Carrying Stories of Faith

This liturgical year (C), we hear mostly from the Gospel of Luke. Luke was not one of the first apostles, but he gathered their stories and kept them alive. He was a physician, a companion of Paul, but above all a storyteller of faith. He dedicated both his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles to “Theophilus.” We do not know if Theophilus was a real person or simply meant “a friend of God,” but Luke’s words have touched many hearts through the centuries. We celebrate the Feast of St. Luke on October 18th.

Stories Live On

Like all evangelists, and any writer, Luke did not know his readers personally. He simply told the story of Christ and the early Christian community with care and truth so that their faith could grow. He is the only evangelist to tell some of the most beloved stories of Jesus: the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son and the encounter on the road to Emmaus. Luke's Gospel shines with compassion, warmth, and prayer, qualities that still speak to every generation. Since 2011, I have tried to do something similar in these pages. I have never known exactly who was on the other side of my words, but I have always written with love and care, hoping that encouragement and faith would come through. Not political, not forceful, simply a sharing of faith in the spirit of Luke. The Gospel on the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 18:1–8) reminds us to persevere in prayer. Prayer sustains us in our faith journey. As my own journey slowly goes in another direction, I rely on prayer to keep me grounded and humble. I am grateful for the chance to have carried stories of faith with and for this parish community. Like Luke, may we all continue to be storytellers of God’s love, each in our own way.