“THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COME NIGH UNTO YOU”
Saint Luke 10: 1-9
Saint Luke, The Evangelist: 18 October Anno Domini 2015
Father Jay Watson SSP
Saint Matthew had probably met Saint Luke—knew him as “brother in the new Kingdom” of the Rabbi from Nazareth—the Christ of God.
And when he wrote this morning’s text he was probably including Luke: “after these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come.”
For 2,000 years Christian scholars, theologians, and faithful, have been strengthened and preserved by Saint Luke’s twin-fold Biblical testimony—the Third Evangel, and The Acts of The Apostles. This salutary good news is not because Luke was a gifted and intelligent physician or author but because He was guided by the Holy Ghost to write these inspired, infallible, and inerrant Words about The Word made flesh! Luke’s testimony is The Face of The Living God coming into every city and place. This Word of The Lord accompanies and invites the flock to feast at the Lord’s Table on The Bread of Heaven, The Green Grass of the Living Vine, the Body and Blood of The God/Man Who Saint Luke writes so tenderly about in the opening chapters of His Gospel.
Luke knew of Christ because Paul told Him. Re-read the Acts of the Apostles—of John, Peter, and most especially Saint Paul—and you will know what Luke knew, but not everything Luke knew. He mentions to Theophilus in the prologue of His Gospel that “inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely…to write an orderly account for you.” [Lk. 1]
Today’s commemoration of one of only four men in the existence of the Universe to be denominated an Evangelist—a writer of the Sacred Evangels, is not about the human author but about the Divine/Human subject of said text—The God/Man Jesus. Jesus is not only the subject matter but He is the object of the faith which is created in Him by His Word. He is alpha and omega. Saint Luke is merely a facilitator in the delivery—a human agent of the Holy Spirit—a pastor, under shepherd, deacon, presbyter, appointed one!
Even as the visible Christ no longer comes into your city the way He once walked into Capernaum or Bethsaida…or Jerusalem, He does STILL come to you and tabernacle with you the way He did through the preaching, teaching, and miracle working of the “seventy” even as He would through the “12” and their appointed successors—the Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons of His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Luke doesn’t talk about himself or draw attention to his doings because like the Blessed Virgin, his sole desire is to point his readers and hearers to The Lamb of God. When you hear Luke, or any under shepherd, “in the stead and by the command” of the Lord, you hear THE LORD! That is good news indeed because Jesus brings His face, His countenance, and His words into your city.
The harvest is truly great for God desires all men to come to faith, that is, to believe on His Son. Jesus made the world, the earth, the wheat, and the first of His flock—Adam and his help-mate. Jesus saw all that ruined by disobedience and self-love. Jesus sees all of you continuing in the way of your first-parents…He sees the weeds, thistles, and thorns of your daily disobedience. You think you are the laborers but you are not. Even the “12” and Luke and the other 69 deacons were not the true laborers. Only Christ did the work of loving God and of loving all neighbors…all men. Only Jesus did the great work of forgiving you by His precious Body given and Holy Blood shed. Yes, Saint Luke had great personal courage and was a faithful companion and fellow co-worker with The Apostle. Yes the blessed physician was like a lamb among wolves, even as you must be in your dealing with all pagans. Luke was martyred in Greece by Roman heathen, thus the red paraments pointing to his blood which points to the redeeming Blood of Jesus. You are to be Christians and martyrs under the cross, crucified and martyred for His Name and Truth. But when you are not, and that is most of the time…Jesus labors. Jesus remains the Lamb amongst wolves. Jesus remains the Lamb slain from before eternity, the ever-giving fruit of the Tree of Life. The Sacrament remains forever…now at His altar, hereafter at His heavenly banquet table.
Fearing, loving, and trusting God above all things you should, SHOULD as in MUST, rely on The Lord for all your daily bread, not worrying, not building bigger barns for your stuff and mammon. But, you don’t trust God, you sin. You buy new purses, scrips, and shoes, not so much because you need them; the Lord knows what you need, but because you put your faith in stuff, and in the stuff of your own works. Repent. You salute men and curry favor with the popular and acceptable rather than stand fast with Luke, Paul, and the lowly, outsider Christians. Repent. Look to Christ. Believe.
Jesus left heaven so empty and devoid of purse and shoes that He was born a baby of a Virgin. Jesus traveled not as a prince, King David, or lauded Sanhedrin leader, but as a wandering Rabbi from the country of Gentiles, Samaritans, fishermen and tax collectors. Jesus always comes to your house, your Church, your face, and says, Gospels, what He gives: “Peace be to this house.” He is Peace.
When Jesus had Saint Luke write a synoptic account of parts of His visible life…He has Luke giving you Himself for peace and absolution. He had Luke record His very Verba, Words, on the night He instituted The Sacrament, that you would hear Jesus this morning utter the same Words. The real purpose, the crux of the cross and the Peace which passeth understanding, is that when Christ heals the sick and says to you “The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you,” He is saying Take Eat, Take Drink, for your forgiveness—the King of God comes into you.
Not the faithful ox which represents Saint Luke…not even the sacrificial oxen, bulls, and goats of Moses and David’s time…but The Lamb of God Who takes away your sin.
In the Name of The Father and of + The Son and of The Holy Ghost
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