Word to the Wise
Friday, October 18, 2019 - Oct. 18 - St. Luke, evangelist
[2 Tim 4:10-17b and Luke 10:1-9]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. [2 Timothy]
On this feast of St. Luke the evangelist, both scriptures speak about the courage (or lack of it) of a disciple! St. Paul mentions that at a trial he was undergoing, all those who had seemed to be disciples abandoned him. Only "Luke" stayed. Tradition holds that this "Luke" was the author of the gospel by that name. The gospel scripture for this day is appropriately taken from the Gospel According to Luke in a section where Jesus is instructing the "further seventy-two" and warning them about the challenges of discipleship. "Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves!" Indeed, the Gospel According to Luke has made the proclamation of Jesus possible to billions of people, as the words of St. Paul put it.
A good question to ask ourselves nowadays might be, "Does it take courage for me to be a good Christian?" If challenged about my faith or challenged to support someone who is in difficulty because of their faith, do I stand firm or run away? Am I reluctant to discuss or share my faith with anyone? Am I more interested in "cheap grace," as the great little classic, THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP by Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it?
The courage of discipleship made it possible for Catholicism to be a world-wise movement of which we are a part by baptism. Perhaps reading Jesus' instructions in today's gospel passage could motivate us to be more active in our proclamation. AMEN