Podcast appearances and mentions of saint luke

We invite you to listen to this sermon from the Rev. Ryan Fleenor from the 10am service on the Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 13, 2026. Today, we celebrate Saint Luke's Homecoming & Feast of the Dedication, when we return to three Sunday services. 8am, 10am in church and livestreamed, and 5pm Come As You Are CAYA, in the AYCC and livestreamed. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 6: 39 – 42Jesus told them a parable, "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye.The Gospel of the Lord

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 6: 6-11 “On another sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.”The Gospel of the Lord

We invite you to listen to this sermon from our seminarian Lisa Baird from the 10am service on the Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 6, 2026. Next week is Saint Luke's Homecoming, when we return to three Sunday services. 8am, 10am in church and livestreamed, and 5pm Come As You Are CAYA, in church and livestreamed. We hope you'll join us or tune into the service that speaks to you. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 5: 33–39 And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink." Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days."And he also told them a parable. "No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. (And) no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'" The Gospel of the Lord

OSF St. Luke Medical Center is urging students and families to protect their feet as school, sports, and dorm life resume. Samantha Rux says plantar warts, caused by a virus, can spread in damp shared spaces like locker rooms, showers, and bathrooms. She recommends wearing shower shoes or flip-flops, drying them thoroughly, changing sweaty socks, and disinfecting nail clippers. Anyone noticing wart-like growths on the bottom of the foot should seek care early, as treatment may require removing excess skin and applying acid. OSF is also welcoming podiatrist Dr. Kennedy, now seeing patients in Kewanee and Galesburg. Call 309-852-7700 for details.

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 4: 16 – 30He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.'Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Isn't this the son of Joseph?"He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'"And he said, "Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.The Gospel of the Lord

  We invite you to listen to this sermon from The Rev. Susan Wyper from the 10am service on the Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost, August 30, 2026. We have almost reached the end of our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and many of us have read 2 Psalms each day - in early September, we'll have read all 150 Psalms! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

We invite you to listen to this sermon from The Rev. Hannah Pommersheim from the 8am service on the Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost, August 23, 2026. We have almost reached the end of our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and many of us have read 2 Psalms each day - in early September, we'll have read all 150 Psalms! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

We invite you to listen to this sermon from The Rev. Ansley Walker on the Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost, August 16, 2026. Join us each Sunday for our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 1, 39-56During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.The Gospel of the Lord.

Listen to this sermon from our Youth Minister Misty Krasawski on the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost, August 9, 2026. Join us each Sunday for our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

On August 5, the Catholic Church annually celebrates the Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four most illustrious churches of Rome, along with St. John Lateran, St. Peter, and St. Paul Outside the Walls, and Christendom’s first Marian shrine for pilgrims. An annual feast commemorates a miracle of the snowfall that occurred on the site where the Basilica of St. Mary Major now stands. The Virgin Mary had appeared in a dream to two faithful Roman Christians, as well as to Pope Liberius (352-366), asking that a church be built in her honor on the site where snow would fall on the night of August 5th.That’s why another name for the basilica is Our Lady of the Snow, Saint Mary of the Snow, and the feast of today is Our Lady of Snows, la Virgen Blanca, in Spanish. Nowadays, in Rome, during the Pontifical Mass, the traditional shower of flower petals descends from the ceiling of the basilica to commemorate the miraculous snowfall. Pope Francis’ mortal remains are buried in St. Mary Major. He was laid to rest near the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani, translated to "Health or Salvation or Protectress of the Roman People." The image is a deeply revered ancient tableau purported to have been painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist. Saint Jerome (347–420) is buried at the Basilica, following his death in Bethlehem on September 30, 420 AD. Jerome was s Christian priest and Doctor of the Church best known for translating most of the Bible into Latin, a seminal work known as the Vulgate. He is also the patron saint of translators, librarians, archivists, and biblical scholars. Books about Saint Mary Major Basilica at https://amzn.to/3Twn0eB Saint Mary Major Basilica souvenirs https://amzn.to/4pTtvnE Saint Jerome books available at https://amzn.to/4w9zwhF ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Mark's History of North America podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 X (twitter): https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credits: Saint Of The Day podcast with Mike Roberts by Covenant Network (ourcatholicradio.org) Dedication Of Saint Mary Major Basilica (05aug2025); August 5: The Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica by Catholic Saints & Feasts 04aug2025; Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major by Catholic Kids Media. Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to this sermon from Priest Associate the Rev. Hartwell Hylton on the Tenth Sunday After Pentecost, August 2, 2026. Join us each Sunday for our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Listen to this sermon from our Guest Preacher, Lisa Baird, on the Ninth Sunday After Pentecost, July 26, 2026. Join us each Sunday for our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Worship

