Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist

el-greco-st-luke

SERVICE OF LIGHT

Greeting/Invocation
 We light the Evening Vesper Candle and say or sing:

Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Love!

~Thanks be to God!

 

Throughout all the Earth their voices carry;

~Their message resounds with hope for all!

 

HYMN FOR ST. Luke THE EVANGELIST 

Come, raise a song of joy this day, Let all the earth applaud

The one whose gospel has revealed the gentleness of God,

The gentle Luke whose careful zeal Probed deep into the past

And won from Mary’s quiet mind, the myst’ries of her heart.

 

In simple words Luke told the world How Jesus was conceived,

How Zachary had doubted God And Mary had believed.

He told how angels woke the night And made the silence sing,

How shepherds came to David’s town to honor David’s King.

 

O good physician, pray for us That we may hear his word

The word that burns that it may heal but heals when it is heard;

The Word the Abba sent that we In him might live as one;

The Word the Spirit speaks in all Who would receive the Son.

 

We praise, you Abba, God of all, We praise you Christ the Son,

We praise you Spirit, for in you We may yet live as one;

We beg you for the gift of sight To see in each your face,

That even now our world may know the fullness of your grace.

Text: Ralph Wright, OSB alt.  Tune: CMD

SERVICE OF THE WORD

PSALMODY

Antiphon

Then you are truly friends of mine

if what I have told you, you will carry out for me:

love and serve one another.

Psalm 125/126

When Adonai brought us back to Zion

we were like dreamers:

laughing and dancing,

with songs on our lips!

 

The nations exclaimed:

“A new world of wonders!

Adonai is with them.”

Yes, our God works wonders.

Rejoice and be glad!

 

Adonai, free us from bondage

as water to thirsty land.

Those who are sowing in tears

will laugh and sing as they reap.

 

The went out with weeping and tears

carrying seeds to be sown:

They come back, they return with singing

holding the harvest high. 

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love;

as always before,

so now and evermore. Amen.

Then you are truly friends of mine

if what I have told you, you will carry out for me:

love and serve one another.

READING        EPHESIANS 4:13

Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in roles of service for the faithful to build up the body of Christ, till we become one in faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, and form that perfect man who is Christ come to full stature

 

Responsory

R.  Throughout all the earth, their voices carry.  V. Their message resounds with hope for all. V.  Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.

Gospel Canticle of Mary

Antiphon

Saint Luke the evangelist is worthy of praise in the Church,

for he has proclaimed the tender compassion of our God.

It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.

My heart + is radiant with the Lord,

My whole being delights in God my Savior.

 

All people now will call me blessed

For God has loved this humble handmaid.

The Almighty has shown me great favor

Holy is the NAME,

 

Whose mercy embraces the faithful,

From one generation to the next.

The mighty arm of God,

Scatters the proud in their own conceit,

 

Pulls tyrants from their thrones

While lifting up the lowly:

Fills the famished with bounty,

And reveals the emptiness of riches.

 

Rescues lowly Israel,

Sharing such loving kindness,

As promised to our ancestors

To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.

 

Glory to the ONE and to  WORD

And to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,

so now and evermore.  Amen

Saint Luke the evangelist is worthy of praise in the Church,

for he has proclaimed the tender compassion of our God.

SERVICE OF PRAYER

Litany of Intercession

St. Luke carefully traced the whole story from the beginning and wrote his gospel,

so that we might understand the truth of the teaching we had received ~ may we diligently study the record St. Luke gave us concerning all that Jesus did and taught.

 

Luke gave us the songs of liberation by Mary, Zachary, and Simeon which are sung each day to proclaim the end of injustice and oppression and the establishment of your reign ~ may all who sing these canticles work together for the just distribution of your gifts and the fulness of life for all Earthkind.  

 

Luke showed how in your heart, O God, Compassion wins the day: as shepherd you carry us gently back whenever we go astray; ~ may we be moved deeply by your mercy and extend it to those who are lost. 

 

Luke told of one who walks with us on the road to reveal that your redeeming love burns that it may heal; ~ may our hearts be set on fire by your Word today that we may carry it with haste to our broken world.

 

 

Prayer of Jesus

Our Father …

 

 

 Closing Prayer & Blessing

God of Life and Compassion, you chose Saint Luke
to reveal by his preaching and writings
the mystery of your love for the poor.
Grant that those who already glory in your name
may persevere as one heart and one soul
and that all nations may merit to see your salvation.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, who lives and loves with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

 

May the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.  ~Amen.

 

 

Let us bless Adonai.   ~Thanks be to God.

queen of apostles

Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Salve Regina
Marian Antiphon

Mother of Mercy, Our Queen we greet you. Our life, our hope, our happiness we hail you. We call to you as Eve’s own children, and exiles.  To you we lift our hearts in sorrow and fear,  in this valley of tears.  Turn then, our loving Advocate, and look with favor upon us.  And after our life in exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.  O gracious, O loving, O Virgin benign, our Mother Mary.