October 18, 2013

Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist


Lectionary: 661
Reading 1 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.

I'm not sure if St. Paul is only chastising Demas or also Crescens and Titus for deserting him.

Luke is the only one with me.

St. Luke is the author of the Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.  He is also known as the Physician and as one of St. Paul's companions.

Get Mark and bring him with you,
for he is helpful to me in the ministry.

St. Mark is well knows as being St. Peter's secretary.  He is the author of the Gospel of St. Mark and this Gospel is described as a compilation of St. Peter's preaching.  The fact that St. Mark is both a companion of St. Paul and St. Peter's secretary is an indication of the closeness of the two Princes of the Catholic Church.

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.

I've never heard of these two other saints, Tychicus and Carpus, outside of this verse. But the interesting thing is that St. Paul was asking for papyrus rolls and parchments, which is probably like you sending your child to the store for a roll and a ream of printing paper.  

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.

We can read about this episode in the Acts of the Apostles when the smiths rebelled against the Apostles because the Christian religion would destroy the idol-making business (Acts 19:24-33).

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them!

St. Paul felt as though all the brethren abandoned him at that time.

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.

But God stood with him and he continued to preach the Good News to the Gentiles.

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.

R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.

R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

We talk about the things which we love.  Fishermen can't wait to tell their friends about the fish they caught and the one that got away.  Hunters can't wait to tell  their friends about the rack on the deer they bagged.  Fathers and mothers can't wait to tell everyone about their newest child.  But who boasts about the love of God?  Who brags about the Kingdom of God?  

Gospel LK 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.

Jesus had also appointed 12 Apostles.  And now he was sending 72 more.  Apostle means "sent".  And these 72 disciples were sent by Jesus to pave the way for His coming.

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.

And Jesus asked the disciples to pray to God for more apostles to spread the Good News of the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

And Jesus warned them that they would be confronted by the Jews and the Jews would not make them welcome.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;

I think this means that they must rely totally upon God for their welfare.

and greet no one along the way.

I'm not sure why they should not greet anyone, unless it is to keep moving forward and not allow anyone to slow them down.

Into whatever house you enter,
first say, ‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;

Everyone whose house they enter, they should pray for their welfare.

but if not, it will return to you.

But if the person does not accept the prayer, it will not be answered.

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves payment.

Accept all which God's providence brings to them through the goodwill of those whom they visit.

Do not move about from one house to another.

But do not make anyone feel bad by moving to another house lest they feel that their house was not good enough.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

And in every town, heal the sick and thus prove that God's Kingdom is upon them.