ST. LUKE EVANGELIST - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I chose you from the world
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
says the Lord. JN 15:16

2 TIMOTHY 4:10-17 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Luke, Evangelist. There is so much we learn about Your infancy years from him which clearly indicates that he spent a lot of time with Your Mom, the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

He also accompanied St. Paul and has given us detailed first-hand accounts in the Book of Acts of his missionary work and he travelled tirelessly to preach the Gospel to the Jews as well as to Gentiles.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, St. Luke's Gospel reveals Your tenderness to the poor, the outcast, the sinner, those whom the elites of the day - the Scribes and Pharisees looked down upon and condemned. We are grateful to him for we who are weak, miserable, sinners know that it is of no consequence how many times we fall so long as we rise up and begin anew with the graces You always make available to those who come to You with humble and contrite hearts.

St. Paul is nothing if not bluntly honest and there is nothing wrong in that. We sometimes tend to sugarcoat our bitter experiences. But when necessary, if people are less than honest and upright we need to warn those close to us so they can be on their guard against them. 

PSALM 144(145):10-13a,17-18 ©

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,

and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God.

They make known to men your mighty deeds

and the glorious splendour of your reign.
Yours is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule lasts from age to age.

The Lord is just in all his ways

and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
who call on him from their hearts.

Your friends, O Lord, make known the glorious splendour of your reign.

LUKE 10:1-9 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You chose the Twelve from among Your disciples and these men were chosen from the great many people who followed You and thronged around You wherever You went. These seventy-two disciples were hand-picked by You for their first missionary journey and You gave them very specific instructions on what they ought to carry with them and how they were to approach the people in the towns that they visited. Being alone can often make us vulnerable and open to temptation this is why You sent them out in pairs so they could be companions to each other, lean on one another and learn, grow and be strengthened in their shared experiences.

You warned them about the dangers that they could face and certain rejection by some, yet they were to be armed only with faith without the comfort of carrying money, a change of clothing or sandals. There would be no time to stop and chat along the way but they were to remain focused on the task assigned to them.

They would be empowered to do all that they had seen You do - they would receive the power of healing the sick and preaching the Good News of the kingdom of God. We too are Your disciples, Beloved, and we too are empowered to do all that You did and You assured us that we would do even greater things for You have given us Your own Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Sadly, we live dull, uninspired lives because we either lack the faith to take You at Your word or we are too preoccupied with the passing things of this world instead of being laser-focused on the things that are eternal.