18 October 2013 - You're in Luke

18 October 2013 - You're in Luke

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.

Paul experiences the same abandonment that our LORD experiences on the cross.  But he does not do so with his own strength.  Because Paul takes the LORD's yoke upon himself he finds that it is easy and light (cf. Mat. 11:28-30) because the LORD gives him the strength to carry it.

Luke sees this abandonment of Paul and cannot turn away.

Luke is the only one with me.

He learns much from the Blessed Virgin Mary as we can see in his gospel, containing as it does so many unique details about the nativity of Jesus.  Only here do we find the "Magnificat" of Mary recorded.  Since he has such a prominent place in his heart for the mother who stands by her son at the cross he too is empowered to stand by Jesus as he sees him crucified again in Paul.

Luke learns from Mary to stand at the cross.  Because he can do this he has no hesitation about proclaiming the kingdom of God just as Paul does.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

We can hear the exultation as Luke writes:

"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end."
We need more laborers for the harvest that know how to stand before the cross.  Only then can we be free of our dependency on money bag, sack, and sandals.  Only then will we be able to proclaim to each person: "The Kingdom of God is at hand for you" even though we are lambs among wolves.  After all, what power do wolves have before the cross? 

O Mary, please teach us to adore your son on the cross and to treasure this in our hearts just as you do.