Listen to this sermon from The Rev. Ansley Walker on the Eighth Sunday After Pentecost, July 19, 2026. Join us each Sunday for our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Enjoy this sermon from The Rev. Hannah Pommersheim on the Seventh Sunday After Pentecost, July 12, 2026. Join us each Sunday for our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Enjoy this sermon from The Rev. Ryan Fleenor on the Sixth Sunday After Pentecost, July 5, 2026. Join us each Sunday this Summer for our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Enjoy this sermon from The Rev. Susan Wyper on June 28, 2026 - The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost. Join us each Sunday this Summer for our Summer Preaching Series on the Psalms, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

For content follow the podcast on Twitter / Instagram @darkroastcult Each week we choose a movie from one of the horror genre to discuss the following week. Follow along each week by keeping up with the movies we are watching to stay in the loop with the movie club! Check out other podcasts, coffee and pins at www.darkroastcult.com ! THANKS TO ANDREW FOR MAKING THE INTRO SONG. (soundcloud.com / andoryukesuta)@andoryukesuta A paramedic rescues a young girl from the blazing Saint Luke's hospital before unsuccessfully inquiring about her mother's whereabouts. Sometime afterwards, undergraduate Shelley Baum hears her cat meowing near her house's koi pond. After she heads over to investigate, a hand appears and drowns her and her cat. Days later, college students Beth Raymond and Leann Cole discuss Shelley's funeral. Leann's cellphone rings in a lullaby-esque ringtone, with a call from Shelley. She opens it to an eerie voicemail of herself, dated June 12 at 10:17 PM. Subsequently, suffering from disturbing hallucinations, she calls Beth while returning from a study session. Beth rushes to her location but arrives just as Leann falls off an overpass and is struck by a train. A red candy pops out of her mouth, and her severed hand dials a number on her phone. At Leann's funeral, her ex-boyfriend Brian Sousa departs after experiencing hallucinations. Outside a coffee shop, he shows Beth Leann's post-mortem voicemail, dated minutes away. An acetylene tank explosion from the adjacent construction site launches debris into the air, and a rebar impales Brian's torso. A red candy is ejected from his mouth, and he collapses. The next day, Beth meets police detective Jack Andrews, who mentions that his sister Jean interned with Shelley at Saint Luke's and died herself two days prior. They determine the events are interrelated and he provides his contact card. Beth consoles her friend Taylor Anthony, who is distraught by a premonitory feeling of being the next victim, so Beth removes the batteries from both their cellphones to disable them. That night, Taylor's cellphone rings; she opens it to see a video of her apparent demise. The following morning, Jack and Beth research geriatric nurse Marie Layton, originator of the calls, and find the autopsy report of her eldest daughter Ellie, who died from an acute asthmatic episode. The file, mentioning "no bruising but evidence of past scars" with an attached CPS file for further consultation, indicates that Jean, a psychiatric nurse, questioned Marie at Saint Luke's and noted nine admissions between April and May for Ellie and her sister Laurel, concerning several causes, leading Beth to assume that Marie had FDIA. Meanwhile, TV producer Ted Summers, who approached Taylor earlier, prepares to record her exorcism, explaining that spiritual energy operates in the same electromagnetic spectrum as light/microwaves and is therefore transmissible via cellular phones from which it manifests as hallucinations. Noticing the show's advertisement on TV, Beth races to the site, arriving to an unseen force fatally choking Taylor. Her phone then sounds with a voicemail dated for tomorrow. Taking Beth home, Jack learns about her past in which her mother was abusive towards her (in particular burning her daughter with cigarettes), and her father, aware of his wife's abuse, hanged himself in their house's attic.

