THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday of 29^th week in Ordinary time, 2021

2Tim 4: 10-17b

Ps 145

Luke 10:1-9

Feast of St Luke the Evangelist

Luke, the faithful friend

Dear friends in Christ, we have learnt to make friends and we do have many of them. The true test of friendship is however not the good times alone, but particularly, the bad and challenging times of life. Obviously, there are so many people, who come into your life and many of them are only fair-weather friends. They are for better and for best, for richer and for more riches only. On the other hand, and fewer in numbers, are the real friends of all the seasons of life. They stay in, for better for worse, for richer and for poorer. Their companionship is the most comforting thing in the time of trial and not the material gifts. One such a person is St Luke, whose feast we celebrate today. He was a Greek and a Doctor who converted to Christianity and became a companion of St Paul. In the tradition of the teachings of Paul, he wrote the Gospel of Luke and then the Acts of Apostles which covered most of the missionary activities of Paul.

In the first reading (2Timothy 4:10-17) Paul writes as someone deserted by his trusted allies, “Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonika…Luke alone is with me.” But in the same passage he feels consoled by the faithfulness of a man who has proved himself a great companion and his physician. Luke had accompanied Paul on two of his great missionary journeys: from Throas to Philippi, and from Philippi to Jerusalem. He eventually journeyed with Paul to Rome, and stayed with him during the period of his house arrest. It is not difficult to sense the close relationship between them from this reading. The faithfulness of Luke to the gospel message, and his faithfulness to Paul is something remarkable. We also, can learn from Paul’s message, that for those who are in Christ, even when they get deserted by their most trusted friends, the Lord stands by them. He does so in a faithful friend like Luke, and does so even personally. Paul testifies that, “At my first defense, no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the word fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it.” One in the Lord is in the majority. Never be afraid, those who turn away in your time of trouble, were never real friends, they were never meant to stay.

In the gospel (Luke 10:1-9) the Lord sent out seventy missionaries ahead of him. They were to go in pairs, a number required among the Jews, to witness to the truth; and also to be able to give comfort to each other on the journey. “I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and salute no one on the road.” Their message is, “The kingdom of God has come near you.” This was to prepare the way for Jesus, his arrival is the arrival of that kingdom that is near. We are the new missionaries and must use the means available in our time to proclaim that message, that the kingdom of God has arrived. The Lord is in you, as he is in me, and he dwells in our midst. Remain faithful to the Lord and faithful to the gospel message.

Let us pray: Lord, we welcome you into our lives, help us to fully embrace your message and live out your commands. Amen.