Feasting on the Ox

Traditionally, the ox has long been considered the sacrificial choice of a large community.  For the ox can feed an abundance of people for a longer time than can mutton or fowl.  The ox, being a castrated and “tamed” beast, also represents a stability and reliability of nature. As the symbol of the ox came to represent the gospel of Luke (the largest and “meatiest” of the gospels, particularly in relating the biography of Jesus), it is not a far stretch to see how one might “feast upon the ox”.  Feasting takes on a whole slew of meanings in the context of Christian community.  October 18 is the Feast Day of St. Luke the Evangelist.

Luke, the Gospel Physician by Lars Justinen

St. Luke, the evangelist or the physician, is of course most well-known for his gospel and the Acts of the Apostles (which are attributed to him).  For a doctor, Luke was a prolific writer!  As with many early historical figures, little is actually known about Luke’s life.  He was born a Syro-Grecian gentile in Antioch.  Actually, the implication that he was born into a gentile family derives only from Paul’s distinction between Luke and other colleagues “of the circumcision” (implying Jewish faith).  But the idea of his gentile birth persists.  In fact, it is even speculated by some Church historians that he may have been born into slavery, for he was educated and trained as a physician as befitted the prestige of a master family. The earliest mention of Luke in the Bible appears in Paul’s epistles when he refers to “our friend Luke the physician”.  Luke became a follower of Paul and is referred to as “one of the seventy”.

Guercino's Luke Displaying a Painting of Mary

Scholars agree that both the third gospel and the book of the Acts of the Apostles were written by the same person, and indeed, the Acts were written as a sequel to the gospel.  The implication of Luke being the author (the author is not named in either writing) comes out of the “we passages” in Acts.  The author writes about Paul in the third person except during those passages where he switches to the second person plural, clearly identifying the author as a colleague and follower of Paul.  At the end of Paul’s life, only Luke is recorded as remaining further indicating him as the author.  Luke is considered an exemplary historian—at least in the accuracy of his descriptions and adherence to the beliefs of the time.  Through Luke’s writings we can learn much of the values and mores of his time.  Yet, much more is revealed about his own convictions.  Luke writes more about the poor and social justice than the other gospels.  He also demonstrates a greater affinity for the value of women—it is only in his gospel that the visitation of the angel to both Mary and Elizabeth are recorded.  There are more references to Jesus’ reaching out to strangers and foreigners in Luke’s writings than the other three gospels. This further suggests Luke’s foreign birth.

In art, the symbology associated with Luke includes an ox, often with wings, and Luke as a painter.  There is a legend of Luke being the first to paint Mary the Madonna and thus becoming the founder of iconography.  But there is no evidence to suggest that Luke was a painter.  Perhaps the allusion to his artistry is an acknowledgement of his literary talent. The gospels are each represented by a specific symbol.  Matthew is represented by a man because his gospel opens with a genealogy of Jesus’ ancestry.  Mark is represented by a lion—the voice that can be heard crying out in the wilderness—because it opens with John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord.  John, the fourth gospel, is represented by an eagle.  For it is said that only an eagle can look directly into the light without being blinded and can soar into lofty heights.  John’s gospel opens with the mystical mystery of the incarnation of Jesus.  As mentioned earlier, Luke is represented by the ox because the ox symbolizes sacrifice.  Luke's prologue opens with Zachariah’s sacrifice and ends with the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.  His entire gospel circles around themes of sacrifice.

Along with traditional medieval ox-roast feasting, October 18 is frequently celebrated with services of healing. It just so happens that this year, the Feast of St. Luke falls on a Thursday.  Thursdays at Trinity Church include a healing service with Holy Eucharist (double the Saint Luke celebration!) at 10:30am.