St. Luke’s Day 2024

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t. Luke’s Day is upon us! It's the day to celebrate the patron saint of physicians and the person who shares a name with our beloved school. Although we are named after Saint Luke, it is a lot more than just sharing the name and a passion for the medical field. It is about realizing what such an honorable person he is through the scripture which is attributed to him.

On the surface, Luke was known for a variety of reasons such as being a physician, artist, author of two books of the Bible: The Gospel According to Luke and The Acts of the Apostles. But as mentioned, this was only scratching the surface of who he truly was. In the process of truly analyzing his attributed books, it is clear to see that he wanted people to know him as someone who wants to help the outcasts. He writes about Jesus as Savior for all people especially those who have been ridiculed because of things that make them special. All in all, Luke's message urges everyone to extend their love for people who need it because everyone deserves it.

While I was figuring out who Luke was, I had the amazing honor of having an interview with Bishop Russell of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. Going into this interview I was really nervous about how the conversation with him would go being that I am not Episcopalian. But once I asked him the first question, all of my nerves and butterflies went away. In the interview I learned a lot about Luke other than general information.

Bishop Russell shared with me how Luke was the only writer which shared the story of Christmas the way he did. He emphasized the importance of Mary in the story which was not previously mentioned in the Bible. He also shared with me some scripture which truly shows the person Luke was and why he chose to write his gospel the way he did. In Luke 4:14-21, Jesus shares how he was sent by God to set free those who feel oppressed. In this scripture, Jesus returns to his hometown and reads from the scroll of Isaiah, proclaiming the fulfillment of the prophecy about bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind. This really stuck with me because it shows that no matter who you are or what religion you are, you deserve the love of God.

In conclusion, St. Luke’s writings invite us to reconsider our understanding of community, compassion, and belonging. His portrayal of Jesus as a savior for all reminds us of the amazing power of inclusion and love. As we reflect on St. Luke's Day, we are encouraged to actively seek out and embrace those who are often sidelined, living out the Gospel's call to bring hope and healing to a world in need. Through his stories, Luke teaches us that there is indeed a place for everyone at God's table. As St. Luke’s Episcopal School we should all try to truly honor the person Luke was. It is truly special to be named after him and I feel like it would only be right for us to live the way he describes in the scripture.