Friday 18 October 2024

Today is Friday the 18th of October, the feast of Saint Luke, in the 28th week of Ordinary Time. CalledOut Music sings, ‘Ese’, a song about singing thanks to God. What would you like to thank God for today? What shall I render? Tell me what I can offer (to You) How can I say that I'm grateful I have a Father who will Never ever fail me, no He never sleep or slumber He'll never fall my hand You have been closer than a friend And this, Your love will never end So I've come to say Ese, Ese Oluwa oh Ese, Ese Baba Ese, Ese Oluwa oh Ese, Ese Baba I'll give You my heart and affection Give You my love and devotion I'll never cease to worship You, my God So I've come to give my offering Many blessings fall on me Every step of the way I have felt Your presence You have been closer than a friend And this Your love will never end So I've come to say Ese, Ese Oluwa oh Ese, Ese Baba Ese, Ese Oluwa oh Ese, Ese Baba Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. 2 Timothy 4:10-17 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds. You also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. Today’s reading gives us a glimpse into the practicalities and relationships behind Paul’s apostolic ministry. We get hints of frustrations and disappointments as well as of supportive friendships. What has supported or troubled your own life as a disciple of Jesus? Today we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, one of Paul’s closest friends and companions, who remained faithful when other companions failed him. Who have been your ‘friends in the Lord’, to whom you have offered such companionship? Take time to thank God for these life-giving friendships. As we hear the reading repeated, perhaps you can think back to those very early days of the spread of the Gospel. What would you want to say to Paul, Luke and the women and men who gave so much to spread the good news of Jesus across the world until it came to you? Whatever the thoughts and prayers that arise in your heart at this time, take a few minutes to speak to God and share whatever is uppermost in your mind. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.