Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-19
Religious Questions
Dr.. S. Pdrkes Cddman.

@. Is not the Gospel by st. Luke the
work Of Gentle? Would you kindly
tell us something of the personal his
tory of the author Of this remarkable
book?
A. The third Gospel should be credited
to a Gentle whose contribution to the
sacred story emphatically enriches it.
st. Luke, or Lucanus, "the good physi-
cian," may have been the son of a
Greek freedman from Lucania, in
southern Italy. His Identification with
Lucius of Cyrene, however, Is a specu-
lation, although there was well known
medical school there. His familiarity
with the synagogue is evidenced by his
knowledge of the Septuaguint, and his
world outlook by the humanistic fea-
lures characteristic of his writings.
He accompanied st. Paul on his Sec
ond missionary journey, possibly as his
medical attendant, and thereafter was
closely associated with the apostle until
his martyrdom. A credible tradition re-
ports that ST. Luke died In Bethynia,
at the age of seventy-four. Later ira
ditions, to the effect that he was one
of the Seventy and that he painted a,
portrait of the Virgin, have not suff1-
Gent trustworthy backgrounds to war
rant their acceptance.
We are indebted to this evangelist
for accounts of the Annunciation, the
Visitation, the Shepherds, the Manager,
the Child in the Temple, the zeal of
Zaccheus, the journey to Emmaus, and
the matchless prayer on the Cross:
Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do" The parallels pc
culiar to his gospel include the Good
Son, and the Lost Sheep. It IS the
evangel of womanhood, of psalmody, Of
a marked breadth in happy contrast to
all provincialism and racial preference.
@. Does the Judgment day take place
at death or at resurrection?
A. One answer to this question pre-
supposes traditional theological
scheme which Is now under fire. Not
q few Christian thinkers have sur
rendered the belief in q final assize
following the general resurrection OF
the dead. But the danger of their po-
sition is that 1t also involves the sur
render of the tremendous moral urge
which goes with the older view.
Without dogmatizing on the issue, I
affirm my personal belief in the con-
ception OF general Judgment. IN any
case. we can sustain the moral Stimu-
lus its anticipation imparts by stress
ing the supreme truth that every hui
man life is under the operation OF the
"law of the harvest" It is universal
presumption that we are equipped with
the mysterious power of deciding on
our attitude toward that law. No nor
NAL man or woman denies human re-
sponsibility Those who have faith in
q personal God recognize that earthly
justice is but the feeble replica of His
Justice. Those who accept the man
dates Of conscience are aware that its
verdicts imply a far higher authority
which will presently enforce them.
Nothing can abrogate these verities
Of common experience. They point to
that moment spoken Of by the Scrip
lures, 'It Is appointed unto man once
to die. and after death the Judgment"
Truly, death is the first court OF trial.
But the decisive factors are what
man is when he meets death, as he
must, and how he will appear before
the ALI Just and the All-merciful. The
added element Of his own awareneSS
of his moral condition should be taken
into account.
In our Lords portrayal of the awe
inspiring spiritual sceneries OF that
crucial event, He predicted the aston
ishment of saints and sinners alike.
There, those who esteemed themselves
least worthy will be FIRST and those
who prided themselves on their pre-
paredness will be last. Canon J. B.
Mozley's sermon on 'aThe Reversal Of