Daily Catholic Lectio. Fri, 18 October ’24. Luke alone is with me

Daily Catholic Lectio

Fri, 18 October ‘24

XXVIII Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

Saint Luke, Evangelist, Feast

2 Timothy 4:9-17. Luke 10:1-9

Luke alone is with me!

“Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry” (cf. 2 Tim 4:9-17) – these words of Paul, with which he concludes his epistle to Timothy, not only describe Paul’s loneliness, burden of work, and necessity for ministry but also underline the constant presence of Luke.

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Luke, the Evangelist, and the collaborator of Paul. Luke has written almost one third of the Second Testament: the Gospel and the Acts of Apostles together. According to Eusebius, Luke was born in Antioch of Syria, of a rich Greek family and was apprenticed as a physician. Luke accompanied Paul in his second missionary journey; Paul calls him fondly as ‘dearly beloved physician.’ Luke accompanied Paul to Rome, till his martyrdom. After Paul’s martyrdom he went to Greece, from where he wrote his gospel. Luke also is known as an artist and a painter. His painting of Mary-Jesus was carried along by Saint Thomas to India.

Luke is honoured as the patron of physicians, artists, painters, and craftspeople. A winged ox represents his gospel, for Luke stresses on Jesus’ priestly and sacrificial role and his gospel flies across the boundaries. 

His literary style and historical sense in the gospel attract us. He proclaimed that Jesus is the Saviour and the Lord. He gathered the narratives onto a single thread of journey. God’s mercy, Holy Spirit, prayer, gender complementarity, concern for the vulnerable are the prominent themes in his gospel. Mary-centred infancy narratives of Jesus, Magnificat, Benedictus, Simeon-Anna, Good Samaritan, Lost Son, Martha-Mary, Zacchaeus, Jesus being crucified along with two thieves are narratives unique to Luke.

In today’s gospel reading (cf. Luke 10:1-9) Jesus sends another seventy-two (in some manuscripts, ‘seventy’) ahead of him. ‘Seventy-two’ disciples are differentiated from the Twelve Apostles. Jesus appointed them because of the need for mission. Their call was from Jesus. They went two by two – celebrating the presence of each other. And they went to all places – without any reservation.

Luke was called into ministry through Paul; Luke accompanied Paul; and Luke went to all places. Hence, indirectly Luke was also one among the seventy-two. You and I belong to these seventy-two, because Jesus’ mission is not complete yet.

Luke’s narratives tell us of his values and virtues: God-centred life, life filled with gratitude and praise, embracing God’s hands of justice and mercy, seeking Jesus, one thing is necessary.

Let us be resolved to read at least a few texts from Luke – Today! For Luke, ‘today’ is God’s present to the world.

Luke alone was with Paul. He did what he alone could do – writing the Gospel!

What is that in the world which I alone can do? What is my USP – Unique Selling Point? And how do I live it?

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The ‘pilgrims of hope’ live in the ‘today’ of God’s salvation. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 228)

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy