Breaking the Word

St. Luke, Evangelist, Friday – 18^th October 2024 – 2 Timothy 4,10-17; Lk 10,1-9

Good News of Merciful Salvation

Luke was a close companion and collaborator of Paul. He was a medical doctor by profession (Col 4,14). He joined with Paul in his second missionary journey (Acts 16,10). He stayed in Philippi for sometime to evangelize (Acts 16,12) but later sailed with Paul from Philippi to Troas and went with him to Jerusalem (Acts 20,6). Luke sailed with Paul to Rome (Acts 27,1) and stayed with him until his imprisonment (2 Tim 4,11). Luke wrote a Gospel in his name and then a second volume, known as the Acts of the Apostles, to complete his Gospel. In the Acts, Luke shows how the apostles are commissioned by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to extend the Kingdom to the ends of the earth.

In the Gospel, Luke shows how Jesus, the royal Son of David and Son of God, brings God’s merciful salvation to all humanity. First, Luke shows how Jesus is the Saviour of Israel and restores Israel and reunites the scattered tribes of Israel into his kingdom (Luke 1,33. 68; 22,28-30). Luke is very attentive to show how Jesus saves the Samaritans, the descendants of northern Israelites. Second, Luke narrates how Jesus extends God’s forgiveness and salvation to the Gentiles (Luke 2,32; 24,47). Third, Luke focuses especially on the salvation of the lowly, the outcasts, the poor, oppressed, the women and the widows.

20^th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 20^thAugust 2024 —  Ezekiel 28, 1-10; Mt 19,23-30

Apostles as Prime Example

Against the rich young man, who would not give up his possessions, are set the disciples who have forsaken all, i.e., house, family and land for Christ’s sake. This section has Jesus’ answer for the two questions: Who can be saved (19,25)? What will we get (19,27)?  While Peter asks the blunt question that concerns all followers of Christ, Jesus’ initial answer actually concerns only the twelve apostles. Here Matthew sees the twelve as the prime example of what every disciple should be. Their lives will be the standard by which everyone will be judged. Jesus then assures the twelve that on the last day they will have the status of the twelve founding patriarchs of Israel, i.e., the twelve thrones and tribes and indeed will “judge” Israel. By throwing away their goods, the disciples will inherit what the young man sought in vain to possess. Thus all human standards and plans are inverted. Many who are first in this world, e.g., the rich man, the Jewish leaders, the powerful, the ostentatiously pious, will be last or rejected, in the world to come, while the last, i.e., the apostles, the disciples, the poor, will be admitted first into the kingdom.