Saint Luke the Evangelist

October 18 is the feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist.

Saint Luke is mentioned by name only three times in the New Testament (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24). He was a Gentile by birth, well educated in Greek culture, a physician by profession, and did mission work with Saint Paul after his conversion. After careful research with eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, and by the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, he authored the Gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles. By volume, these two books make up more than one-third of the New Testament.

The name Luke means “light.” His writings enlighten us about who Jesus is, why He came, and what He accomplished for us. Together with Matthew, Mark, and John, he is called an evangelist (evangel is the Greek word for good news or Gospel). That’s also why the first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels.

Drawing on the imagery of the four living creatures in Ezekiel 1, Saint Luke is often pictured as a winged ox in artwork, icons, and stained glass. The ox, an animal of sacrifice, was applied to Saint Luke because his Gospel repeatedly speaks about the temple and emphasizes the priestly and sacrificial work of Jesus. The wings remind us that repentance and forgiveness of sins are proclaimed in Jesus’ name to the ends of the earth.

Without Saint Luke’s orderly account, much of the story of our salvation (as well as the record of the early church in Acts) would not have been passed down to us. Luke alone records the following:

• Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah in the temple, announcing the birth of John the Baptist;
• Gabriel’s visit to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem;
• Mary’s visit with Elizabeth and song of praise (the Magnificat);
• John the Baptist’s birth and Zechariah’s song of praise (the Benedictus);
• Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem;
• the angels’ song of praise (the Gloria in Excelsis);
• the shepherd’s visit to baby Jesus;
• Jesus’ naming and circumcision on the eighth day;
• Jesus’ presentation in the temple on the fortieth day and Simeon’s song of praise (the Nunc Dimittis);
• 12-year-old Jesus teaching the teachers in the temple in Jerusalem;
• seven of Jesus’ miracles: the miraculous catch of fish, the raising of the widow’s son in Nain, the healing of a possessed mute man, the healing of a disabled woman, the healing of a man with dropsy, the cleansing of the ten lepers, and the reattachment of Malchus’ ear;
• twenty of Jesus’ parables, including the Merciful Father (a.k.a. the Prodigal Son) and the Good Samaritan;
• the story of Mary and Martha and the one thing needful;
• the story of Zacchaeus and how Jesus has come to seek and to save the lost;
• Jesus’ word from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (23:34);
• Jesus’ word from the cross: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (23:43);
• Jesus’ word from the cross: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” (23:46); and
• the opening of the Emmaus disciples’ eyes in the breaking of the bread on Easter Sunday.

Church tradition teaches that Luke traveled with Paul during his second missionary journey, joining him after Paul received his Macedonian call to bring the Gospel to Europe. Luke most likely stayed behind in Philippi for seven years, rejoining Paul at the end of the third missionary journey in Macedonia. He traveled with Paul to Troas, Jerusalem, and Caesarea, where Paul was imprisoned for two years. While in Caesarea, Luke may have researched material he used in his Gospel. Afterward, he accompanied Paul on his journey to Rome. Luke died a martyr’s death at the age of 84.

Let us pray: Almighty God, our Father, Your blessed Son called Luke the physician to be an evangelist and physician of the soul. Grant that the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments may put to flight the diseases of our souls that with willing hearts we may ever love and serve You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.