01 - Introduction

The gospel of Saint Luke is deceptively simple... Seven or eight years ago, when my pastor, Father Nabil, asked me to prepare a bible study on this gospel, I accepted gladly. Little did I know what I was getting myself into! "Here," I thought, "is an easy bible study to prepare." I was convinced that this gospel was easier to teach than Saint Mark or Saint Matthew. After all, the style is elegant, the events are engaging and easy to follow, the plan is very well laid out, and, Saint Luke is a gentile, so, presumably, he would go easy on Old Testament references. Boy, was I wrong! The Gospel of Saint Luke is deceptively simple. Sure, you could read it like you read the newspaper. In fact, it is possible to read this gospel in one sitting, cover-to-cover, and one will definitely benefit from doing so. Nevertheless, to understand the original meaning in its proper context, a bit more work is required. But then, the reward is great because we get a clearer understanding of the plan of salvation, and a more faithful rendition of the life of our Lord when he walked the Earth. And isn't this the purpose of any bible study? To know the Lord better, so we may worship him in Spirit and in Truth? Certainly, as Catholics, the Liturgy, when lived faithfully and with a meek and contrite heart is the greatest act of worship by which we come to a greater knowledge of God. Contrary to what one might think, a bible study is not necessary to attain heaven, but when one loves, one is naturally inclined to know everything he can about the beloved and that's where a bible study, faithful to the Magesterium and liturgically centered can greatly help Welcome to the study of the Gospel of Saint Luke!