Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist
(2 Timothy 4:10-17b, Luke 10:1-9)
Much has been said of the “New Evangelization,” but how is
this evangelization being carried out? A
lot of it has been undertaken by lay men and women working with the so-called
movements in the Church. Cursillo was
among the first of these movements. It
has been followed by a host of others: “Marriage Encounter,” “Emmaus,” “Christ
Renews his Parish,” the “Charismatic Renewal among others. Biblical foundation of these lay-dominated
evangelization programs may be found in today’s gospel.”
Only Luke’s gospel records a sending of seventy disciples to
preach the good news. They may be
considered laity as the number seventy is symbolic of fullness or
universality. They are sent to preach
the good news of salvation. This message
is well summarized in the statement, “’The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
St. Luke is not only a champion of the laity. He is the patron of doctors and artists. He gives particular and valuable emphasis to
the poor, to prayer, and to the Holy Spirit.
Above all, his portrayals of the Virgin Mary have edified the Christian faith
through the centuries. Luke sees her as a
model showing us how to contemplate and practice the word of God. He also sees her as our mother constantly
pointing us to the Savior.
