Homily for the Feast of St. Luke

In this part of Paul's second letter to Timothy, we witness Paul's loneliness after Demas took off to explore Thessalonica, Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Paul sent Tychicus to Ephesus. He hoped Timothy and Mark would join him and Luke as they continued their mission.

The very ordinary elements of this part of Paul's letter are intriguing. He asks Timothy to pick up a cloak he left behind and bring some papyrus rolls and parchments. He also complains about how a coppersmith named Alexander treated him. These mundane details serve as a reassuring reminder that the early disciples were human, like us, and that, like them, we may discover that our lives can be significant in God's plan, even in the ordinary course of our lives.

Let us pray that we may understand how God calls us to be His voice in our world today. May the example of those fully human early disciples inspire us to follow God's call to go forth and preach in His Name.