St.Luke, Evangelist Lk10,1-9

So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest › Lk 10, 2. 

The Lord calls us to live the mission of the apostle: to live in the kingdom of God by praying and spreading the good news of the gospel.

Today’s liturgy celebrates the feast of St. Luke, the author of the third gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, whom St. Paul addresses as a „loved physician“ (1 Cor 4, 14). It is thanks to him that we know some of the Lord’s most famous and profound teachings, such as the parable of the prodigal son or the parable of the Good Samaritan. In all his gospel, Luke shows us the merciful face of the Lord, who seeks out everyone, men and women, Jews and Gentiles, publicans and sinners. At the same time, it is the gospel of prayer – the importance of which is still emphasized by (3.21; 5.16; 6.12; 9.18.28-29; 11.1; 22, 41.44-45, etc.), as if to point out, that the mission of searching for lost sheep is only possible if there is a living relationship and dialogue with our God the Father.

Today’s Gospel is a small example of this. It presents a key moment in Jesus’ public life, an extension of his mission to the disciples. The Master, after preparing them and setting an example for them, sends them to spread and announce to all the news of the kingdom of God. Luke tells us that Jesus wants to spread his message in all directions and sends more and more people to „sow semen“ (8, 5). In the previous chapter, he sent Twelve (9.1); a little later, he sent several messengers (9.53); here, another 72 are sent on the mission.

This sending was the beginning of the spread of the good fragrance of Christ, which many Christians spread throughout the world. However, Jesus sends them and reminds them that prayer is a way to carry out our task, because it is God who personally calls the workers, it is God who tells us, how and when to sow the seed, it is God who ignites in us the desire that many people recognize the grace and joy of faith.

When thinking about the common task of spreading the gospel, St. Josemaría invited us to think: „ During the conversation, we looked at the map of the countries of that continent. – The flames in your eyes lit up, your soul was filled with impatience, and thinking of those people, you said to me: Would it be possible for the grace of Christ not to be effective on the other side of these seas? Then he gave himself the answer: He in his infinite goodness wants obedient tools to serve him“ (Braze 181).

Today, on the feast day of Saint Luke the Evangelist, let us plead with many harvest workers who know how to connect closely with God through prayer and are fully prepared to surrender themselves into his hands for the mission, the which he entrusted to them.