FEAST OF ST. LUKE
Psalm
145, Verse 19
He
fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
In
this psalm the singer invites all to praise God. The “works of God” make God
present and invite human praise; they climax in a confession. God’s mighty acts
show forth divine kingship, a major theme in the literature of early Judaism
and in Christianity.[1]
I would like to focus on the word desire from verse
19 above. I like to hike and pray. One day I was hiking in the Fay Canyon area
of Sedona, Arizona and I was reflecting on the seven deadly sins and the
opposing virtues of our Lord sermon on the mount. As I was hiking and musing
over the words that are associated with the deadly sin of lust: such words as
long for, hanker for, hunger for, yearn, crave, and desire. In my mind I repeated desire, desire, desire
and I asked our Lord what do you want me to desire? As I asked that question I
looked up at the canyon and spied a rock formation in the shape of a chalice. Yes Lord, I exclaimed. I shall desire to
receive you in the Holy Mass. Today would be a good day to rest in the Lord and
go to Confession and Mass-receiving true health; His body and blood. As we
receive realize that He has heard our cry’s and has saved us. Such is the love
of our God!
1465 When
he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry
of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds
up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his
return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgment is both just and
merciful. The priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for
the sinner.
Into
whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.'
This day celebrates the life of
St. Luke, one of Jesus' 12 disciples. Luke was thought to be an educated
Gentile, or non-Jew, and may have even been a physician. Some biblical
historians believe he may have even been a slave. Luke wrote two books in the
New Testament -- the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. The Gospel of
Luke focuses on converting non-Jews to Christianity.
St
Luke Facts
·
Luke
worked with the apostle Paul, and traveled with him throughout Asia Minor,
proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.
·
The
Gospel of Luke describes a popular passage referred to as the 'The Parable of
the Good Samaritan'. In it a traveling man is attacked by robbers who
strip and beat him. A priest and a Levite pass by without helping him.
A Samaritan stops and cares for him, taking him to an inn where the
Samaritan pays for his care. (Luke 10:25-37)
·
What
became of Luke is unclear. Some accounts say he was martyred, while
others say that he lived to an old age and died in Greece.
·
The
feast Day for St. Luke is held on October 18 in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox
Church and some Protestant churches. The Orthodox Church refers to this
day as the Feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke.
St
Luke Top Events and Things to Do
·
Read
the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. This is the story that is most
often read at Christmas time about the birth of Jesus Christ.
·
Read
the popular 'Parable of the Good Samaritan'. Use this to inspire you to
go out of your comfort zone to help someone in need.
·
Some
traditions believe that St. Luke, in addition to being a writer and physician,
was a painter. Do a little artwork today to honor the saint.
·
Go
get a check up. Luke was a physician. Take care of your body in
honor of St. Luke.
·
Pray
for doctors and those who care for the sick through the intercession of St.
Luke, patron of physicians.
·
Foods
this day to honor St. Luke would include some beef dish, as he is known as the
"ox" and is the patron of butchers. For dessert, bake some raisin
Banbury Tarts to evoke the festivals of England on this day, or a cake in the
shape of a book with decorations of a calf or ox for this evangelist.
·
Today
is also known as "Sour Cakes Day" in Scotland, because baked cakes
were eaten with sour cream in Rutherglen.
·
Around
this feast is known as "St. Luke's Little Summer," a period of
summer-like days that occur around October 18 named to honor the saint's feast
day. It's similar to the the term "Indian Summer," which officially
occurs between November 11-20). St. Luke gives us some golden days before the
cold of winter.
·
St.
Luke is also called the evangelist which we are to emulate. Next week; we will
celebrate World Mission Sunday. Each year, the entire Church is invited to
support the young mission dioceses in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and
parts of Latin America and Europe, where priests, religious and lay leaders
serve the poorest of the poor. This year, we are invited to “Chat With The
Pope” to learn more about his missions. Scan this year’s World Mission Sunday
poster using Facebook Messenger for your mobile device, or learn more at ChatWithThePope.org.
Above
seaside Lemosos and on the eastern flank of 6,500-foot Mt. Olympus, you’ll also
find ten magnificent medieval churches and monasteries, whose modest exteriors
stand in contrast to their rich interiors, embellished with some of the finest
Byzantine frescoes and icons in the Mediterranean. At the ornate 11th-century Kykkos
Monastery, even the cloisters are richly frescoed and a golden icon of the
Virgin ascribed to St. Luke is said
to work miracles. Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis (St. Nicholas of the Roof) is
covered entirely in wall paintings. The monks who lived here were not only
gifted artists but also master vintners, following a 5,500-year-old wine-making
tradition in Cyprus. Stop at Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery for a visit to the
region’s oldest wine-making site. The dark amber– colored Commandaria, a sweet
wine that was a favorite elixir of medieval crusaders, is thought to be the
world’s oldest appellation and is made from centuries-old vines in the Troodos
foothills. For something with a little more kick, stop in any village bar for a
glass of zivania, a centuries-old Cypriot beverage produced from the residue of
grapes. With a 45 percent (and up) alcohol content, it is also used to treat
wounds and sore throats.
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