A WORD FOR TODAY 18 OCTOBER 2019

A WORD FOR TODAY

WE ARE CHOSEN TO BEAR FRUITS FOR CHRIST

Today we celebrate the feast of the Apostle and Evangelist saint Luke. He was a companion of saint Paul and a medical doctor who spent his life proclaiming Christ and left us a record about His life and ministry in the gospel He wrote and also about the life of the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles.

Saint Luke was a Greek and Gentile Christian and he is the only known Gentile author in the New Testament. It was as if he was chosen to write to the Gentile world and to give a very comprehensive record of the events surrounding the life of Christ so that the Jews will believe that Christ came for the salvation of all both the Jews and the Gentiles.

In the beginning of his gospel (in chapter 1:1-4), he laid down for Theophilus the purpose and reason why he wrote, that is, to give an orderly and accurate account of the life of Jesus which comes from a thorough investigation of the accounts handed down by eye witnesses and servants of the Word.

We could see that saint Luke did not just write because he wanted to write, but he wrote with a purpose to teach the truth and help people to know the truth about the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He made a lot of research and investigations before he published his account. This is different from what we see in our generation today when fake news seems to be the order of the day and many have become agents of fake news because they do not double-check their stories before they forward it or send it out to others, thereby spreading falsehood and lies. We must learn from saint Luke to be thorough in our investigations of events and to only teach the truth about things so as not to lead people astray.

Saint Paul must have made a lot of impact in the life of saint Luke because he was his companion for a while even when the others deserted him. Saint Luke must have learnt a lot from him and that set him sail in the journey of proclaiming Christ and to be able to write a wonderful report about Him. There is need for us to stay around and be in the company of those who will teach us the truth and goodness, than those who will teach us evil and influence us to live in darkness. When you have good people as your friends and companions they will help you to live well in the light and become inspiration to others who look up to you.

Just as the Lord appointed the seventy in the gospel of today and sent them to go out two by two to proclaim the Good News, He also called saint Luke to go into the vineyard and he did an excellent work in proclaiming Christ in such a way that many after him has come to know about Jesus through his written account of His life. We must also go into the vineyard as we have been called by Christ through our baptism and He is sending us to carry the message of salvation everywhere so that souls will be saved. We are to bear good fruits through our ministry in His name and win souls for Him through our works.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a splendid day. May God's grace continue to help you to proclaim Christ everywhere in words and deeds. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: 2 Timothy 4:10-17/Psalm 145:10-13,17-18/Luke 10-1-9

Watch-Word: I chose you from the world that you should go and bear fruits, and that your fruits should last, says the Lord.

God has chosen you to bear fruits for Him, do not let anyone or anything stop you from fulfilling this mandate and responsibility.

(Friday of the 28th Week in the Ordinary Time, Year 1)