“Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed” (Luke 1:1-4 NRSV).
Today at least four of our member churches celebrate Luke, the author of two books of the Bible (the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles). Prayers from those churches are below, which together show the emphasis that Luke gave to Jesus’ healing miracles and his parables on serving the poor and needy.
Even if you are not celebrating Luke today, we can always further our prayer life by asking God how we are today being called to share the Good News of Jesus, just as Luke did in his own day.
Troparion from the Orthodox liturgy:
Let us praise with sacred songs the Holy Apostle Luke,
The recorder of the Joyous Gospel of Christ,
And the scribe of the Acts of the Apostles,
For his writings are a testimony of the Church of Christ:
He is the Physician of human weaknesses and infirmities.
He heals the wounds of our souls,
And constantly intercedes for our salvation!
From the Catholic missal:
Lord God, who chose Saint Luke to reveal by his preaching and writings thy mystery of your love for the poor, grant that those who already glory in your name my persevere as one heart and one soul and that all nations may merit to see your salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
From the Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
From Evangelical Lutheran Worship:
Almighty God, you inspired your servant Luke to reveal in his gospel the love and healing power of your Son. Give your church the same love and power to heal, and to proclaim your salvation among the nations to the glory of your name, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our healer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Image: Luke writing his Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as a dove. Illumination from an Armenian gospel book, 15th century. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
