REFLECTIONS TODAY
There is a great probability that St. Luke accompanied St. Paul in his missionary journeys. St. Paul relates accounts of his mishaps: lashings, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, drifting on sea, all sorts of dangers, toil, hardship, hunger, thirst, and cold, among other things that he endured for the propagation of the Gospel (2 Cor 11:24-27).
Luke must have been witness to most of these; he also must have been a companion and fellow sufferer in many sufferings of Paul. On the feast of St. Luke, we are reminded by the Lord of rough conditions involved in proclaiming the Gospel. We are reminded by the concrete experience of St. Paul of which St. Luke was a witness and companion.
Despite the difficulty, many people accepting the mission given by Christ to proclaim the Gospel have overcome the challenges because of God’s help. They sense the urgency of the mission to proclaim Christ. Are we up to the challenge?
First Reading • 2 Tm 4:10-17b
Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.
Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, baut everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
Gospel • Luke 10:1-9
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ ”
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.