Enjoy this sermon from The Rev. Ryan Fleenor on June 21, 2026 - The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost. Join us each Sunday this Summer for our Summer Preaching Series on the Pslams, and read along with us, 2 Psalms a day, until we've read all 150 by the end of Summer! Click here for the schedule. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Enjoy this sermon from our Youth Preacher Caroline Ward on June 14, 2026 - Youth and Graduating Senior Sunday. For more information on Saint Luke's Parish, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Enjoy this sermon from The Reverend Hartwell Hylton on June 7, 2026 - The Feast of Corpus Christi. For more information on Saint Luke's and sermons from other Sundays, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Samantha Rux joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the patient transportation program. OSF HealthCare St. Luke's continues to address barriers to local healthcare through its patient transportation program. Launched after a 2019 community health assessment revealed transportation as a major barrier, the hospital's van service shuttles patients to and from medical appointments free of charge. Funded entirely through donations and events like today's annual golf outing at Midland Golf Club, the program has improved outcomes by ensuring patients can attend regular appointments, which is especially vital for those with injuries or no other means of transportation. For more details, patients can contact their healthcare provider or check with the scheduling team when scheduling an appointment. The hospital also hosts bi-monthly local blood drives. The next blood drive is on June 4, 2026, from 7 AM to 5 PM—find details at bloodcenter.org. To find more blood drives in the area, visit bloodcenter.org and search zip code 61443.

Enjoy this sermon from The Reverend Ryan Fleenor on May 31, 2026 - Trinity Sunday. For more information on Saint Luke's and sermons from other Sundays, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

In this Sermon, preached on June 29, 2025, Fr. Blackburn speaks about the obstacles that present themselves when we make firm our resolve to follow Jesus.The text for the sermon is from the Gospel according to Saint Luke, the 9th chapter, beginning at the 51st and continuing through 62nd verse.

Hear the sermon from The Reverend Hannah Pommersheim on May 24, 2026, 2026 - the Day of Pentecost. For more information on Saint Luke's and sermons from other Sundays, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Dr. Daphne Bascom earned a DPhil/PhD in physiological sciences at the University of Oxford, a medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh, and completed fellowship training in microvascular and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck at Oregon Health Sciences University. She has more than two decades of executive leadership across health systems, health technology, and community health. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Population Health at Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City. So, how and why did she leave all of that to pursue lifestyle medicine, a “vegetable-forward” way of life, and a completely different kind of care? As we've heard from many of our guests, for Dr. Bascom, it was personal. Between witnessing her mother's long and arduous struggle with COPD and helping her father navigate the healthcare system, she recognized that despite her many years of training, her work as a surgeon, and her leadership, she still wasn't doing the work that got her into medicine in the first place. She wanted to help people be healthy. Period.  That deep calling led her to become the Chief Operating Officer of The Vegan Gym, a global digital health platform dedicated to plant-based performance, healthspan, and longevity. She now hosts the Thrive on Plants podcast and is the Founder of The Longevity Lab. As a lifelong believer in equity and inclusion, Dr. Bascom works hard to ensure that this information is accessible to all people, and much of the education she puts together on these topics is available for free on her YouTube channel, @TheVeganGym.

