BEARING WITNESS TO JESUS CHRIST ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Wednesday, 18^thOctober 2017.

Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist

2Tim 4:10-17;

Ps 144:10-13, 17-18;

Lk 10: 1-9

BEARING WITNESS TO JESUS CHRIST

Today we honor Saint Luke the Evangelist. Luke wrote one of the four Gospels, was a companion of Saint Paul to whom he was very dear, traveled far and wide preaching the Gospel, and ultimately gave his life as a martyr. He was first imprisoned for two years and after his release was said to have been crucified near Achaia while he continued his missionary activities. He was originally from Antioch, a city known for its high culture and learning. He was a physician, was well educated and was of high social standing. The fact of his social standing and education reveals that he went through a martyrdom of another form prior to being physically martyred. The martyrdom he went through came in the form of choosing Christ over social notoriety and prestige.

In today’s Gospel, Luke is presenting to us seventy others whom Jesus sent out with instructions. Luke must have also been one of the chosen disciples sent on a mission. It is impossible for someone not very closely associated with Jesus to know him that well to sketch a portrait of a very perfect gentleman. Today these instructions are addressed to us. We must give our full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. To do this it is necessary that we travel light - only take what is essential and leave behind whatever would distract us. We are invited to do this work, not for what we can get out of it, but for what we can give freely to others, without expecting special privileges or rewards. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.

Luke would have quickly understood that choosing to follow our Lord and accepting the invitation of being sent to preach the Gospel required much sacrifice. However, he made the decision to give up everything so as to fulfill the mission given to him by our Lord. God used Saint Luke in many ways and especially used his education as an instrument through which the Holy Spirit inspired him to write the Word of God.

Like Saint Luke, we are all called by God to follow Him unreservedly and to be sent on a unique mission of the proclamation of the Gospel. We must offer our talents, preferences, future and our very lives to Christ so that He may use us as He wills.

Prayer: Lord, as we honor this great evangelist, Saint Luke, help me to imitate his wholehearted commitment to the Gospel. Use me, dear Lord, as an instrument of Your Holy Word and give me the courage to lay my life down without reserve. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.