DIDACHE
Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist
REACHING THE HARVEST
He said to them, “There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in….” – Luke 10:2
Most of my family, co-workers and friends are renewed Catholics. Since we interact with renewed people most of the time, evangelization has not really been one of my priorities. Not until one afternoon when I was in a big mall with my four-year-old son. While waiting for our turn to order at a burger outlet, my son was in a good mood and was singing his favorite worship song. He was singing it with so much passion that the couple in front of us took notice. They asked me, “That’s a nice song, did he learned that in school?” “No, he learned that song in our community,” I replied. They gave me a surprised look and said, “You mean you are not Catholic?” I smiled and said, “My family is Catholic and we are part of a Catholic community.”
The reaction of the couple made me realize that there must still be a large portion of the crowd around us who were not yet renewed in their faith. How can these people know the Lord more personally? In the silence of my heart I prayed, “Lord, You’re right. There is still a large harvest out there to gather.” And He needs you and me to reach out to them. Alvin Fabella
REFLECTION:
Do you always have the courage to talk about Jesus to others?
Lord, I pray for courage to speak about You. I know that evangelization is not only an option but a mission.
COMPANION
1st READING
Let us thank God today for the gift of St. Luke and all he has contributed to the service of the Kingdom of God through his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He was an associate of Paul on a number of his journeys and thus saw the growth of the early Church first hand. Let us all seek to draw inspiration from both his writings and example of service as we go about our ministries in the Church today.
Timothy 4: 0- 7b
10 Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. 16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 17 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.
P S A L M
Psalm 4 : 0- , - , 7- 8
R: Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
10 Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) 17 The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (R)
G O S P E L
When Jesus sends out His disciples, He seems to make it as difficult as possible for them to do their work! Is this really the case? I do not think so. What Jesus knows is essential for the work of evangelization is that the ministers of the Gospel be reliant upon the grace of God in their work. Without this, there will be no lasting fruit. It is important that when we share about what happens in ministry, we always realize that it is God’s power at work in us and not us who are responsible for the success.
Luke 0: -9
1 The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 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. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
my reflections
think:When we share about what happens in ministry, we must always realize that it is God’s power at work in us and not us who are responsible for the success.
_________________________________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 39-42
I wonder how often we allow ourselves to reflect upon today’s Gospel idea. Perhaps it is our collective unwillingness to consider the dilemma of the work that needs to be done in the Church with the lack of laborers in the kingdom– the reason for the dilemma in the first place. If we know that there is much to be done, then surely we should be contemplating the possibility that some of the work should be accomplished by me. I think there is a very pertinent question that we should all be asking ourselves (as Mother Teresa of Kolkata purportedly did) every day, namely: “God, what are you asking me to do today?” Maybe we do not ask this question because we are afraid of what the answer might be.
Where would we be without the great missionaries and martyrs? How would the Gospel have been spread if there were not men and women willing to give their lives for the task? The simple answer is that our faith rests upon the sacrifices and obedience of many men and women who have preceded us. The question is, “What are we doing to continue their work, the work of the Church, so that the Gospel will be alive and strong for the next generation?”
Sloth is one of the worst sins imaginable in this regard as it will mean that the Gospel dies a slow death due to disinterest and lack of commitment. We all want the benefits of the Gospel, the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. However, there is a cost and responsibility involved with such gifts, and if we are not willing to pay that cost and live responsible and generous lives, then I fear we will be very disappointed with the consequences of this not only for the next generation, but personally as well. We neglect the responsibilities of our faith at our own risk – to our own detriment. Do not let your life “slip over the edge” through apathy and neglect. Life and faith with it are meant to be lived to the full. Fr. Steve Tynan
Reflection Question:
Do I take seriously the call to be a disciple of Jesus and share the Gospel with others at this time of my life?
Jesus, I pray that You will help me to realize the necessity of living and sharing the Gospel so that I will be an instrument in keeping the Gospel alive for future generations.
St. Luke, evangelist, pray for us.
The reaction of the couple made me realize that there must still be a large portion of the crowd around us who were not yet renewed in their faith. How can these people know the Lord more personally? In the silence of my heart I prayed, “Lord, You’re right. There is still a large harvest out there to gather.” And He needs you and me to reach out to them. Alvin Fabella
REFLECTION:
Do you always have the courage to talk about Jesus to others?
Lord, I pray for courage to speak about You. I know that evangelization is not only an option but a mission.
COMPANION
1st READING
Let us thank God today for the gift of St. Luke and all he has contributed to the service of the Kingdom of God through his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He was an associate of Paul on a number of his journeys and thus saw the growth of the early Church first hand. Let us all seek to draw inspiration from both his writings and example of service as we go about our ministries in the Church today.
Timothy 4: 0- 7b
10 Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. 16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 17 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.
P S A L M
Psalm 4 : 0- , - , 7- 8
R: Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
10 Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) 17 The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (R)
G O S P E L
When Jesus sends out His disciples, He seems to make it as difficult as possible for them to do their work! Is this really the case? I do not think so. What Jesus knows is essential for the work of evangelization is that the ministers of the Gospel be reliant upon the grace of God in their work. Without this, there will be no lasting fruit. It is important that when we share about what happens in ministry, we always realize that it is God’s power at work in us and not us who are responsible for the success.
Luke 0: -9
1 The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 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. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
my reflections
think:When we share about what happens in ministry, we must always realize that it is God’s power at work in us and not us who are responsible for the success.
_________________________________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 39-42
SABBATH
THE HARVEST IS RICH BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW
THE HARVEST IS RICH BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW
I wonder how often we allow ourselves to reflect upon today’s Gospel idea. Perhaps it is our collective unwillingness to consider the dilemma of the work that needs to be done in the Church with the lack of laborers in the kingdom– the reason for the dilemma in the first place. If we know that there is much to be done, then surely we should be contemplating the possibility that some of the work should be accomplished by me. I think there is a very pertinent question that we should all be asking ourselves (as Mother Teresa of Kolkata purportedly did) every day, namely: “God, what are you asking me to do today?” Maybe we do not ask this question because we are afraid of what the answer might be.
Where would we be without the great missionaries and martyrs? How would the Gospel have been spread if there were not men and women willing to give their lives for the task? The simple answer is that our faith rests upon the sacrifices and obedience of many men and women who have preceded us. The question is, “What are we doing to continue their work, the work of the Church, so that the Gospel will be alive and strong for the next generation?”
Sloth is one of the worst sins imaginable in this regard as it will mean that the Gospel dies a slow death due to disinterest and lack of commitment. We all want the benefits of the Gospel, the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. However, there is a cost and responsibility involved with such gifts, and if we are not willing to pay that cost and live responsible and generous lives, then I fear we will be very disappointed with the consequences of this not only for the next generation, but personally as well. We neglect the responsibilities of our faith at our own risk – to our own detriment. Do not let your life “slip over the edge” through apathy and neglect. Life and faith with it are meant to be lived to the full. Fr. Steve Tynan
Reflection Question:
Do I take seriously the call to be a disciple of Jesus and share the Gospel with others at this time of my life?
Jesus, I pray that You will help me to realize the necessity of living and sharing the Gospel so that I will be an instrument in keeping the Gospel alive for future generations.
St. Luke, evangelist, pray for us.
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