Countdown to Christmas Challenge
As we begin the Advent season take a moment for yourself, spending time with Christ in the Gospel of Luke. Consider it a countdown to Christmas challenge!
Luke’s Gospel has 24 Chapters, fittingly if we begin our journey walking with St. Luke on Dec. 1, reading one chapter a day, we will complete the Gospel on Christmas Eve. This countdown to Christmas with St. Luke’s Gospel has popped up on Christian blog and social media posts the last couple years.
Before we begin this challenge, let’s get to know St. Luke.
Saint Luke was not one of the original 12 Apostles. However, he is considered one of the most dedicated followers after Christ’s ascension. He left his profession as a physician to become an evangelist with the other Apostles, after Saint Paul’s preaching inspired him.
He was intelligent and loved being emersed in the life of Christ. His writings make it obvious that he not only enjoyed talking to countless people who knew Jesus and witnessed His miracles, but also that he was in search of the facts – the truth. Saint Luke is referred to as one of the Church’s first historians.
He wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, which make up nearly a fourth of the New Testament. Saint Luke is a beautiful writer taking the reader through his messages and stories with such description the reader can envision and imagine themselves within them.
We can read St. Luke’s words as if he were speaking personally to us. In fact, the Gospel of Luke (as well as the Acts of the Apostles) were letters written to his friend and Roman dignitary Theophilus, who must have asked the Apostle to detail the facts of the life of Christ.
It is believed that the story of our Savior’s birth that St. Luke presents, was based on his personal conversations with Our Blessed Mother Mary.
His first lines in Chapter 1 of his gospel notes that he wrote it “after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write and orderly account for you… so that you may know the truth…” (Luke 1:3-4).
Throughout his writings he relates the teachings of Jesus with the early church as told in Old Testament. Writing as one who presents facts to convince others that we should all know and love Jesus – our God – St. Luke illustrates Christ’s mercy, healing, and compassion.
Saint Luke urges us to be Christian disciples and model ourselves after Jesus, and for us to seek salvation and peace through prayer. He even used Jesus as the example in Luke 23:34, when Jesus asked forgiveness of his crucifiers.
So, let’s take the countdown to Christmas challenge this Advent to do something for ourselves! Let us all be inspired by St. Luke, seeking to know as much as we can about the life of Christ and want to share that good news with others through our actions and words.
