LUKE (Gospel of St. Luke) – Although the document is internally anonymous, the authorship of this Gospel has been traditionally ascribed to the Apostle Luke, a physician who accompanied the Apostle Paul on some of his missionary travels.
The Gospel is also the longest of the four canonical Gospels. The text narrates the life of Jesus, with particular interest concerning his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection. It ends with an account of the ascension. More emphasis is placed on women than in the other Gospels.
The Gospel of St. Luke is read liturgically for nineteen weeks beginning on the Monday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross. From the thirteenth week of Lukean readings, it is only read on Saturdays and Sundays, while St. Mark’s Gospel is read on the remaining weekdays.
Sunday readings are a selection of readings which follow sequentially (except for the 22nd week after Pentecost,) until the beginning of Great Lent. The Sunday readings are interrupted by the special Gospel readings of the two Sundays before the Nativity of Christ, the Sunday after the Nativity, and the Sundays both before and after Theophany.
Saturday readings are a selection of readings, which follow sequentially until the beginning of Great Lent, except on Cheesefare Saturday, when the reading is taken from the Gospel according to Matthew. The Saturday readings are also interrupted by the special Gospel readings appointed for the Saturdays before and after the Nativity and Theophany.
Weekday readings are most of the remaining readings not found among the Saturday and Sunday selections. They follow sequentially for twelve weeks.