Scripture Reflection: St. Luke, Oct.18,2008

Scripture: Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist: II Timothy 4:9-17. Psalm
145:10-11.12-13.17-18. Luke 10:1-9. Lectionary # 661

How would you like to meet someone who brings you joy, peace, a
message of mercy, and even healing both physical and spiritual? Surely,
you would welcome such a one. St. Luke fits that person and we are
fortunate to have his two-fold work, the Gospel and the Acts of the
Apostles. He brings all of those graces to us plus so many other spiritual
gifts. It is he we celebrate this day in the liturgy of the word and the
sacrament.
Luke gives us the beatiful parables of mercy. He shows us his
literary gift in the portrait of Mary who is always in cooperation with the
Holy Spirit. He is the Evangelist who has the most to say about prayer in
different ways and has created for our liturgy of the hours the hymns that
help us to enter in the mysteries of our salvation. He is open to all
peoples and is like Isaiah a universalist,or perhaps, better said, he is
the "catholic" Evangelist. His hospitality is see in the descriptions
given to the gathering of the disciples and friends of Jesus in homes,
synagogues, and temple. The word he uses for this is "koinonia" which means
fellowship, community, communion.
In one of the songs used in the church the expression "Blessed
Assurance" fits well for what Luke's Gospel does for us. He stated his
purpose in Luke 1:1-4 in such a convincing periodic sentence that we do
well to think about it on this day dedicated to his memory: "Since many
have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been
fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the
beginning were eye-witnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after
investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly
account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth
concerning the things about which you have been instructed." He shows us
there the "complex Hellenistic art of introducing a narrative." (David
L.Tiede).
Our first reading helps us to see the relationship Paul had with Luke
and how he is with him near the end of Paul's life. In the Acts he
highlights the great missionary journies, the preaching, the hardships, and
the pastoral concern for all of the churches that Paul, the Apostle to the
Gentiles,shares and experiences. More than half of the Acts is dedicated to
Paul's apostolic endeavors.
Luke tells us in today's Gospel that Jesus sends out 72 disciples in
twos to be bring about the preaching of the Good News. He shows us the
noble call as a disciple of Jesus not only hear but in his long journey
narrative from 9:51-19:44. We are invited to join them on this journey of
learning, praying, and witnessing to the Good News.
We can praise God for Luke with the words of today's response: "Your
friends tell the glory of your kingship, Lord...Your kingdom is a kingdom
for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations." Amen.