St. Luke, Evangelist of the Holy Spirit

intercession, communion of saints

The Holy Spirit is proclaimed more by St. Luke than by any other gospel writer.  One of his main purposes in writing his gospel and its follow-up book, the Acts of the Apostles, was to emphasize the action of the Holy Spirit in the events and miracles “that have been fulfilled among us” (Luke 1:1).

Luke the Inspired Author

St. Paul identifies Luke as a “co-worker” (Philemon 24) and “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). Luke was well-educated, a doctor, and fluent in the Greek language. Tradition tells us that one of the primary sources for his works was the Virgin Mary, which explains many details that are only in his gospel. Almost all of what we know about the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is only reported by Luke (who was not there), as well as several of the parables of Jesus (e.g., the “Pharisee and the Publican,” “Prodigal Son,” “Good Samaritan,” and “Rich Man and Lazarus.”). For this reason, and the many motherly motifs and details in Luke’s gospel, some call it the “Loveliest Book in the World.”

Spirit-filled

Neither St. Paul nor any other evangelist uses the Greek term “plesthesetai” used by Luke that means “filled with the Spirit;” although the Septuagint version of the bible does use this term in Exodus 28:3; 31:3; 35:31; and Deuteronomy 34:9.  Luke tells us that many people, including Jesus, were “filled with the Spirit.”

John The Baptist

“For he [John the Baptizer] will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:15)

Elizabeth, Mother of John

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit to receive God’s message and to pronounce a great blessing upon Mary. (Luke 1:41)

Zecharias, Father of John

“And his [John’s] father Zecharias was filled with the Holy Spirit to prophesy about the ministry of Jesus.” (Luke 1:67)

Simeon

When “the Holy Spirit was upon him,” and after it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that “he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah,” a man called Simeon beholds the child Jesus, when Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem. He takes the baby Jesus in his arms and says: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29–32)

Jesus

Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for the purpose of overcoming Satan’s temptations.” (Luke 4:1). Jesus was praying when the Holy Spirit descended on Him at His baptism. (Luke 3:21–22).

The Apostles

“On the Day of Pentecost, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)

Peter

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke boldly of Jesus and the culpability in Jesus’s crucifixion of his listeners, who had recently arrested him and were now challenging him.” (Acts 4:8)

Those Who Hear Peter

“And when they [Peter and his companions] had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)

Stephen

Stephen, one of the seven men chosen for a special ministry, in Acts7:3, is described as being full of faith and of the Holy Spirit  (Acts 6:3, 8); and Luke describes him as he was being martyred: “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55)

Paul

“So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17)

“But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,  . . .” (Acts 13:9)

Barnabas

“The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.”  Acts 11:22-25)

 Disciples

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:4). “ And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52)

Jews & Everyone Else in the World

Luke emphasizes that the filling of the Spirit is now for all believers. Peter speaks to everyone (Acts 2:14) and quotes the Joel the prophet: “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17).

Conclusion

According to Luke, those once Spirit “filled” speak. Except for John’s joyful leap in the womb of Elizabeth, Luke describes most of those “filled with the spirit” as speaking to proclaim the good news; and not simply speaking, but speaking boldly.

To say that St. Paul spoke boldly is somewhat of an understatement. He took “filled by the Spirit” to heavenly levels:

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. (2 Cor 4:13-15).

Since we have been filled with this same Holy Spirit, we also believe and, therefore, we should speak.

For all of us who have been filled with the Spirit at Baptism, and who have confirmed that Spirit in the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation, this speaking is not an option. Once you say “I believe,” “I renounce Satan and all his works,” and “My Lord and My God,” you are committing not to a mere “Present,” but to a “Here I am, Lord,” as Isaiah did once his lips were cleansed by the burning coal brought by the Seraphim from the altar before God Almighty in heaven. You cannot be silent.

”Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“We’ve had enough exhortations to be silent. Cry out with a thousand tongues – I see the world is rotten because of silence.” [attributed in various wordings to St Catherine of Siena]

“If I were to remain silent, I’d be guilty of complicity.” Albert Einstein

So we are not spirit-energized robots – once filled we are called to speak. Many of us, for situations specific to our daily lives, are God’s ONLY evangelist, the only one who can say “Here I am,” often in some situations the only one who can speak for Him.

We are today’s evangelists. If we speak, we will bring His people to Him.

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2 thoughts on “St. Luke, Evangelist of the Holy Spirit”

  1. Pingback: THVRSDAY EDITION – Big Pulpit

  2. “Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well-beloved spouse”. A prayer given by Our Lady to the late Fr. Gobbi, founder of the Marian Movement of Priests.

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