St. Luke introduces his purpose in writing his Gospel of Jesus. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by building the Virtue of Studiousness so he can meet and know Jesus through the life-long study of the Bible and by growing in the Virtue of Fortitude so he can be a zealous witness to Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church.
Liturgy
3rd Week in Ordinary time – Sunday Cycle C – Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21
Commentary
In beginning to study the life of Jesus Christ, it is important to remember that the Gospels were written by eyewitnesses of the Incarnation of Christ and His early Catholic Church. The four Gospels (meaning “Good News”) were written by St. Matthew (one of the 12 Apostles), St. Mark (an assistant to St. Peter), St. Luke (an assistant to St. Paul) and St. John (one of the 12 Apostles). St. Luke begins his Gospel of Jesus Christ with a short introduction which honors Theophilus and confirms his work is a rigorous effort to write an orderly account of the life of Jesus based on tradition and available resources.
St. Luke was a Greek and Roman citizen who was trained as a physician. St. Luke became a disciple of St. Paul (Phil 1:24, Col 4:14, 2 Tim 4:11), witnessed the many persecutions of Paul, and cared for Paul during his imprisonment. Charged by St. Paul to write an account of the Gospel and early Church, St. Luke was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write The Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles, which make up about a quarter of the New Testament.
Putting his rigorous scientific training as a physician to the service of Jesus, Luke draws on eyewitness accounts (the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Paul and others), Paul’s deep knowledge, as well as written accounts (perhaps Matthew, Mark and other writings which are no longer extant). Luke provides an orderly historical account of Jesus and His early Church, rich in detail and eloquently written, a Gospel which has fed the faith of billions over the millennia. St. Luke died of old age and his relics continue to be venerated at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague and several other places.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Be awed by how Jesus, with Divine Power and Knowledge, creates St. Luke at a precise time and with precise talents to fulfill the mission He gives St. Luke: as a physician, St. Luke sustains Paul by caring for his injuries and ailments; St. Luke’s physician training prepares him to write a systematic and disciplined account of the faith (Gospel of Luke/Acts); St. Luke incorporates the Blessed Virgin Mary’s accounts of Jesus’ early life and first-hand accounts of St. Peter and St. Paul’s establishment of the early Church; as a Greek, St. Luke is able to write in a way non-Jews will be able to understand.
Study the Bible every day to better know, love and serve Jesus
Believe: To be His disciple, every man must continually strive to meet and know Jesus in the Gospels.
Believe: Renew your commitment to study Sacred Scripture (CCC 101-141).
Pray: Jesus, Divine Word, help me grow in the Virtue of Studiousness (a part of Temperance) so I can better know, love and draw closer to You through a daily discipline of studying the Bible, particularly the Gospels, and better serve You by making you known to my family, friends and others.
Grow in fortitude to zealously proclaim Christ
Realize: Like the Apostles and other disciples, Jesus sent St. Luke out to evangelize the world and requires every Catholic man to be a missionary witness for Him.
Believe: Reflect upon being a Missionary Witness (CCC 2044-2051) and the need for Zeal (CCC 584, 824, 2004, 2750).
Pray: St. Luke, pray that I grow in the Virtue of Fortitude so I, and every Catholic man, zealously take up the magnificent work of evangelization, I courageously persevere to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, and I patiently endure rejection and persecution as I seek to draw many to Jesus and His Holy Catholic Church.