18 October, 2023 | Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

 Gospel Lk 10:1-9

Understand the Gospel according to St Luke thoroughly...(click to buy) 

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,

cure the sick in it and say to them,

'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

Reflections:

St Luke was a disciple who experienced what it meant to be commissioned by God.  Even though he was not a direct witness of the life and preaching of Jesus, he understood that every follower of Christ is called to a mission—to respond to the Spirit’s promptings, however small or large it may be.

We often think that “mission” applies only to those who are young, zealous, and vigorous and who are willing to travel to faraway places. This can be a limiting view of God’s grand plan for the Church. We know that neither St Luke nor the 70 disciples were unique in their qualifications. But they were filled with the power and love of Jesus, and his vision for humankind. God has a mission for each of us.

Activity: 

Listen carefully to the Holy Spirit and discern a specific action.