St. Luke, Evangelist, Oct 18
2 Tim 4:10-17 / Luke 10:1-9
***
Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy suggests that
it was written from Rome during the final days of Paul’s life. Three things
deserve underscoring. First, Paul was in prison, chained to the wall like a
“criminal.” (2 Timothy 1:8,2:9) Second, Paul expected to be executed. “The
hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this
life.” 2 Timothy 4:6, Paul was all alone except for Luke, his “beloved
physician.” (Coiossians 4:14) Luke often walked at Paul’s side during
his preaching years. (Acts i6:io, 28:2)
He remained at his side during his prison
years. How loyal are we to friends and coworkers? Do we make a point to try to
be with them when they need us most? “A friend is always a friend,
and a brother is born for the time of stress.” Proverbs
17:17
***
St. Luke was not one
of the 12 Apostles chosen by Jesus, but he is venerated as the Evangelist who
wrote the fourth gospel as well the Acts of the Apostles. This is the
traditional view of the Church.
Although he was not mentioned in the gospels, he was featured in the epistles of St. Paul of the New Testament. He was mentioned in St. Paul's Epistle to Philemon, verse 24. He is also mentioned in Colossians 4:14. And he was also mentioned in the 1st reading of today. St. Paul mentioned about him in only five words - Only Luke is with me.
And that said volumes about St. Luke because St. Paul was suffering persecution and abandonment and his only source of consolation was that he had the company of St. Luke, and by mentioning that, it showed how much St. Paul appreciated him.
Furthermore, it was nearing the end of St. Paul's life in Rome that St. Luke was keeping him company and that was a testimony of how much St. Luke was involved in the ministry of the early Church as well as of his faith and character.
St. Luke knew first-hand the challenges and difficulties of the mission of proclaiming the Good News and also the commitment and the sacrifices that are involved.
So, as we read about his account in the gospel of Jesus sending out His disciples, we can sense that it was from the depths of his missionary experience that he wrote it. Yes, we are being sent out to proclaim the Good News but it is like lambs being sent among wolves.
Yet in the midst of
danger and difficulties, let us keep in mind how St. Luke kept St. Paul
company. It is in keeping company with each other in unity and peace that we
are able to face the wolves and proclaim the Good News of God's saving
love.
***
Traditionally, the
task of “reaping the harvest” has been left for priests and religious. Yet it
is a universal call to every baptized Christian. Each of us is called to preach
the good news, using our God-given gifts and the context in which we live. Luke,
whose holy memory we keep today, was one such ordinary Christian who preached
the gospel using his many gifts. Tradition reckons that Luke was a Gentile
physician from Antioch (“our beloved physician,” Paul calls him [Col 4:14]),
who joined the company of Paul and travelled with him in his mission tours and
remained with him during his trials (“Only Luke remains with me,” says Paul [2
Tim 4:11]). During his association with Paul and other apostles, he learned
much about Jesus and the early Church. What he learned he wrote down, giving us
the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. If one’s writings
reveal one’s character, then the themes—mercy, compassion, desire for universal
salvation, concern for the poor, total renunciation for Christ’s sake, prayer,
and disarming honesty and candor—found in the two writings of Luke reveal much
about him.
***
The disciples are asked not to carry a purse, haversack, or sandals. In short, they are to face financial difficulties and health insecurities. The message is: be prepared to face unforeseen events. Jesus knows that an atmosphere of insecurity will lead to vulnerability; vulnerability will lead to faith in God and consequently, to trust in the people to whom they are to preach and whose hospitality they are to depend on. Thus faith is a journey from security to insecurity. As radiators of peace, the disciples are to journey in faith. Feelings of insecurity should not disturb their minds. Remember: when you feel insecure, Jesus is near for sure.
***
Prayer
Lord our God, your evangelist Luke portrays with warmth your Son Jesus Christ as the healer of the ills of people, and the friend and support of the poor. May St. Luke open our eyes to the needs of the poor and defenceless and help us love them and care for them. Make us poor of heart, that we may understand the poor and bring joy and liberation to them. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen
