The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to identify and move on the prompting of the Spirit to activate our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader in the mission of Christ.
The reading from the Second Letter to Timothy reveals Paul’s loneliness and challenges.
* [4:14–18] Alexander: an opponent of Paul’s preaching (2 Tm 4:14–15), perhaps the one who is mentioned in 1 Tm 1:20. Despite Paul’s abandonment by his friends in the province of Asia (cf. 2 Tm 1:15–16), the divine assistance brought this first trial to a successful issue, even to the point of making the gospel message known to those who participated in or witnessed the trial (2 Tm 4:16–17). (2 Timothy, CHAPTER 4, n.d.)
Psalm 145 praises the greatness and the goodness of God.
* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke describes the Mission of the Seventy.
* [10:1] Seventy[-two]: important representatives of the Alexandrian and Caesarean text types read “seventy,” while other important Alexandrian texts and Western readings have “seventy-two.”
* [10:4] Carry no money bag…greet no one along the way: because of the urgency of the mission and the singlemindedness required of missionaries, attachment to material possessions should be avoided and even customary greetings should not distract from the fulfillment of the task.
* [10:5] First say, ‘Peace to this household’: see notes on Lk 2:14 and Mt 10:13. (Luke, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Eileen Wirth recalls good old fashioned Catholic guilt as she asks if we are doing our share to bring in the harvest?
Maybe the lesson we should draw from this gospel is it’s important to labor for the harvest, no matter how we do it. Give your best gift whatever that is. And if you’re a TERRIBLE Scout leader, God must have another plan for your life. (Wirth, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus the Good Shepherd changes wolves into sheep,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"How then does [Jesus] command the holy apostles, who are innocent men and 'sheep,' to seek the company of wolves, and go to them of their own will? Is not the danger apparent? Are they not set up as ready prey for their attacks? How can a sheep prevail over a wolf? How can one so peaceful conquer the savageness of beasts of prey? 'Yes,' he says, 'for they all have me as their Shepherd: small and great, people and princes, teachers and students. I will be with you, help you, and deliver you from all evil. I will tame the savage beasts. I will change wolves into sheep, and I will make the persecutors become the helpers of the persecuted. I will make those who wrong my ministers to be sharers in their pious designs. I make and unmake all things, and nothing can resist my will.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 61) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Timothy 4:10-17 comments that Luke was as heroic a disciple as you could imagine. But even if he had not written two inspired books in the Bible or had not been a courageous missionary, he would still stand out. That’s because he was a powerful, moving example of the faithfulness and loyalty of the Lord. Luke treated Paul like his own brother, even after everyone else had left him. There may have been more popular preachers he could have joined—or at least those who managed to stay out of prison. But that didn’t matter to Luke. All he wanted was to remain with his friend Paul during his times of trial so that he could continue to help and encourage him.
So if you doubt whether you could ever follow in the footsteps of the great St. Luke, don’t become discouraged. You don’t have to travel to the ends of the earth. You don’t have to write a single word. Instead, focus on being a loyal friend and brother or sister in the Lord. Look at your relationships as gifts from the Lord, and commit yourself to these people with all your heart. Ask the Spirit to help you be as faithful to them as Luke was to Paul. More by your actions than by your words, let them know that they can rely on you through thick and thin. Do that, and you’ll be ministering the love of Christ to them in a deeply moving way!
“Lord, make me into a faithful, loving friend to the people around me.” (Meditation on 2 Timothy 4:10-17, n.d.)
The Franciscan Media article on St Luke comments that his unique character may best be seen by the emphases of his Gospel, which has been given a number of subtitles:
1) The Gospel of Mercy
2) The Gospel of Universal Salvation
3) The Gospel of the Poor
4) The Gospel of Absolute Renunciation
5) The Gospel of Prayer and the Holy Spirit
6) The Gospel of Joy
Luke wrote as a Gentile for Gentile Christians. His Gospel and Acts of the Apostles reveal his expertise in classic Greek style as well as his knowledge of Jewish sources. There is a warmth to Luke’s writing that sets it apart from that of the other synoptic Gospels, and yet it beautifully complements those works. The treasure of the Scriptures is a true gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. (Saint Luke, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the various people who deserted and opposed Paul toward the end of his mission. Luke, as friend and supporter of Paul, records possible reconciliation with Mark and connection of the missionaries of Christ to the seventy-two elders in the Hebrew Testament who receive the gift of prophecy. Friar Jude reminds us of our call to share the Good News of the riches we have found in Christ.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, and Joan Chittister comment that contemplation is a very dangerous activity. It not only brings us face to face with God, it brings us, as well, face to face with the world, and then it brings us face to face with the self; and then, of course, something must be done . . . because nothing stays the same once we have found the God within. We become new people, and in the doing, see everything around us newly too. We become connected to everything, to everyone. We carry the whole world in our hearts, the oppression of all peoples, the suffering of our friends, the burdens of our enemies, the raping of the earth, the hunger of the starving, the joyous expectation every laughing child has a right to. Then, the zeal for justice consumes us. Then, action and prayer are one.
The contemplative responds to the divine in everyone. God wills the care of the poor as well as the reward of the rich; so, therefore, must the true contemplative. God wills the end of oppressors who stand with the heel in the neck of the weak; so, therefore, does the true contemplative. God wills the liberation of all human beings; so, therefore, must the true contemplative. God desires the dignity and full development of all human beings. Thus, God takes the side of the defenseless. And, thus, therefore, must the true contemplative; otherwise, that contemplation is not real, cannot be real, will never be real, because to contemplate the God of justice is to be committed to justice. The true contemplative, the truly spiritual person, then, must do justice, must speak justice, must insist on justice, and they do, and they always have, and they are.
Thomas Merton spoke out from a cloister in Kentucky against the Vietnam War. Catherine of Siena walked the streets of the city when women were not permitted to walk the streets of the city feeding the poor. Hildegard of Bingen preached the word of justice to emperors and to popes. . . . A spiritual path that does not lead to a living commitment to the coming will of God, to the present Reign of God, to the Kingdom of God within and around us everywhere for everyone, is no path at all. . . .
From contemplation comes not only the consciousness of the universal connectedness of life, but the courage to model it as well. Those who have no flame in their hearts for justice, no consciousness of personal responsibility for the Reign of God, no raging commitment to human community may, indeed, be seeking God, but make no mistake, God is still at best only an idea to them, not a living reality. (Rohr, 2022)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit as we are moved into life situations that involve becoming agents of compassion, mercy and justice in Jesus name.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?1
Meditation on 2 Timothy 4:10-17. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/18/514473/
Psalms, PSALM 145. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?10
Rohr, R. (2022, October 18). Aligning Ourselves with God's Heart — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/aligning-ourselves-with-gods-heart-2022-10-18/
Saint Luke. (n.d.). Franciscan Media. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-luke
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=oct18a
2 Timothy, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/4?10
Wirth, E. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/101822.html
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