The Church's year has many special observances, feast days and festivals, as we are bidden to "rejoice in the communion and fellowship of the Saints". The calendar of the Church, day by day, helps us to lift up our spirits as it brings to our attention the heroes of our Faith, and we honour them within the daily Eucharistic celebration thanking God for their fellowship and ask for their prayers.
On October l8th, we give thanks to God for the life and witness of St Luke. He is one of the four 'Evangelists' who wrote the Gospels, and we owe him a great debt for the wonderful stories he wrote of the life of our Lord. His early chapters contain those wonderful accounts (probably told to him by Mary the Mother of the Lord) of the birth narratives of Jesus, the Annunciation, the Visitation to Elizabeth, and above all the great prophetic song of Mary sung at Evensong every day, the Magnificat.
He also spends some time on the important part played by women in the gospel events, and of course he concentrates on the healing miracles of our Lord, as he was himself a doctor.
Luke was a Greek in origin and spent some time with the great Apostle Paul. lt is a picture of loyalty, faith and conviction and it is Luke who not only wrote the gospel that bears his name, but also the first 'history of the Church', the Acts of the Apostles.
This great man is the Patron Saint of physicians and of the medical profession in general. The Hospital for the Clergy in London is named after him, and it is important that we pray for our own doctors and all who are involved in the work of healing the sick.
In Christian art, Luke is often depicted seated at a writing table, with scroll in his hand and a pen upraised, reminding us of his role as a gospel writer. His symbol, however, is a winged Ox, which reminds us of strength and sacrifice.
As well as physician,writer, possibly an artist, and companion to St Paul, St Luke is a theologian, interpreting the 'sayings' of Jesus and drawing out the significance of the death and resurrection of the Lord, as events by which the Kingdom of God was present in the world.
In all a great Christian man and one of our friends in the Communion of Saints.
May God bless you all.
Your priest and friend.
Fr Malcolm Ferrier
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page last updated 4 OCTOBER 1998