Proclaiming the Glory of God

Homily for the Feast of St. Luke

St. Luke was a Greek-speaking convert of pagan origins, the only Gentile evangelist who admits in the very beginning of his work that he was not an eyewitness to the events of the life of Christ. His audience is decidedly Gentile. He is also credited with writing the Acts of the Apostles. His two works in the Christian Scriptures account for 25% of the New Testament.

As a Gentile, his emphasis is decidedly different than Matthew‘s or Mark’s. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus stresses the concern for members of society who were neglected or overlooked, such as women, sinners, and outcasts. The Association of Jesus with these groups of society would have been considered radical in the context of his time and an environment. Another group which receives particular emphasis is poor. Luke emphasizes and repeats warnings about the dangers of wealth.

The lessons and teaching particular to Luke are given to us in some very famous stories such as that of the shepherds coming to the newborn Christ, the parable of the good Samaritan, the parable of the prodigal son, and the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man.

Another characteristic of Luke’s Gospel is the strong emphasis on prayer. He pictures Jesus going apart to pray before important and difficult moments. Most of the words from the very regularly prayed words of the Hail Mary come to us from this Gospel. Luke must be saying to us that if the Son of God felt so frequently the need to pray, to be in quiet communion with his Father, then we human beings have all the more reason to make prayer a constant in our daily life.

Luke’s second work, the Acts of the Apostles, is a parallel narrative to his Gospel. There is a direct correlation between the actions of the apostles and the actions of Jesus as portrayed in St. Luke’s Gospel. It could even be said that the actions of the apostles began just where Jesus’ acts end. Jesus heals a blind beggar as he ascends Mount Zion on his way to Jerusalem. Peter and John heal a beggar as they enter the Temple of Jerusalem.

St. Luke’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles are powerful reminders that we are called to be evangelizers. We are called to proclaim the gospel of the nearness of the Kingdom of God. As the Angels proclaimed at the birth of Jesus by singing glory to God, we are to remind everyone of the incarnate Word made flesh by giving glory to God through our daily lives.