Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Luke!
St. Luke was a Gentile and a physician from the city of Antioch in Syria. He was one of the earliest converts to Christianity (he was converted by St. Paul) and he spent the rest of his life helping to spread the gospel of Jesus. He was a companion to St. Paul on many of his missionary journeys, remaining with him while he was in prison and even until St. Paul’s death in Rome. In the final chapter from 2 Timothy, St. Paul writes, “only Luke is with me.”
St. Luke also wrote the Gospel of Luke as well as the book of Acts. His gospel is unique in that it focuses on Jesus as the great consolation. Only in the gospel of Luke do we get the detailed accounts of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the annunciation to Mary, the angelic hosts appearing to the shepherds, the meeting with Simeon and Anna and Jesus as a boy. In Luke we are also given six miracles and eighteen parables, including the parable of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son, which are not included in the other gospels. Because of the details found in the Gospel of Luke, it is thought that Luke interviewed witnesses extensively before writing the gospel.
Ways to Celebrate:
Paint a picture. St. Luke was said to be a painter. He is believed to be the first icon painter and for this reason artists' guilds across Europe were often named after him.
Bake something with sour cream in it. In Scotland it is traditional to eat “sour cakes” on the feast day of St. Luke. “Sour cakes” were baked cakes eaten with sour cream.
Make something with beef. The symbol for St. Luke is the ox since the beginning of Luke’s gospel begins with the priesthood of Zachary, John the Baptist’s father, and oxen were sacrificed by the priest. We are making my grandmother's incredible pot roast for dinner!
Watch an overview of the Luke/Acts series from The Bible Project
Around his feast day, it is known as “St. Luke’s Little Summer” because usually during this time of year a period of summer-like days occurs. In the United States, we refer to this time as an “Indian Summer”.
My Grandmother's Incredible Sunday Roast
Ingredients:
1 Chuck Roast
olive oil
1 bag baby carrots
1/2 bag of potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of water
1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix
salt and pepper
Season the chuck roast with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a dutch oven. When shimmery, add roast and sear on all sides. Once the roast is seared, remove dutch oven from heat. Add carrots, potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, a can of water and the soup mix packet. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Reduce heat to 250 degrees and continue cooking for four hours.
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