OCTOBER 18, 2021, Monday
FEAST OF SAINT LUKE, EVANGELIST (Red)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 661
Reading I
2 Tm 4:10-17b
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.
Responsorial Psalm
145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18
R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
and 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.
and 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.
Alleluia
See Jn 15:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Lk 10:1-9
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.’”
REFLECTION:
Those whom Jesus calls to follow him are then always sent on mission: the disciple is also an apostle. Jesus sends the 72 disciples to the villages and towns he intends to visit, to prepare the way before him. Their only resource is being sent by him, and not their material possessions. The mission and the powers are the same as Jesus’, curing the sick and preaching the same urgent message: The kingdom of God is very near to you.
He is very clear to them: I am sending you like sheep among wolves, yet their message is always one of Peace. I ask not to be deaf to the call of Jesus, trusting in his mission and bringing peace to wherever I am.
If I can place myself in this gospel I may find that I am one of those “seventy others.” I am a follower of Jesus. I listen and look as I enter the challenge of this gospel scene. And, I am sent out. I carry with me no resources, only a clear vision, my unique interior gifts and an open heart.
PRAYER:
Lord, sometimes I wonder if I have the ability to recognize you at all in the midst of all my clutter. Am I carrying too many purses, bags and sandals? Make me content with less, which is enough. I pray now to be happily aware that the kingdom of God is very near.
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