I was overjoyed by Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for January 2026: “that we may learn, practice, and love praying with the Word of God. The gift of Scripture is God’s love letter to humankind. Let’s pray that we all draw from this gift and get to know our Lord” (Catholic World Report).
I love Scripture, but I have to admit that my habit of regularly praying with Scripture needs to be dusted off and renewed. The Lord is so good to invite me back, both through the invitation from Pope Leo and the gorgeous new Blessed Is She Gospel study on Luke, Preach in His Name.
Luke’s Invitation
“The Gospel of Luke is an invitation to see how the Lord became a Man to save all the nations and to see how we all fit into this plan of salvation” (p. 9).
There are two questions I’ve asked God repeatedly: Who am I to You, Lord? And what should I do with my life?
As Catholic women, our faith helps us find the answers.
The answer to the first question is we are His beloved. As I started reading this study, I found a new way to read Luke’s Gospel, as though he wrote it to me specifically. Susanna Spencer, author of the study, shares that Saint Luke wrote to Theophilus, who likely was someone he knew. Since Theophilus means “beloved of God,” we can imagine ourselves as Theophilus. Yes, we are God’s beloved, and therefore, this Gospel is for me and you.
The answer to the second question also comes straight from Luke’s Gospel: We’re invited to follow the Lord, listening to and obeying His Word. When Jesus taught the crowds, He said that those who hear God’s word and obey it will be blessed (see Luke 11:28). This is our invitation: to hear and follow Him, to be shaped by the Good News, to become holy.
Susanna’s Invitation
Throughout this study, Susanna provides introductory and concluding reflections for each group of chapters, drawing us into Luke’s account of Jesus’ life. She invites us to read deeply, seeing ourselves in God’s story. “Walk with Jesus in Capernaum,” writes Susanna, “[. . .] Join the multitudes who go to hear His words and receive His healing” (p. 35).
The guided meditations encourage us to enter more deeply into God’s story using imaginative prayer, or Ignatian contemplation. These meditations, inspired by Gospel scenes, help us to see Jesus at work both in His time and in our lives today. Among the characters, we may imagine ourselves as Elizabeth hearing Mary’s greeting, a soldier listening to Jesus speak, or a villager curious about following Jesus.
The invitation doesn’t end with merely imagining others in the Gospel; we may also ask, Where am I in this story, Lord? How do I fit into Your plan of salvation?
By praying with this study, I have found it easier to place myself in the scene and also to hear the Lord’s voice in my present moment. For example, in the Chapter Six meditation, Susanna writes, “Suddenly it dawns on you. Jesus is asking you to think of yourself as a tree. What you hold in your heart is the treasure of your heart, and your actions are the fruit you bear” (p. 53). This helped me unpack the Scripture passage as I read, so that I could apply Jesus’ words more directly to my life.
The journal pages throughout the study are perfect for recording what we hear from the Lord in our time of prayer.
My Invitation
Inspired and encouraged by Pope Leo XIV, I invite you to join me in reading and praying with Scripture this year. I’m excited to begin with the Gospel of Luke alongside the Preach in His Name study. Here’s a closer look at what else you’ll find inside the pages:
- Imprimatur: assurance that the content aligns with Catholic teaching and has been given a bishop’s approval to be printed
- Journaling pages: over seventy lined pages to record our own reflections on specific verses and God’s message
- Beautiful photos throughout
- Ignatian contemplation-style meditations for every chapter of Luke
Reading the Gospel of Luke alongside this study will lead us closer to His Heart through the stories preserved throughout the chapters. Susanna’s guidance will encourage us to see ourselves in God’s story and prepare our hearts for doing His will.
Luke wrote the Gospel to share the truth about God by preserving eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life. We too are called to spread the Good News of Jesus’ love and His saving work. We can only do so by first spending time in Scripture and drawing close to His Heart. The question is, what are we waiting for?
GOD'S WORD CHANGES LIVES
When we let God form and shape our lives through His Word, we become changed women. His words are Spirit and Life, so let them give you life.
The Blessed is She Bible is your trusted companion on your walk with Jesus.
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