Hear the sermon from Seminarian Misty Krasawski on May 17, 2026 - a family worship service where the sermon is tailored for our youngest parishioners and where children take part in the service by reading and serving in worship. For more information on Saint Luke's and sermons from other Sundays, please visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Samantha Rux and Blaine Clarke joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about upgrades at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center, making OSF HealthCare a medical "destination," and the upcoming Golf Classic to support the OSF Saint Luke public transportation system. OSF HealthCare is wrapping up a week of celebrations honoring nurses and healthcare workers, marked by special events including theme days, food trucks, and the annual Daisy and Sunflower Awards. The focus shifts now to investments in technology and local care access through the Destination OSF initiative. Recent upgrades include a new MRI and DEXA machine at St. Luke's, quicker lab services, and advanced breast imaging in Galesburg. General surgical services have expanded locally, reducing the need to travel for procedures. OSF encourages residents to explore care options closer to home as community hospitals grow their capabilities.

Listen to the sermon from the Rev. Ryan Fleenor on Sunday, April 26th, 2026 - The Fourth Sunday of Easter and Good Shepherd Sunday. For more information on all Saint Luke's has to offer, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org. 

Listen to the sermon from the Rev. Susan Wyper on Sunday, April 19, 2026, the Third Sunday of Easter. For more sermons and information from Saint Luke's Darien, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Listen to the sermon from the Rev. Hannah Pommersheim on Sunday, April 12, 2026, the Second Sunday of Easter. For more sermons and information from Saint Luke's Darien, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Samantha Rux joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the blood drive on April 9th, flag raising in honor of organ and tissue donors, new regional President Zach Yoder, and career opportunities. OSF Healthcare has plenty happening this spring across the Tri-Counties. OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center is hosting a blood drive this Thursday, April 9, from 7 AM to 5 PM in the East-West Conference Room. Community members are encouraged to schedule an appointment at bloodcenter.org, as blood donations are crucial for surgeries and emergencies. April also marks National Donate Life Month, spotlighting organ and tissue donation. On April 28, a flag will be raised at OSF Saint Luke in Kewanee to honor donor families. Additionally, Zach Yoder has taken on the role of regional president for several local OSF hospitals, with numerous job opportunities available at osfcareers.org. And don't forget—the annual golf outing returns June 1!

Listen to the Easter Sunday sermon from 11:15 worship by the Rev. Ryan Fleenor, Rector at Saint Luke's Darien. Alleluia, Christ is risen. Alleluia, Christ is risen, indeed. For more sermons from other Sundays, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.  Wishing you peace and light this Easter.

Listen to the sermon from The Rev. Ryan Fleenor on the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 15, 2026. For other sermons from Saint Luke's or for more information, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Listen to the sermon from The Rev. Susan Wyper on the Third Sunday in Lent, March 8, 2026. For other sermons from Saint Luke's or for more information, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org. 

Listen to the sermon from The Rev. Hannah Pommersheim on the Second Sunday in Lent, March 1, 2026. For sermons from other Sundays at Saint Luke's, or for more information, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org. 

Listen to the sermon from our Seminarian Misty Krasawski on the First Sunday in Lent, February 22, 2026. For more sermons from other Sundays at Saint Luke's, or for more information, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org. 

Listen to the sermon from the Rev. Ryan Fleenor on the Last Sunday After the Epiphany, February 15, 2026. For more sermons from other Sundays at Saint Luke's, or for more information, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org. 

