Friday, October 18, 2024

 Feast if Saint Luke, evangelist

(II Timothy 4:10-17b; Luke 10:1-9)

St. Luke, the author of the “third gospel,” also wrote the Acts of the Apostles.  He interrelates both works in several ways.  Perhaps most importantly, in Acts Luke writes about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ streams from Jerusalem throughout the world.  Today’s gospel passage anticipates this movement.

Seventy-two is not an arbitrary number for disciples.  It represents all the nations of the world in the Book of Genesis -- one disciple for every nation.  When Luke quotes Jesus as saying, “… eat and drink what is offered to you,” he may have in mind the non-kosher diet of the gentile nations.  In any case, the disciples-missionaries are not to shop around for fine accommodations.  Preaching the gospel requires letting go of comfort to concentrate on the hard work of preaching that Christ will come soon.

Yet after two thousand years he has not returned, at least in flesh and blood.  Missionary-disciples have become rather lax.  We often hedge on doing what is right.  We are reluctant to share our faith with those who need it.  St. Luke would remind us not to give up.  He would say that the gospel prospect of “the daybreak from on high… (shining) on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, (guiding) our feet into the path of peace” is slowly becoming reality.

Wednesday, November 18, 2023

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.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

(2 Timothy 4:10-17b, Luke 10:1-9)

Much has been said of the “New Evangelization,” but how is this evangelization being carried out?  A lot of it has been undertaken by lay men and women working with the so-called movements in the Church.  Cursillo was among the first of these movements.  It has been followed by a host of others: “Marriage Encounter,” “Emmaus,” “Christ Renews his Parish,” the “Charismatic Renewal among others.  Biblical foundation of these lay-dominated evangelization programs may be found in today’s gospel.”

Only Luke’s gospel records a sending of seventy disciples to preach the good news.  They may be considered laity as the number seventy is symbolic of fullness or universality.  They are sent to preach the good news of salvation.  This message is well summarized in the statement, “’The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

St. Luke is not only a champion of the laity.  He is the patron of doctors and artists.  He gives particular and valuable emphasis to the poor, to prayer, and to the Holy Spirit.  Above all, his portrayals of the Virgin Mary have edified the Christian faith through the centuries.  Luke sees her as a model showing us how to contemplate and practice the word of God.  He also sees her as our mother constantly pointing us to the Savior.

Monday, October 18, 2021

 Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

 (II Timothy 4:10-17b; Luke 10:1-9)

 St. Luke was not one of Jesus’ original disciples.  He did not know Jesus as Peter and James did.  He might have been a companion of Paul as today’s first reading suggests.  But he received his information about the Lord from others.  He says as much in the prologue to his gospel:  “I too have decided, after investigating everything thoroughly to write it down in an orderly sequence…”

As the other evangelists, Luke imbues his record of Jesus with his own theology and his own emphases.  Some of this perspective may be found in the gospel today.  Luke more than the other evangelists pictures Christ as poor and favoring the poor.  In today’s swath Jesus sends his disciples out without even sandals on their feet.  But from the very beginning Luke’s gospel is good news.  The preachers are to say to all, whether they listen or not, “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.”

We can be as grateful for Luke’s gospel as for all the others.  As Matthew gives us a firm theology of Church and Mark portrays Jesus in a very human way and John shows beyond doubt that Jesus is divine, Luke communicates to us Jesus as a man of peace, born of a mother who rejoiced at his coming, and wrapped in the Spirit of prayer.  Whether he was a physician or an artist, we cannot say for sure.  But as an evangelist, he was wonderful.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

(II Timothy 4:10-17b; Luke 10:1-9)

Of all the evangelists only Luke shows Jesus sending out seventy-two disciples to preach the good news.  His purpose may well be to anticipate the great exodus of disciples in the Acts of the Apostles.  They will be chased out of Jerusalem and will reach the ends of the earth.  The Book of Genesis reports that there are seventy-two nations in the world.  Luke has a disciple for each.

The message that Jesus dictates for his preachers has a curious twist.  After telling them to preach the coming of the kingdom of God, he adds “for you.”  He means for the people themselves.  Throughout the gospel and into Acts Luke shows Jesus’ concern for the poor.  Here he quotes Jesus as wanting to remind the people that the good news is for them, the poor of the world.

We cannot help but cherish Luke’s gospel.  Not only does it give us the most complete picture of the Virgin Mary, it also tells the most beloved parables.  But more important than seizing these aspects, we have to allow it to move us to comfort the poor.  It is the best way to honor St. Luke.  Indeed, it is the best way to honor the Lord Jesus.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

(II Timothy 4:10-17b; Luke 10:1-9)

It may have been coincidence, but Pope Francis could not have chosen a more appropriate year for the “Year of Mercy.”   Almost every Sunday for the last eleven months the Church has reflected on the Gospel according to Luke which highlights mercy.  The parables of the Good Samaritan and the Merciful Father (the Prodigal Son), the accounts of Jesus healing the ten lepers and forgiving his executioners, and many other passages manifest the gracious love of God.  Even today’s passage on this Feast of St. Luke hints of mercy.

The message of the disciples as they preach the good news is not just “the Kingdom of God is at hand” as in Matthew’s gospel, but it is here “for you.”  In Luke mercy is not theoretical but becomes personal and palpable.  This can be exquisitely seen in Luke’s treatment of the passion of Jesus.  When Judas comes to kiss him in betrayal, Jesus calls him by name to stop him from doing such an odious deed. When Peter is denying him, Jesus is looking on to remind Peter that he will pray for him so that he does not lose hope.  And on the cross Jesus offers the prayer of supreme mercy, “’Father, forgive them…’”

Pope Francis’ intention in calling the year of mercy is not only that we count on God’s mercy but that we likewise show mercy.  We best do this by incorporating mercy in our schedules perhaps by a weekly visit to a nursing home or a monthly commitment to a night shelter.  In showing mercy to others we open ourselves to God’s mercy.

Homilette for Thursday, October 18, 2007

Thursday, the Feast of St. Luke, evangelist

(Luke 10:1-9)

In New Mexico we find in pottery shops a stylized statuette called “The Story-teller.” It shows a woman with a pot on her head and one in her hands. Her mouth is wide open, obviously telling stories. Hanging onto the woman and all about her, children play animated by her words. In a way the woman represents St. Luke the Evangelist. More than any other evangelist, Luke features Jesus telling beautiful stories known as parables.

Most people are aware that the parables of the “Prodigal Son,” or as preachers prefer to say nowadays the “Prodigal Father,” and of the “Good Samaritan” are found only in Luke. Also, only Luke writes of Jesus telling the memorable stories of the “Rich Fool” and of “Lazarus and the Rich Man.” If Luke is exclusive in that he has unique parables to tell, we may point out that he is inclusive in a significant way as well. Luke frequently has a story featuring a woman juxtaposed with a story featuring a man. For example, after Jesus tells the parable of the shepherd searching for the lost sheep, Luke shows him speaking of the woman sweeping her home to find a lost coin.

But we must not think that Luke’s intention was only or mainly to portray Jesus as a story-teller. Like the other three evangelists Luke’s purpose is to show how Jesus is the son of God who has taken on human nature to save us from sin and death. The gospel passage today ends with Jesus instructing his disciples to tell the people, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” In time that message will change. After Jesus rises from the dead, the apostles will preach Jesus as the incarnation of the Kingdom. As Peter tells the people of Jerusalem, “God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”