Feast of St. Luke

"Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."  (Book of Common Prayer 1979)

"Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed."  (Luke 1:1-4 NRSV)

Two thoughts.  The first is that the "book" of Luke seems to have been written as a sort of manual for continued formation and discipleship after catechism. It is the "Want to Know More?" link. This does not mean that it has no use in evangelism, but rather expounds on the basics taught in catechism.  If that is so, why do we expect to give people a book and then expect them to come to faith after reading it?  Reading is the supportive act, but for evangelism to occur we must have book of our life, we need to be ready with the words and witness of faith.  In short, we need to have our "elevator speeches" ready and understand them to be important elements in catechesis/evangelism, as the two are inextricably linked.

Secondly, as the preface to Luke makes abundantly clear, Christianity is a religion of "facts" requiring investigation and decision. It seems to me the three primary facts with which Luke is concerned are: The Incarnation, The Crucifixion, and The Resurrection.  Without these we have no Christianity, and in the words of St. Paul, "are most to be pitied."