Read Online
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.” Luke 10:1–2
Saint Luke, whom we honor today, was a true evangelist. As an
evangelist, he followed the inspiration from our Lord and was used
to bring God’s saving message to the ends of the earth. And there
is little doubt that his ministry will continue to have a
transforming effect on the lives of many until the end of the
world. Tradition states that Saint Luke became a martyr, being
hanged on an olive tree. He is identified in the New Testament as a
physician and as a disciple of Saint Paul. Both the Gospel of Luke
and the Acts of the Apostles are attributed to him.
Saint Luke is often spoken of as an evangelist to the gentiles. His
Gospel was written in such a way that it didn’t presume a full
understanding of the Jewish faith and customs. Therefore, it is
believed to have been primarily written for those who are not of
Jewish origin. Thus, the life and mission of Saint Luke must remind
us that the Gospel needs to be shared with all people, especially
with those who do not have a deep and sustaining relationship with
God.
In today’s Gospel from Saint Luke, we read that Jesus sent
seventy-two disciples “to every town and place he intended to
visit.” Only Luke mentions the larger scale sending of seventy-two
disciples. The other Gospels only mention the sending of the
Twelve. Though many of these seventy-two disciples would have gone
to Jewish territory, some would have unquestionably gone to
non-Jewish territory. The mission of these seventy-two was to
prepare everyone they encountered for the preaching of Jesus and
for the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
As we honor Saint Luke today and read this passage from his Gospel,
we are reminded that we are all sent by our Lord. We are sent to
those who share our faith, such as family, friends and fellow
parishioners. We are sent to love them and do all we can to help
deepen their faith and love of God. But we are also called to share
the Gospel with those who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior.
There are so many people we encounter every day who have never
truly met our Lord. Are there people in your life that God is
calling you to reach out to? Who do you know that God may be
calling you to share the Gospel with?
Reflect, today, upon the fact that the Gospel is meant for
everyone. Speak to our Lord and tell Him that you are ready and
willing to be used by Him to bring His saving message to others. As
you do so, wait on the Lord, listen to His inspiration, and respond
when He calls. If someone comes to mind whom you sense God is
calling you to evangelize, begin to pray for that person. Pray for
them every day and be attentive to any inspiration God gives you to
share His love and saving message with them. Do not be afraid to be
an evangelist like Saint Luke. Doing so might make an eternal
difference in someone's life.
My saving Lord, You sent Your disciples on a mission to share
Your saving message with all. Today I especially thank You for the
life and ministry of Saint Luke. Please use me, dear Lord, to
imitate his wonderful example and to share Your glorious life with
others. Please lead me and inspire me to especially reach out to
those whom You have put into my life. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Source of content:
catholic-daily-reflections.com
Copyright 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved.
Used with permission via RSS feed.
Featured image above: Vienna - Saint Luke the Evangelist
in Carmelites church By Renáta Sedmáková, via Adobe
Kommentare (0)
Melde dich an, um einen Kommentar zu schreiben.