Sermon from the Rev. Susan Wyper at 5pm Come As You Are worship on the Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany. For more information and sermons from other Sundays at Saint Luke's, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Is there such a thing as a natural monk? Saint Luke was born in 896 to pious parents who came from Aegina but were forced to settle on the Greek mainland due to Saracen raids. From his earliest years, he showed a desire for a life of ascesis and contemplation usually only found in seasoned elders. He abstained from all flesh, cheese, eggs, and delicacies, drank only water, and kept a total fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. While herding cattle or tilling the family fields, he would often give away his food and even his clothing to the poor, returning home naked. When his father died, he abandoned farm work to devote himself entirely to prayer, making such progress that he was often lifted above the ground while praying. After a time he secretly left home and entered a monastery in Athens (he was now only fourteen years old), but the abbot sent him home after seeing his mother every night in dream, tearfully calling for her son. He returned home for a while, but when he had obtained her permission to leave once again set out upon the monastic life. He traveled widely, living as a hermit in various places, sometimes attached to a monastery and sometimes not. Often he would be forced to move by the number of visitors who learned of his holiness, no matter how secretly he tried to live, and came to him for prayer or a word of counsel or prophecy. Once he lived for three years on the island of Ampelon; his sister would occasionally bring him some bread, but he gave much of it away to the needy or to passing sailors. Finally, his health damaged, he returned to the mainland at the entreaties of his disciples and settled at a place called Stirion (which may be a corruption of Soterion), where he built a hermitage.   Saint Luke fell ill in his seventh year at Stirion. Embracing his disciples, he asked them to pray for him, prophesying that the place where he died would someday be the site of a great church and monastery; he then reposed in peace and joy.   His tomb exuded a fragrant oil which was collected and burned in a lamp, and many miracles and healings were wrought at the tomb. As the Saint had predicted, two churches and a monastery were built there, and the monastery of Hosios Lukas became a great place of pilgrimage, as it remains to this day.

Sermon on the Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany from 10am worship. Today's sermon is given by parishioner Lisa Baird, currently a student at the General Theological Seminary and a postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. Thank you Lisa! For more information and sermons from other Sundays at Saint Luke's, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org

