october flowers

 

october 18 2006

Feast of Saint Luke

2 Tm 4:10-17b Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 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.

Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18 R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,and let your faithful ones bless you.Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdomand speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your mightand the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his waysand holy in all his works.The LORD is near to all who call upon him,to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Lk 10:1-9 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.’”

The Gospel reading is about sending out the disciples. The disciples are to spread the good news that the Kingdom of God is at hand. God asks they travel with very little relying only on the Lord and the kindness of those they are visiting. No money, no provisions no extra clothing are brought on the journey. As a hospitality they are to eat what is set before them and to grant a blessing of peace to all whose houses they enter. They are to cure the sick.

I had a very special experience yesterday. The Abbott Primate Father Notker Wolf, OSB visited my small Benedittine Religious community. He has a wonderful very soft, compassionate, direct, simple, honest way of speaking. It was for me as a Benedictine Scholastic Sister a very special visit. God sends us angels who are messengers from God. I feel that he is for me one of those holy messengers from God. His messages were all simple, straighforward and called to a return to Gospel values and a Gospel rooted way of life. There were so many basic important issues of the heart and faith that he discussed with my small community in the time of his visit with us. I feel that it was a blessing and very special time when I learned a great deal from listening to him and was able to freely, openly and honestly discuss issues with him. I am most thankful for this most blessed time. The love of Christ and love of others is alive and evident in this humble world religious leader.

I pray that I can be a Benedictine Sister who embodies the values that we discussed yesterday in my acts of living. I pray that today my love of others might make a difference in this world and give glory to God.