what is in Jesus?
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Luke. He was a doctor by profession before he became a companion of St. Paul during his many journeys. That is why St. Luke is the patron saint of doctors. He is also the patron saint of artists most especially of painters because legend says that he was the first to have painted an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Most of all St. Luke is known because he wrote two books in the bible, in the new testament, the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the apostles.
His version of the life of Jesus is unique. His is the Gospel which cites the most instances of the Blessed Virgin Mary – the annunciation, the birth of Jesus and many others. Thus if you want to know more about Mary, you have to read among others the gospel of Luke. This I believe might be the reason why legend would point to him as a painter, one who depicted in vivid detail the Blessed Mother.
The Gospel written by Luke is a gospel wherein Jesus reaches out to all men and women. Scholars would describe this as universalistic – Jesus sought to include all without exemptions. In the narrative of Luke we see Jesus, reaching out not just to men but also to women. He reaches out not just to the Jews but even to Samaritans, Romans and Gentiles. He reaches out not just to the rich and the elite but even more so to the poor. For Luke the church is not just a gathering of the religious and the holy. In fact it is a joyous gathering of forgiven sinners and possible saints. It is universalistic, that is, it seeks to include everyone in the company of Jesus.
Probably this is because Luke was known as the secretary of St. Paul who went with him in his many missionary journeys. They went together to many communities who were composed not only of Jews but Greeks, Romans and pagans all over the Mediterranean world, converting them and winning them over for Christ.
This is what is unique with Luke. Jesus was sent for all men and women and not just for a certain group. Salvation was made available to not just to a group but to everyone. And God seeks to unite all of us under our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Luke as I said was a doctor by profession. He was in a profession that would bring him money. When I was young I seldom saw a poor doctor and so I also dreamed of becoming a doctor. So when I applied in the seminary and the Rector, Msgr. Gamboa asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I immediately replied , I want to be a doctor. Msgr. Gamboa smiled, and in my innocence I also smiled back, and the next thing I know I was not accepted in the seminary for lack of a priestly vocation. Anyway that is another story.
But my point is this: it seems that Luke wasted all those years of studying medicine and ended up choosing to become the secretary of Paul, following him wherever he went and writing the letters he dictated and finally writing the gospel that bears his name. I would like us all to consider this.
He was a doctor, and his chances of living a life of luxury was up for his taking, and he could have lived a relatively easy and convenient life. But what is it in Jesus that made him think otherwise? What is it in Jesus that made him leave his profession and instead dedicate his life for him, preaching his word to people and even to us today? What is it in Jesus that made him chose to become an evangelist, an evangelizer? It must be something. Luke denied something most of us can only dream of - being a doctor. In many instances following Jesus would always consists of a denial of something good - big or small. So there must be something there in Jesus that attracted St. Luke. What is it?
For you what is there in Jesus that attracts us deeply, an attraction where we deny something for his sake. What is it? It is something personal you have to answer it yourself.
His version of the life of Jesus is unique. His is the Gospel which cites the most instances of the Blessed Virgin Mary – the annunciation, the birth of Jesus and many others. Thus if you want to know more about Mary, you have to read among others the gospel of Luke. This I believe might be the reason why legend would point to him as a painter, one who depicted in vivid detail the Blessed Mother.
The Gospel written by Luke is a gospel wherein Jesus reaches out to all men and women. Scholars would describe this as universalistic – Jesus sought to include all without exemptions. In the narrative of Luke we see Jesus, reaching out not just to men but also to women. He reaches out not just to the Jews but even to Samaritans, Romans and Gentiles. He reaches out not just to the rich and the elite but even more so to the poor. For Luke the church is not just a gathering of the religious and the holy. In fact it is a joyous gathering of forgiven sinners and possible saints. It is universalistic, that is, it seeks to include everyone in the company of Jesus.
Probably this is because Luke was known as the secretary of St. Paul who went with him in his many missionary journeys. They went together to many communities who were composed not only of Jews but Greeks, Romans and pagans all over the Mediterranean world, converting them and winning them over for Christ.
This is what is unique with Luke. Jesus was sent for all men and women and not just for a certain group. Salvation was made available to not just to a group but to everyone. And God seeks to unite all of us under our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Luke as I said was a doctor by profession. He was in a profession that would bring him money. When I was young I seldom saw a poor doctor and so I also dreamed of becoming a doctor. So when I applied in the seminary and the Rector, Msgr. Gamboa asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I immediately replied , I want to be a doctor. Msgr. Gamboa smiled, and in my innocence I also smiled back, and the next thing I know I was not accepted in the seminary for lack of a priestly vocation. Anyway that is another story.
But my point is this: it seems that Luke wasted all those years of studying medicine and ended up choosing to become the secretary of Paul, following him wherever he went and writing the letters he dictated and finally writing the gospel that bears his name. I would like us all to consider this.
He was a doctor, and his chances of living a life of luxury was up for his taking, and he could have lived a relatively easy and convenient life. But what is it in Jesus that made him think otherwise? What is it in Jesus that made him leave his profession and instead dedicate his life for him, preaching his word to people and even to us today? What is it in Jesus that made him chose to become an evangelist, an evangelizer? It must be something. Luke denied something most of us can only dream of - being a doctor. In many instances following Jesus would always consists of a denial of something good - big or small. So there must be something there in Jesus that attracted St. Luke. What is it?
For you what is there in Jesus that attracts us deeply, an attraction where we deny something for his sake. What is it? It is something personal you have to answer it yourself.
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