Feast of St. Luke, evangelist
If I had to pick a favorite gospel of the bible, I would pick Luke’s gospel. I think my husband would agree, which is part of the reason we gave our oldest son that name. I mention this because today is the Feast of St. Luke, the author of both the Gospel of Luke as well as the Acts of the Apostles.
So, why would I choose Luke as my favorite gospel? For several reasons, which the New American Bible, Revised Edition, Introduction to this gospel outlines well (see the USCCB website). “No gospel writer is more concerned than Luke with the mercy and compassion of Jesus. No gospel writer is more concerned with…the importance of prayer, or with Jesus’ concern for women.” (Italics mine) Yes, that last one is pretty important to me.
Regarding the mercy and compassion of Jesus, the same Introduction tells us that throughout his gospel Luke calls on us to “identify with the master Jesus, who is caring and tender toward the poor and lowly, the outcast, the sinner, and the afflicted….”
Similarly, Luke’s gospel gives us the beautiful and powerful Canticle of Mary, also known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), which many composers throughout history have set to music.
As you can see, there are numerous reasons I would name Luke’s gospel as my favorite (if I had to pick!) and multiple reasons to be thankful for this Saint who was referred to by Paul as “the beloved physician” as he attended to Paul in his final days of imprisonment.
So, with gratitude for Luke the Evangelist, let us join in today’s entrance antiphon, proclaiming, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings of peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation!” (Isaiah 52:7) May God be praised.
—Eileen Miller