Saint Luke: Spread the Good News to the World
“Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, [...] I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received” (Luke 1:1-4).
Saint Luke the Evangelist's feast day is celebrated annually on October 18. In his Gospel account and in the Acts of the Apostles, Luke chronicled Jesus' earthly ministry and the evangelization efforts of the early Church. I had no idea that during a lectio divina prayer session about a year ago, I'd feel a strong connection to Luke’s experiences as a chronicler of the Good News.
At that prayer session, we focused on the opening verses of Luke’s Gospel, and the passage caught my attention. As I silently reflected on this poignant glimpse into the evangelist’s motivations, I immediately connected to Luke as a writer.
Despite the Good News of the Gospel having been told before by others, Luke opens his account by explaining his decision to do what he can to share the story to the faithful. I imagine Luke carefully praying and reflecting on how to use his gift for writing to glorify God, and in doing so, discerning that he should write a Gospel account.
Since childhood, I have dabbled in writing. However, it wasn't until recently that I identified myself as a writer – not too long before my encounter with Luke in the lectio divina reflection. Despite years of putting pen to paper, I hadn’t felt like I “deserved” to call myself a writer. However, anyone who discerns the call to write and then subsequently writes (no matter how little or how much, or how small or large the audience) can identify as a writer.
The Call to Write
In my late teenage years, I served as a volunteer intern youth writer at my local Catholic newspaper. Some of my stories were on current events, activities or other newsworthy items that the editor would assign. I would conduct interviews and make sure the resulting coverage described the who, what, where and why in an objective manner. Other times, I was able to draft free-style, opinion or personal-essay pieces not bound by the rules of journalistic reporting. Those were the kind of pieces I just loved.
My late paternal grandmother was the biggest supporter of my writing, starting when she gifted me my first journal. She read all my publications and kept a copy of each one. Thanks to her support, I’ve kept a journal for close to three decades now as I continued to capitalize on opportunities to write. Looking back, I wonder if she knew even back then that I was called to write, and that I would eventually figure it out for myself.
I had some writing opportunities over the course of (many!) years of university studying the sciences, such as for the student newspaper and reflections in the bulletin for a campus-affiliated parish. Afterward, my writing became sparser (other than journaling and a few articles here and there) as I focused on completing further training.
It wasn't that I didn't want to continue writing or that I didn't enjoy it. I was under the false impression that I needed to focus on acquiring and fine-tuning the concrete skills that I would need for my future "day job" at the end of my education. My "season" of writing was simply a past era, similar to my pastime of playing Nancy Drew computer games with my sisters and friends in high school.
However, it wasn't until over a decade later, during the pandemic, that I stopped ignoring my calling to write. I realized that, for me, writing wasn't just part of a previous life phase or an old hobby that I had outgrown. Writing is one of my gifts, and we are all called to share our gifts with others. Am I an exceptionally good writer? Definitely not. But is writing one way that God calls me to make His presence known? I have discerned that yes, it is.
Sharing Our Gifts
As Saint Paul explains in his first letter to the people of Corinth, we are each given different gifts of the Spirit:
“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-10).
Our gifts should be shared and used in spreading the Good News out into the world, not put away on a back shelf where they accumulate dust for months, years or decades. Now, sharing the Gospel message with those we interact with each day at home, at work, or beyond doesn't necessarily need to include grandiose outreach; making an impact at the local level for our family and friends, our neighbors is totally fine.
For Saint Luke, that gift was writing. Indeed, many saints and others who have come after him also recognized and utilized their gift of writing to evangelize, no matter how small or how big. If we discern that writing is in God’s plans for us, like Saint Luke and the writers that have come before us, we too are called to share this gift so we can ultimately share Jesus with the world.
Sarah Gagliano Taliun is a genetics professor with many interests in addition to studying DNA. She and her husband now call Montreal home. When she is not reading a scientific article or meeting with students, Sarah can be found experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, reading her Bible or taking a walk in nature.