Daily Office Readings for Saint Luke
AM: Psalm 103; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Luke 1:1-4 PM: Psalm 67, 96; Isaiah 52:7-10; Acts 1:1-8
Today we remember St Luke. I share with you the opening of his Gospel and the Opening of the Acts of the Apostles.
“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)
“In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying* with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father.” (Acts 1: 1 – 4)
There is no doubt among scholars that the same hand wrote both books of the Bible. He gave us a lot in terms of the Nativity and special parables and stories and an Easter experience. That’s a lot considering he was not an Apostle only a student of Paul who took good notes..
From James Kiefer: “Almost all that we know about Luke comes from the New Testament. He was a physician (Col 4:14), a companion of Paul on some of his missionary journeys (Acts 16:10ff; 20:5ff; 27-28). Material found in his Gospel and not elsewhere includes much of the account of Our Lord’s birth and infancy and boyhood, some of the most moving parables, such as that of the Good Samaritan and that of the Prodigal Son, and three of the sayings of Christ on the Cross: “Father, forgive them,” “Thou shalt be with me in Paradise,” and “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.””
Thank you Dr. Luke
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to and through God’s people and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John+
onewhoponders 