Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist
Luke 10:1-9
To bring the peace of Christ to every home!

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist, physician, and companion of St. Paul. Tradition tells us he may have painted an image of Mary, but his most beautiful portrait of her is found in his Gospel: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation, the hidden life in Nazareth, and her presence at Pentecost. Luke helps us see Mary’s heart—her faith, her trust, her discipleship.

Luke’s writings are two great canvases: the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Together they show us how God’s plan unfolds in Jesus and in the early Church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel is a striking example: Jesus not only sends the Twelve, but also seventy-two other disciples, two by two. Their mission widens the horizon of God’s love.

The number itself is symbolic. Seventy recalls the elders who helped Moses in the desert, the members of the Jewish council, and even the nations of the world. In Luke’s universal vision, this mission points toward every people and nation being embraced by God’s Kingdom. Already, we see the Church called to be missionary, open, and universal.

Jesus teaches his disciples how to go: travel light, stay focused, accept what is given, and do not seek comfort or prestige. The missionary must not be cluttered with possessions, distracted by lesser things, or motivated by self-interest. The message is greater than the messenger: “Peace to this house!” Peace is not just a greeting, but a gift—the very gift of God.

And what about us? Each of us, baptised and sent, shares in this wider mission. Our task is not to conquer, but to bring peace, healing, and the nearness of God’s Kingdom. Like Luke, we are called to be storytellers of God’s mercy, painting not with colours or ink, but with our lives.

On this feast of St. Luke, let us ask for his intercession: that we may live simply, serve faithfully, and carry Christ’s peace into the homes and hearts we encounter. May our lives, like Luke’s Gospel, reveal the face of a God who is love for all nations.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025