st. luke

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.

His is also a gospel wherein Jesus reaches out to all men and women.  They call this universalistic – he sought to include all.  He reaches 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 everyone.  And God seeks to unite all of us under our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the challenge for us future priests.  We are called to be like St. Luke, to be like Christ as portrayed by St. Luke.  We should seek all and bring the gospel to all.

At the same time this is also the challenge to our community.  To make ourselves one destroying the barriers that divide us so that we can truly become one community.