Feast of St. Luke

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ Luke 4:14-21

Luke was a physician and also a storyteller. He was not an eyewitness of much of Jesus' ministry, but he carefully examined all the accounts and wrote out what he knew to be true. Luke was someone who could write a story that would captivate others, imbuing everything he wrote with power and beauty. The account of Jesus' birth that we love the best is from Luke's Gospel. The Magnificat, the song of Mary, which is profound and beloved, comes from Luke's Gospel. He wrote so that others could understand and feel. He wrote so that outsiders, which he was one, could embrace Jesus in his fullness. 

Wondrous Creator, source of beauty and power

you sent us people who can tells us great stories

they paint pictures with words that captivate

and help us know your love in our time and place.

We often close our ears to the peoples' stories

yet that is where you are, among the outcasts

you dwell in the pain and passion of our lives

and give voice to the voiceless and the shunned.

Help us today to share the story of your love

give us words that paint your love in dark places

help us to be those who live and translate love

so our broken world might see your loving face. Amen.