Saint Luke is speaking again about the Kingdom of God. What is so humorous about our two readings today is that Saint Paul gives us examples of the people in Saint Paul’s ministry who are actually working to build the Kingdom of God.
Saint Paul speaks of John Mark who went on to write the Gospel of Mark. He speak of Crescens who was traditionally thought to be part of the 72 that Jesus sent out and he ministered in Galatia. Tychicus was sent to Ephesus.
What I want to note is that these people were not perfect. They failed Saint Paul. Saint Paul writes, The first time I had to present my defense, there was not a single witness to support me. Every one of them deserted me. I will come back to this point in a minute.
Luke 17: 20-21 Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’j For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.”
Wherever we are on Earth we have an opportunity to build the Kingdom of God is at hand. Saint Luke wrote the Gospel of Saint Luke and the Book of Acts. They are blueprints for the Church to grow and prosper from the first Century to the Twenty-first and beyond.
We too have a role to play in building the Kingdom of God, because the Church is still growing. Our role may seem inconsequential . Nonetheless, in Jesus’ eyes it is important and necessary to grow the Church It might be visiting a sick friend or even a sick enemy. We probably have more points earned in the enemy visit than the friend but who’s counting.
Saint Luke must have been very close to Mary because only she was alive to recount the early non-public life of Christ. During Advent they are the basis of our worship. Just like Luke we need to say our Rosary everyday and to stay close to His Holy Mother, Mary. Saint Luke listened to her and so must we.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace!
