St. Luke sermon

God does not say to everyone when they come to faith, “Okay, now I want you to become a missionary, now I want you to become a pastor, now you must become a person who preaches or teaches My Word,” for not all of us have the gifts and talents necessary for that work. The talents of most of us are better used in other professions, and so we serve there instead. For while the call of the Gospel is not always a call to ministry, it is always a call to serve, to use your gifts and talents to the benefit of those around you. Lutherans especially have long recognized this, and even given a special name to it. We call it the doctrine or teaching of Vocation, the teaching that each of us have special talents and gifts, and that we are to use these gifts in service of our neighbor. As we said before in many Christian traditions St Luke is considered the patron saint of artists, but perhaps as Lutherans we should consider him the patron saint of vocation, for in Luke we are reminded that all God-pleasing professions are blessed and enriched by our faith.