Gifts from Saint Luke

Today is the Feast of Saint Luke. St. Luke is the author of the Gospel of St. Luke and also the Acts of the Apostles. He is the one who has given us the story of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth of the Lord and the angels singing “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.” We pray from St. Luke’s Gospel every single day in the Liturgy of the Hours (used in monasteries, convents, by priests and religious and also by a growing number of lay people across the world). Luke has given us the three Gospel Canticles inspired by the Holy Spirit.

1) The Magnificat, proclaimed by the Blessed Mother when she met Elizabeth who was carrying John the Baptist at the time. (Luke 1:46-55)

My soul glorifies the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked upon his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

2) The Benedictus, proclaimed by Zechariah after his mouth was opened at the birth of John the Baptist. In the Benedictus, Zechariah actually speaks to his new-born son: (Luke 1:68-60)

                You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

3) The Ninc Dimittis, proclaimed by Simeon when the Christ child was presented in the Temple. (Luke 2:29-32).

Lord, now let your servant go in peace,

for you have fulfilled your word.

For my eyes have seen the salvation

or your people Israel,

displayed for all to see,

a light for the Gentiles

and the glory of your people Israel.

Note that as Mary, Zechariah, and Simeon were proclaiming these Canticles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they were holding an infant: Zechariah was holding John the Baptist, while Mary and Simeon were holding the Christ Child.

You are in their company when you pray these canticles. You become part of the scene. In the Church’s liturgy, you are invited to become part of the scene, not as an outsider, but as a person blessed to be a witness, to hear and to speak and to pray along with them.

Think on this, if you will: God continually invites us to be included; we don’t have to earn the invitation, and nothing that we have ever done will nullify the invitation. It is a gift of grace and love, recorded for us by Saint Luke, for whom we give thanks on this day.

God bless you!