When we describe a person as ‘dynamic’ we often mean that they are “energetic, hardworking, and even forceful.” It is like they give off an “electrical charge” in their personality. The word dynamic is based on the ancient Greek word ‘dynamis’ that we use in the Divine Liturgy when the priest beckons to the choir and chanters to sing the Trisagion Hymn one last time with more power and energy. When we use the terms dynamic or dynamo we are describing someone who is multi-talented and versatile., and  communicates a presence that at once inspires us and elicits our awe.

We celebrate this Sunday one of the most dynamic persons in the history of Church. That person is St. Luke. What do we know about Luke?  One thing few of us know is the meaning of his name. Luke, or in Greek ‘Loukas’ comes from the Latin “Lucian” or “Lucianos” which means “the one who shines or enlightens.” It comes from the same root (Lucere) as “Lucifer”, the light-bearing angel who first turned against God and became the presence of evil. Why does St. Luke shine so brightly on the horizon of the Church and why do his writings, his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostle, stand out as unique in the body of the New Testament? There are a number of reasons.

Luke is firstly recognized as a Saint.  (‘agios’ in Greek means ‘holy one’) one who is full of the grace of God; an example/model to us of sanctity during his or her earthly life. But in Orthodoxy, sainthood is also recognized by the person’s continued ministry of healing and miracles, even after he or she dies. In Luke’s case many miracles were wrought by him through the myrrh trickling from his tomb, which was particularly effective in the cure of eye diseases for those who, in faith, anointed themselves with it. Luke’s relics were originally placed in the holy Aaltar table in the Church of the Holy Apostles along with the relics of the Apostles Andrew and Timothy. Probably during the Crusades, Luke’s relics were transferred to Padua, Italy and his skull ended up in the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Prague.

Next, the miraculous healings that occurred after his death were preceded by Luke’s healing ministry on earth. He was a Greek-trained physician, a doctor of medicine or “iatros” (v.14) as St. Paul refers to him. In the Vespers and Orthros hymns of St. Luke’s feast we hear, “What may we now call you, glorious Saint? …Skilled physician of both souls and bodies… Virtue, Luke, has made for you many names. Intercede that our souls may be saved.” (4th Stichera Hymn of Vespers); “you heal the passions of our souls” (5th Stichera Hymn); “heal by mystical surgery the passions of my soul and body, and grant me to be in good health in every way” (Ikos of Orthros). Thus, these hymns witness the transition of Luke’s healing work from the body on earth to the soul from heaven.  For Luke, the illness of the soul was more serious than the sickness of the body – though both made him merciful.

Another facet of Luke’s shining brilliance was that he is an Evangelist– one who brings the Gospel (i.e. Good News). He is the author of the third  Gospel account, after Matthew and Mark, and before John’s gospel. Luke is symbolized in iconography with an ox, bull, or calf – a symbol of sacrifice, service and strength. Luke’s account begins with the duties of Zacharias in the temple; it represents Jesus’ sacrifice in His Passion and Crucifixion, as well as Christ being High Priest (this also represents Mary’s  obedience). The ox signifies that Christians should be prepared to sacrifice themselves in following Christ.

Luke”s Jesus was radically attentive to the lost, the poor, the disenfranchised, the physically ill, the prostitutes, those pushed to the edge of society, and the powerless. That is why his Gospel is often referred to as “The Gospel of Mercy.” The Acts of the Apostles, written in 63AD, is a history of the first century Church that records what the Apostles did to spread the faith in Jesus Christ, who died and rose from the dead. Thus, St. Luke is also a historian and a biographer at that, writing primarily about his mentor, St. Paul the Apostle (see also 2Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24). Luke witnessed Christ boldly.

Luke himself was an apostle of Christ. He was not one of the Twelve Apostles, the closest disciples of Jesus, but he was one of the Seventy Apostles, the next closest disciples of the Lord. In today’s Gospel reading, also from Luke’s feast (Luke 10:16-21) we even hear them referred to as “the seventy” (v.17). And all seventy of these Apostles are referred to by name in the New Testament. Luke had direct experience of the risen Christ as he and Cleopas were travelling the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). He doesn’t refer to himself by name but only as “one of the other disciples” but one of the Vespers hymns tells us “the Incarnation of the Word, Whom you saw after the resurrection at Emmaus, and ate with him with heart aflame along with Cleopas” (2nd Aposticha Hymn of Vespers). In his travels, Luke was sent to preach Christ in Samaria, Antioch, Italy, Dalmatia, Greece and Macedonia. In addition, St. Luke was a Bishop of the Church in Thebes, Voetia, Greece., where he ordained many priests and deacons for Church service.

Church tradition teaches that one of the seldom spoken gifts of St. Luke was that he was an Iconographer. He is probably the first iconographer of the Church, writing several images of the Virgin Mary Theotokos. According to tradition, many of these icons are still with us today. Some of the more well-known ones include: a) Holy Lady of the Great Cave “Megaspylaiotissa” in the Monastery of the Megaspylaion near Kalavryita, Greece; b) The Three Handed Mother of God icon or “Dexiotrousa” that is in the Hilander Monastery on Mt. Athos; c) Panagia Soumelia icon found at the monastery in Veria, Greece; and d) Chrysoroyiatissa icon in Paphos, Cyprus. Luke is also credited with writing the first icon of the Apostles Peter and Paul. As well as a physician, Luke had a deep sense of the beauty of God and its ability to inspire fervent devotion.  He channeled that aesthetic sense into the images he wrote for the devotion of the early Church.

The final aspect of St. Luke’s life that made him shine brightly in the Church was that he was martyr. Idolaters arrested him at the age of 84 years. They flayed him alive, which means they tore off his skin. Then they crucified him on an olive tree. A martyr is a witness of the faith in Christ. Luke’s martyrdom was the culmination of his whole adult life. After a lifetime of healing body and soul, of standing with the poor rejects of the world, Luke gave his last gift to the Master – his very life.

Let us remember our blessed St. Loukas/Luke, who shines on us through his holy saintliness, who intercedes for our healing of both soul and body, who enlightens with the gospel teachings and life of “the poor Christ,” who educates about the early history of the Church, who shows us how to be apostles, who gave us the tradition of painting sacred images, who is one of our shepherd bishops, and who valued the faith in Christ so highly who was willing to die for it.

This is a dynamic servant of God! This is a soul that burned with love of God and communicated that love to others. In the many facets of his life and ministry, we have a sterling example of what living as a disciple is all about and what it demands – surrender of the ego, a selflessness, a desire to give until it hurts, a concern for spiritual as well as physical healing, and a willingness to be Christ for everyone we meet. If each of us could imitate and follow St. Luke in just one of these roles, we would be graced by God and help strengthen His Holy Church.  Dynamis!  Amen!

I pray that the God of Mercy, through the intercession of Holy Luke, give each of you that blessed grace this day and foreverore!

Faithfully in the Lord,

Fr. Dimitrios