Mass Reading & Meditation for October 18, 2013 + Saint of the Day Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist Reading 12 TM 4:10-17B Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. Responsorial PsalmPS 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18 R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. GospelLK 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.’” Meditation: 2 Timothy 4:10-17 Saint Luke, Evangelist Luke is the only one with me. (2 Timothy 4:11) There is a wonderful children’s book by P. K. Halliman entitled That’s What a Friend Is. In this book, Halliman writes, “A friend is a sidekick who’ll sit by your side to make you feel better when you are troubled inside.” And “A friend is a listener who’ll always be there when you’ve got a big secret you just have to share.” The book goes on with more statements like these, showing that friendship is all about companionship, faithfulness, and loyalty. Today we are honoring one of the most faithful, constant friendships in the early Church—the one between St. Luke and St. Paul. Here were real friends who shared their belief in Christ with each other—and with everyone they met. In addition to being a learned man, Luke was an excellent listener. Imagine the years he spent with the “eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word,” listening to their stories and listening to the Spirit as he wrote his Gospel and the Book of Acts (Luke 1:1-3). Not having been a witness himself to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, Luke paid careful attention to what the others told him, trying to find just the right way to talk about the Lord and the salvation he has won for us. But Luke was more than an author. He was also a missionary and a pastor—two other roles that call for careful listening—and he had a great capacity for friendship. You see Luke’s true heart in the fact that he was with Paul through his missionary journeys, sharing all the hardships and challenges with his friend. And then, when Paul was imprisoned for two years in Rome, Luke was the only one who remained with him, offering him the encouragement and companionship he needed (2 Timothy 4:11). In prayer today, take an inventory of your own friendships. Think especially about the friends who have led you closer to Jesus. Think about the friends who have been faithful to you through thick and thin. Then take some time to thank and praise the Lord for them. Scripture tells us that a faithful friend is a priceless treasure—nothing less than a gift from God himself (Sirach 6:15). “Thank you, Lord, for the gift of my friends. Teach me to be as faithful to them as you have been to me.” Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18; Luke 10:1-9 St. Luke Luke wrote one of the major portions of the New Testament, a two-volume work comprising the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. In the two books he shows the parallel between the life of Christ and that of the Church. He is the only Gentile Christian among the Gospel writers. Tradition holds him to be a native of Antioch, and Paul calls him our beloved physician (Colossians 4:14). His Gospel was probably written between A.D. 70 and 85. Luke appears in Acts during Paul’s second journey, remains at Philippi for several years until Paul returns from his third journey, accompanies Paul to Jerusalem and remains near him when he is imprisoned in Caesarea. During these two years, Luke had time to seek information and interview persons who had known Jesus. He accompanied Paul on the dangerous journey to Rome where he was a faithful companion. Only Luke is with me, Paul writes (2 Timothy 4:11). Comment Luke wrote as a Gentile for Gentile Christians. This Gospel reveals Lukes expertise in classic Greek style as well as his knowledge of Jewish sources. The character of Luke may best be seen by the emphases of his Gospel, which has been given a number of subtitles: (1) The Gospel of Mercy: Luke emphasizes Jesus compassion and patience with the sinners and the suffering. He has a broadminded openness to all, showing concern for Samaritans, lepers, publicans, soldiers, public sinners, unlettered shepherds, the poor. Luke alone records the stories of the sinful woman, the lost sheep and coin, the prodigal son, the good thief. (2) The Gospel of Universal Salvation: Jesus died for all. He is the son of Adam, not just of David, and Gentiles are his friends too. (3) The Gospel of the Poor: Little people are prominent—Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, Simeon and the elderly widow, Anna. He is also concerned with what we now call evangelical poverty. (4) The Gospel of Absolute Renunciation: He stresses the need for total dedication to Christ. (5) The Gospel of Prayer and the Holy Spirit: He shows Jesus at prayer before every important step of his ministry. The Spirit is bringing the Church to its final perfection. (6) The Gospel of Joy: Luke succeeds in portraying the joy of salvation that permeated the primitive Church. Quote: Then [Jesus] led them [out] as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24:50-53). Patron Saint of: Artists Brewers Butchers Doctors Notaries Painters Physicians Surgeons -- Have a Blessed Day
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:47:39 +0000
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