Reflection on Today’s Gospel | The Feast of St Luke the Evangelist
The trap seemed perfect: allow or not to pay the emperor's tax? If the Lord Jesus replied that is allowed, he could be accused of collaboration. If he replied that is not allowed, he could be accused of provoking rebellion and social unrest. And the Lord Jesus used this trap set for Him to say something very important to all of us. He asks to give him a tax coin and immediately introduces a new topic to the conversation. " Whose image is this and whose inscription?" Caesar's. "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." The coin has an image of the emperor. But there is an image of God in each of us. If there is an image of God in you, then you yourself are God’s. So, give back to God what is of God, give yourself to God.
If I am created in the image of God and I am to give myself to God, it means that I must not be a slave to things, I must not disgrace my dignity with greed, hatred and debauchery.
God is love. Therefore, if I am created in God's image, then also for me love should be my first life guideline and the most important motive of my actions. If I can enjoy someone else's good, if I can see a person who needs my attention, my help or my time, then my likeness to God grows. In general, we should strive for harmony between the image of God we carry within us and our behavior.
It is no coincidence that systems such as Nazism or communism, systems of contempt for man, were at the same time so hostile to religion. Anyone who despises people who are crate in God's image must feel like God's enemy. For even the very name of God reminds him of human dignity.
One does not need great acuteness to predict that the current fashion of living as if God did not exist will entail more and more degradation and humiliation of man. In this situation, the only salvation of human dignity will be to hear with all our heart the words of the Lord Jesus in today's Gospel: "Give God what is of God". Let us give ourselves to God.
October 18, is also the Feast of St Luke the Evangelist
Dear Friends, today, October 18, is also the Feast of St Luke the Evangelist, who, in addition to the Gospel, wrote the Acts of the Apostles in order to spread the Christian message to the ends of the known world in his time. Dante referred to the writer of St. Luke’s Gospel as the “scribe of Christ’s gentleness.” Also, He is known as the physician and Evangelist of Mercy.
History tells us that Saint Luke was a native of Syrian Antioch, and that he was a companion of the Apostle Paul (Phil.1:24, 2 Tim. 4:10-11). The Church historian and Father Eusebius (AD 260-340), described Luke in this manner: “Luke, who was by race an Antiochian and a physician by profession, was long a companion of Paul, and had careful conversation with the other Apostles, and in two books left us examples of the medicine for the souls which he had gained from them” (Eccl. Hist. 3.4.6; LCL 1:197)
One of the many key elements of Saint Luke’s Gospel and his Acts, is the reality of sacrifice that we all are forced to confront in our lives. No life has meaning without sacrifice. Hence, Saint Luke is also pictured with the symbol of the ox, a symbol of sacrifice connecting with the sacrifice of Jesus. Some scholars say the earliest date of Luke’s death is AD 84.
Luke’s unique character may best be seen by the emphases of his Gospel, which has been given a number of subtitles:
1) The Gospel of Mercy
2) The Gospel of Universal Salvation
3) The Gospel of the Poor
4) The Gospel of Absolute Renunciation
5) The Gospel of Prayer and the Holy Spirit
6) The Gospel of Joy
Saint Luke is the Patron Saint of: Artists/Painters and Physicians/Surgeons
Most charming and saintly Physician, you were animated by the heavenly Spirit of love. In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, you also showed his divinity and his genuine compassion for all human beings. Inspire our physicians with your professionalism and with the divine compassion for their patients. Enable them to cure the ills of both body and spirit that afflict so many in our day. Amen.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george