Saint Luke the Evangelist
[October 18]
The Reverend Mark Carroll, 2004
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The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who didst inspire thy servant Saint Luke the Physician, to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of thy Son; Manifest in thy Church the like power and love, to the healing of our bodies and our souls; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

2 Timothy iv. 5   &   St. Luke x. 1


Luke was an evangelist, physician, a Gentile and a companion of Paul. He wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts in Greek. Luke alone, in his Gospel, provides us with the story of the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity in the Manger & Angelic Host, Circumcision, Presentation, and visitation of the Magi. Many of these events are celebrated in the Church. From Luke we have the Song of Mary and the Song of Simeon that are sung daily in the Church, and the words of the rosary - Hail Mary. His Gospel contains six miracles and eighteen parables not recorded in the other three Gospels.

In the Book of Acts we have the major feast of Pentecost. We also have the stories of Centurion Cornelius the Italian Cohort, and Centurion Julius of the Augustan Cohort who emerge from the pages of Acts as virtuous men. Cornelius to become the first Baptized Christian and Julius to protect the life of Julius from the frightened soldiers during a storm at sea. Luke's writings give us the stories of all four of the Centurions.

Luke wrote in the first person in Acts. He was with Paul during the voyage to Rome, and endured the hardships with him on his missionary journeys. Acts closes with Paul in house arrest at Rome and we hear no more of Luke. Tradition has it that he wrote his Gospel in Greece and died in Boeotia. Constantine had his relics brought from Boeotia to Constantinople so that pilgrims could venerate them.

Those interested in Christian healing might like to visit the Order of St. Luke.

 

 

2 Timothy iv. 5

WATCH thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

St. Luke x. 1

THE Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.

Scripture from 1928 Book of Common Prayer

Order of Centurions
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