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October 18, 2005

St. Luke

Luke wrote one of the major portions of the New Testament, a two-volume work comprising the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. In the two books he shows the parallel between the life of Christ and that of the Church. He is the only Gentile Christian among the Gospel writers. Tradition holds him to be a native of Antioch, and Paul calls him "our beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14). His Gospel was probably written between A.D. 70 and 85.

Luke appears in Acts during Paul’s second journey, remains at Philippi for several years until Paul returns from his third journey, accompanies Paul to Jerusalem and remains near him when he is imprisoned in Caesarea. During these two years, Luke had time to seek information and interview persons who had known Jesus. He accompanied Paul on the dangerous journey to Rome where he was a faithful companion. "Only Luke is with me," Paul writes (2 Timothy 4:11).

Comment:

Luke wrote as a Gentile for Gentile Christians. This Gospel reveals Luke's expertise in classic Greek style as well as his knowledge of Jewish sources.
The character of Luke may best be seen by the emphases of his Gospel, which has been given a number of subtitles: (1) The Gospel of Mercy: Luke emphasizes Jesus' compassion and patience with the sinners and the suffering. He has a broadminded openness to all, showing concern for Samaritans, lepers, publicans, soldiers, public sinners, unlettered shepherds, the poor. Luke alone records the stories of the sinful woman, the lost sheep and coin, the prodigal son, the good thief. (2) The Gospel of Universal Salvation: Jesus died for all. He is the son of Adam, not just of David, and Gentiles are his friends too. (3) The Gospel of the Poor: "Little people" are prominent—Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, Simeon and the elderly widow, Anna. He is also concerned with what we now call "evangelical poverty." (4) The Gospel of Absolute Renunciation: He stresses the need for total dedication to Christ. (5) The Gospel of Prayer and the Holy Spirit: He shows Jesus at prayer before every important step of his ministry. The Spirit is bringing the Church to its final perfection. (6) The Gospel of Joy: Luke succeeds in portraying the joy of salvation that permeated the primitive Church.

Quote:

"Then [Jesus] led them [out] as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God" (Luke 24:50-53).

One Bread, One Body

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St. Luke

2 Timothy 4:10-17

Psalm 145

Luke 10:1-9

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NOBODY BUT...

"I have no one with me but Luke." —2 Timothy 4:11

Are you the third one when "three's a crowd"? Are you the fifth wheel? Are you the one present when someone says, "Nobody's here"? St. Luke seems to have been in that situation. Paul looks forward to Timothy and even Mark joining him, but Luke's presence seems a mere footnote (2 Tm 4:9, 11).

Never mind; even if your mother forgets you, the Lord will never forget you (Is 49:15). No one who comes to Jesus will He ever reject (Jn 6:37). The Lord accepted and affirmed Luke, even if it seemed that no one else did. Luke responded by answering God's call to write more of the New Testament than any other person. God used Luke to write a Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Without Luke, we would be missing God's revelation of the Holy Spirit in the early Church.

Luke may have been a nobody, at least in some minds, but he was lifted up by the Lord in an exalted ministry of the Word. There's nobody here but an evangelist, saint, and the largest contributor to the New Testament. "The last shall be first and the first shall be last" (Mt 20:16).

Prayer: Father, may I not compare myself with others and may I not expect recognition. May doing Your will be my food (Jn 4:34).

Promise: "The harvest is rich but the workers are few; therefore ask the Harvest-Master to send workers to His harvest." —Lk 10:2

Praise: St. Luke was a professional and a Gentile, but embraced wholeheartedly the new Way, the Jewish Messiah.