Happy New Year from Saint Luke's! Listen to the Rev. Ryan Fleenor's sermon from 10am worship on January 4, 2026 here, and find more sermons and worship livestreams on our website at www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Merry Christmas from Saint Luke's! Listen to the Rev. Ryan Fleenor's sermon from 7:30pm worship on Christmas Eve, and find livestreams of all our Christmas services and from every Sunday on our website at www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Gospel Luke 10:1-9 The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'" Reflection The 72 represent the future church. Communities of people that have an understanding, a way of life that becomes attractive to other people and they want to know about it, and they need to learn about it. And what he's saying is there's healing power in my message, and I want you to share it. But what's so interesting, it's not like he sends out these 72 and he expects them to reach 50 homes a piece, or something. No, you go to one house, a house where someone there understands the peace that comes with the kingdom, and build on that person. It's like the kingdom of God spreads very naturally from one encounter to another, from one conversation to another. It's a beautiful image of the church and how it works. It's so organic and natural and nothing can stop it. Closing Prayer Father, open us always to the ways in which we can do the work that we are called to do. When we make it somehow too obvious or too intense, it doesn't work. It's something that flows from my heart to your heart, your heart to my heart in the relationships that we have. And that's where it all works. It's about love. It's about compassion. It's about understanding. And it's not about judgment or condemnation. So bless us with this gift of carrying your message through our hearts. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read OnlineThe Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Luke 10:1–2Saint Luke, whom we honor today, was a true evangelist. As an evangelist, he followed the inspiration from our Lord and was used to bring God's saving message to the ends of the earth. And there is little doubt that his ministry will continue to have a transforming effect on the lives of many until the end of the world. Tradition states that Saint Luke became a martyr, being hanged on an olive tree. He is identified in the New Testament as a physician and as a disciple of Saint Paul. Both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are attributed to him.Saint Luke is often spoken of as an evangelist to the gentiles. His Gospel was written in such a way that it didn't presume a full understanding of the Jewish faith and customs. Therefore, it is believed to have been primarily written for those who are not of Jewish origin. Thus, the life and mission of Saint Luke must remind us that the Gospel needs to be shared with all people, especially with those who do not have a deep and sustaining relationship with God.In today's Gospel from Saint Luke, we read that Jesus sent seventy-two disciples “to every town and place he intended to visit.” Only Luke mentions the larger scale sending of seventy-two disciples. The other Gospels only mention the sending of the Twelve. Though many of these seventy-two disciples would have gone to Jewish territory, some would have unquestionably gone to non-Jewish territory. The mission of these seventy-two was to prepare everyone they encountered for the preaching of Jesus and for the establishment of the Kingdom of God.As we honor Saint Luke today and read this passage from his Gospel, we are reminded that we are all sent by our Lord. We are sent to those who share our faith, such as family, friends and fellow parishioners. We are sent to love them and do all we can to help deepen their faith and love of God. But we are also called to share the Gospel with those who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior. There are so many people we encounter every day who have never truly met our Lord. Are there people in your life that God is calling you to reach out to? Who do you know that God may be calling you to share the Gospel with? Reflect, today, upon the fact that the Gospel is meant for everyone. Speak to our Lord and tell Him that you are ready and willing to be used by Him to bring His saving message to others. As you do so, wait on the Lord, listen to His inspiration, and respond when He calls. If someone comes to mind whom you sense God is calling you to evangelize, begin to pray for that person. Pray for them every day and be attentive to any inspiration God gives you to share His love and saving message with them. Do not be afraid to be an evangelist like Saint Luke. Doing so might make an eternal difference in someone's life. My saving Lord, You sent Your disciples on a mission to share Your saving message with all. Today I especially thank You for the life and ministry of Saint Luke. Please use me, dear Lord, to imitate his wonderful example and to share Your glorious life with others. Please lead me and inspire me to especially reach out to those whom You have put into my life. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Window: workshop of Franz Borgias Mayer (1848–1926); Photo: Andreas Praefcke, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineWhen Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say. Luke 11:53–54Over the past few days, we have been reading Saint Luke's version of Jesus' “Woe to you” rebukes of the scribes, Pharisees and the scholars of the law. Today's Gospel concludes these rebukes of love by pointing out that these religious leaders did not convert. Instead, they began plotting against Jesus so as to “catch him at something he might say.” This is what happens when people use God's holy law as a weapon to attack.Normally, we take inspiration from the Holy Scriptures in a positive way, meaning, by reflecting upon Jesus' words and actions and applying them to our lives. However, we can also learn from the evil others commit and allow their actions to inspire us to avoid their sin. In today's Gospel, we are invited to ponder the obsessive plotting of these religious leaders so as to consider whether we also are guilty of their sin.First, note that at the conclusion of Jesus' rebukes, these religious leaders “began to act with hostility” toward Jesus. Normally, when we act with hostility toward another, it is done with the mindframe that we are right and they have done something wrong. We justify our hostility by pointing to their perceived sin. However, it must be understood