Today is a joyful feast as we celebrate St. Luke, the Evangelist, the beloved physician, and the author of the Gospel and the Acts of the Ap...
Today is a joyful feast as we celebrate St. Luke, the Evangelist, the beloved physician, and the author of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. His life and work perfectly mirror the theme of the readings: Sent, Service, and Salvation.
In the Gospel, Jesus appoints seventy-two disciples and Sends them out ahead of Him. St. Luke himself lived this call. He was sent as a companion to St. Paul, remaining faithful when others had deserted. The first reading is a personal note from Paul: "Only Luke is with me." This reminds us that we are all called and sent by Christ to be laborers in the great harvest. Our mission is not to wait for Christ, but to go ahead of Him, preparing the way by proclaiming peace and bringing the good news.
St. Luke’s life was dedicated to Service. He was a physician, a healer, and then became a chronicler of the life of Christ and the early Church. He used his gifts—his keen eye for detail and his compassion—in the service of the Gospel. Our Lord instructs the seventy-two to go without purse or sandals, fully dependent and focused on the work: healing the sick and proclaiming that "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." This is the heart of Christian service: using our natural gifts (like Luke's medical skill) and our spiritual gifts (like his careful writing) not for ourselves, but for the extension of God's Kingdom.
The ultimate goal of being sent for service is Salvation. Luke's Gospel, more than the others, highlights God’s mercy, which leads to salvation—the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Prodigal Son, and the Good Samaritan all underscore this. Paul's message is that the Lord strengthened him so that the preaching might be accomplished, and that "all the Gentiles may hear." St. Luke’s enduring legacy is that his words continue to bring the message of salvation to the ends of the earth. Let us, like St. Luke, accept our mission to be sent, dedicate our lives to humble service, and thus participate in God's great work of salvation. Amen.
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