Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist
(II Timothy 4:10-17b; Luke 10:1-9)
Of the four evangelists Matthew and Luke emphasize missionary
activity most. Jesus’ last words in
Matthew’s gospel send his disciples to the ends of the earth. Luke appends the Acts of the Apostles to his
gospel. Acts, of course, gives account
of the apostles’ initial missionary activities.
Today’s passage also reflects the missionary dimension of Luke’s gospel.
Jesus sends seventy-two disciples to the towns which he
intends to visit. The number reflects Genesis’
report that seventy-two descendants of Adam formed the nations of the
world. Jesus’ disciples have no time to
pack or to greet others on the road because the end is near. Jesus is coming to call good people into his
Father’s Kingdom. For this reason they
will tell the people to prepare themselves to meet him.
After almost two thousand years he still hasn’t
arrived. Or has he? Jesus comes to us daily in Scripture, the
Eucharist, our prayers, and other people, especially the poor. It is also true that we await his coming
definitively at the end of time when we hope to experience the glory of the
Kingdom.
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