The Liturgical Calendar: The Church Remembers

Today the church remembers Saint Luke the Evangelist.

Luke was a Gentile and a physician. He was probably a slave, since most physicians were in those days. He was a Christian convert and a frequent companion of Paul. He probably ministered medically to Paul. In Christian literature he is most often referred to as "The Beloved Physician."

Luke exhibited a sense of history, unique among the evangelists. He was not an eyewitness to the events of Jesus's life, but tried to present an accurate and orderly account of those events which he had heard about from his sources. His writings, The Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, give us an historical narrative which remains altogether appealing, even to modern ears. Luke has given us the familiar Christmas story and the parable of the Good Samaritan that the other evangelists omit.

According to tradition, Luke lived to an old age. Unlike so many of the leaders of the early church, he seems to have died quite peacefully of natural causes.

Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Read the Wikipedia article here.

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