St. Luke, Evangelist (Feast)

St. Luke

the Evangelist

Feast day : 18 October 

Saint Luke was from Antioch. He was from Greek family and was a trained physician. He is the author the third gospel known as the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. His gospel is considered the most poetic and beautiful among the four gospel. He was one of the first Gentile converted to Christianity, and he became a travelling companion of Saint Paul on his many missionary journeys. Saint Luke's gospel was believed to be an accurate account of the life of Christ, especially of Christ's birth and this is the reason, Luke was taken as one of the patrons of notaries. Luke is the only evangelist to record in his gospel about Jesus commissioning the seventy-two disciples (Luke 10:1-12). 

Saint Luke died in 70 A.D. He is the patron of the medical profession, bachelors, artists, painters, sculptors and craft workers. His name "Luke" means "bringer of light". 

Lord God, who chose Saint Luke to reveal by his preaching and writings the mystery of your love for the poor, grant that those who already glory in your name may persevere as one heart and one soul and that all nations may merit to see your salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Friday, 18 October, 2013
St. Luke, Evangelist (Feast)

Reading

2 Timothy 4: 10 - 17
10	For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessaloni'ca; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11	Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me.
12	Tych'icus I have sent to Ephesus.
13	When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Tro'as, also the books, and above all the parchments.
14	Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will requite him for his deeds.
15	Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
16	At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
17	But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

Psalm

Psalms 145: 10 - 13, 17 - 18
10	All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, and all thy saints shall bless thee!
11	They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell of thy power,
12	to make known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of thy kingdom.
13	Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
17	The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18	The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.

Gospel

Luke 10: 1 - 9
1	After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come.
2	And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
3	Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
4	Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road.
5	Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!'
6	And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.
7	And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house.
8	Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you;
9	heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'