"ST LUKE DRAWING THE VIRGIN" (1435) BY ROGER VAN DER WEYDEN
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Lk 10:1-9
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
REFLECTION
Go on your way
St Luke was a Greek doctor who converted to Christianity. He accompanied St Paul and wrote his Gospel according to St Paul's teachings. He also wrote the Acts of the Apostles which details the history of the Church up to Paul's first stay in Rome. St Paul referred to him as "our beloved physician". He remained near St Paul when he was imprisoned in Caesarea.
As a Greek, he takes care to explain to Gentile readers the Jewish customs and meanings of Hebrew words. He is the only Gentile Christian among the Gospel writers. He probably wrote his Gospel between 70and 85 AD. His writings show the parallel between the life of Christ and that of the Church.
His Gospel has been given a number of subtitles:
The Gospel of Mercy
The Gospel of Universal Salvation
The Gospel of the Poor
The Gospel of Absolute Renunciation
The Gospel of Prayer and the Holy Spirit
The Gospel of Joy
He was a Greek physician and artist and he has been attributed the painting of the Virgin Mary. He is held by the Eastern Church as the original iconographer responsible for the first icon of the Virgin Mary.
The winged ox is the symbol of St Luke --a figure of sacrifice, service and strength. The ox signifies that Christians should be prepared to sacrifice themselves in following Christ.
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