RBWords

     Scripture scholars often avoid the thorny subject of specific gospel authorship by referring to each gospel in the order in which tradition has placed it in the New Testament.  Therefore, the Gospel of Luke is called the THIRD GOSPEL.  Scholars are also very sure that the THIRD GOSPEL and the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES are by the same author.  The two books are more or less a "two-volume" work.  This can be determined by the writing style and Greek grammar used by the writer.  Thus we know that the author was an educated person who wrote for a community of reasonably educated Gentiles!  None of this identifies St. Paul's companion, Luke, with the books that bear his name.  Tradition, going back a long ways, makes that identification.  Whoever he is, we celebrate him as LUKE and today is his feast!  Tradition also makes him the patron saint of physicians because of a reference in St. Paul's letter to the Colossians (4:14) to Luke as the "beloved physician."

     We are indebted to Luke for the stories that form the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.  They are all contained in the part of the gospel that we call the "infancy narrative."  We find only in Luke the stories of the Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son!.  His gospel features more sympathetic encounters with women, emphasizes the danger of material wealth, and shows the Holy Spirit as the enabling force of preaching the gospel more than any other New Testament work.  The line quoted from today's gospel scripture, taken appropriately from the Gospel of Luke, is from Jesus' preparation of the disciples for their mission!  By preserving this "training" in his gospel, Luke has enabled us to be trained as well.  Reading his whole gospel today (both "volumes") we could treat ourselves to a wonderful encounter with Jesus and the early church.  We stand on very broad shoulders!  AMEN