Grant, we pray, that those who already glory in your name may persevere as one heart and one soul and that all nations may merit to see your salvation, through Christ your Son and our Lord. Amen.