Saint Luke

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. Luke 1:1-4 

The Early Church Fathers ascribed to him authorship of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, which would mean Luke contributed over a quarter of the text of the New Testament, more than any other author. Many scholars believe that Luke was a Greek physician who lived in the Greek city of Antioch, Turkey in Ancient Syria, although some other scholars and theologians think Luke was a Hellenic Jew. The Church venerates him as Saint Luke the Evangelist and as a patron saint of artists, physicians, bachelors, surgeons, students and butchers. Wikipedia

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Luke. Luke's Gospel and the Book of Acts describe for the whole church community the stories of faith as no one else had. The details of Christ's birth are from Luke's Gospel. This man, if many scholars are correct, came from Antioch, Turkey in Ancient Syria. His homeland is in dispute as we speak and his descendant people are surrounded by and consumed by violence.

The gift of a well told account of the life of Jesus and the ministry of the apostles was the gift we recieved from Luke. Not one to be present with Jesus, but a firm believer, he wrote a story we find depth, life and direction for us today. May we following Luke, tell the stories which need to be told and demonstrate the love of God so needed in this broken world.