that every act of hostility on our part is a clear indication that we have started down the road of sin and are not justified in our obsession.Notice also that these religious leaders exercised their hostility toward Jesus by interrogating Him. In other words, in their anger, they kept asking Him questions so as to find some fault with Him. They tried to trick Him and trap Him with their speech using God's very Law handed down through Moses and the prophets. But they manipulated that Law so as to justify their hostility and, out of pride, to falsely accuse Jesus.Think about any times in your life in which you found yourself somewhat obsessed with what you judged to be the sin of another. Hostility in this case can even be passive, meaning you may present a kind disposition on the surface, but interiorly you are obsessively thinking about how you can condemn the person. Often when this happens, we can feel justified in that we convince ourselves that justice must be done and that we are the dispensers of that justice. But if God is in control of our lives, He will not call us to obsessive plotting in regard to another. Instead, when we are following the will of God, we will sense Him inspiring us to act with immediacy, calm, joy, kindness, honesty, and freedom from all anger and obsession. Reflect, today, upon any way that you have seen this misguided tendency within your own life. If you can identify a time when you struggled with hostility toward another, look at the fruit it bore. Was God glorified through your actions? Did this leave you at peace or agitated? Were you fully objective in your thinking? Be honest with these questions and you will begin to discover the road to freedom from such obsessive thinking. God wants you to be at peace. If there is injustice, trust that our Lord will sort it out. You, for your part, must continually work to forgive, act with charity, and direct your attention to the will of God as it is gently presented to you. My patient and kind Lord, You were falsely accused and condemned by many of the religious leaders of Your time because You spoke the pure truth with love, clarity and boldness. When I act with hostility and anger toward another, help me to turn from these sins so that I will never condemn, never judge and never manipulate Your divine Law for my own purposes. Fill me with Your peace and charity alone, dear Lord. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Duccio di Buoninsegna, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineThe apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.” Luke 17:5–6Is it possible to completely uproot a tree and plant it in the sea? It's certainly hard to imagine how. It is especially hard to imagine doing so with a simple command of faith. Uprooting a tree is hard enough to imagine, but it is even more difficult to imagine a tree being planted in the sea. Though water is necessary, one cannot plant a tree in the sea and expect it to grow. But that's partly the point. We often underestimate the power of true faith. Saint Matthew's Gospel says that faith can move mountains. Saint Luke's says it can uproot a tree and replant it in the sea. All it takes to do so is faith the size of a mustard seed.How much faith is equal to a mustard seed? A mustard seed is small, very small. It measures only about one millimeter in length. People who worked the soil at that time would have known that it was among the smallest of seeds they planted. For that reason, Jesus uses this familiar image to teach the apostles that faith, even a little faith, is powerful.Jesus' teaching comes in response to a prayer on the part of the apostles. “Increase our faith,” they said. Jesus' response, inviting them to have only a little faith, implies that their faith was quite weak. To increase their faith to the size of a mustard seed suggests that they did not even have a little faith yet. Most likely they were aware of that fact, and that was the reason they asked Jesus to increase their faith. They perceived their lacking and turned to Him Who could help.One of the first steps to increasing faith is to humbly admit our lack of faith. In our pride, we often want to convince ourselves and others that we are filled with faith. But if that were the case, God would be doing incredible things through us. He would be doing that which is otherwise humanly impossible.Obviously, faith does not give us magical powers by which we can literally command a tree to uproot itself and plant itself in the sea. This imagery is meant to tell us that faith will work miracles of faith, not necessarily physical miracles. In fact, if God ever did use us and our faith to work a physical miracle, it would only happen because it was a motivation for the far more important gift of the increase of faith.What, then, can a little faith do? It can uproot sin from your heart and from the hearts of those around you. It can nourish you and others in ways that seem impossible. Just as a tree cannot normally be planted in the sea and survive, the gift of faith, even a little faith, will enable the soul to be nourished and strengthened in ways that otherwise seem impossible. A martyr perfectly illustrates this fact. Normally, persecution and death are not considered to be nourishing to a person. But when a person has faith and suffers martyrdom on account of Christ, then their soul will be fed by the persecution itself. And that is among the greatest of miracles possible. Suffering, persecution, illness, poverty, and every other difficulty imaginable are transformed by God into a source of nourishment when we endure them with true faith. Reflect, today, upon the prayer of the apostles: “Increase our faith.” Some of the greatest mystics taught that faith darkens the intellect. By this darkening, they mean that, by faith, God will lead us into the unknown, on a path that He alone is aware of. We will become instruments of His transforming grace in ways that are completely beyond our natural abilities. Pray for an increase of faith. When our Lord hears your humble prayer, by which you also confess your lack of faith, He will increase that faith, uproot sin and evil, and plant your soul in places in which you become nourished in ways that you could have never imagined possible. Most glorious Lord, Increase my faith. Give me a pure faith—a faith that enables You to lead me down the unknown path to Your glory. With this gift of faith, please use me to bring forth Your miraculous power by which sin is uprooted and souls are nourished by You alone. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.