• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Migration
    • Statement from Passionist Leadership Regarding Current United States Immigration Policies
    • The Global Migration Crisis: What Can a Retreat Center Do?
  • Laudato Si’
    • Laudato Si’ 2023-24 Report and 2024-25 Plan
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Sustainable Purchasing
      • Sustainable Purchasing Guide
      • Hints for Sustainable Meetings and Events
      • Sustainable Living Hints
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Come and See Holy Week Discernment Retreat
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Province Leadership
    • Vocation Resources
    • Passionist Brothers
    • The Life of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • World Day for Consecrated Life
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
      • St. Gemma Circle of Giving Intentions
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Passionist History: Webinar Series
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, October 18, 2013

 

Feast of St. Luke 

Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:10-17b
Luke 10:1-9

 

 

Reflection:

Beloved:
Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me …Luke is the only one with me. 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. 2 Tm 4:10-17b

By way of reflection for this feast of St. Luke I would like to send a letter to Luke. 

"Dear Luke, please accept my most sincere thanks for taking all the time to write your gospel.  I know that you and Matthew were peeking over each other’s shoulders, especially Mark’s. 

"I guess what really strikes me this year as I reflect on you is the mention that St. Paul makes of you in his letter to Timothy.  What makes it more interesting is that Paul is going through some lonely times.  He has been abandonned by so many at a time of great need.  And there you are…’Luke is the only one with me.’  I think we both know how important the presence of a person is when we are in trouble, either self- inflicted or other-inflicted.  I wonder, though, if that could have ended up putting a lot of pressure on you to support him. 

"Oh, I know that Paul wrote: ‘…but the Lord stood by me and gave me strength…’   It’s right that Paul does indicate this source of presence and strength which comes from the Lord.  I know a lot of people who will affirm God’s presence when things have gotten dark and lonely.  They really mean it.  But there is that other presence…of a wife, a husband, a mom, a dad, a brother, a sister, a grandma, a grandpa, an aunt, an uncle, a cousin, a classmate, a close friend, a fellow worker, a fellow parishioner, a Priest, a Sister, a Brother, a Deacon, a caring  stranger….gosh, where does the list end?  There they sit in front of us telling us that we are not alone.  And the neat thing is that we can also do the same for a hurting person…‘I’m here, you are not alone.’.

"I think, Luke, that is what I wanted to thank you for!  You must have received a lot of kudos for taking all the time to gather, interview, sift and write your gospel.  It’s one thing to hand someone a copy of the gospel which is so rich, affirming, hopeful, comforting, exhilarating and faith-filled and suggest that the person read it.  But what is striking me about you and Paul is that you hung in there with him.  You were there.  You didn’t abandon him.  He could read that so clearly.  Not in a rolled up papyrus containing bits and pieces of what would become your ‘good news’.  No.  You were a living book of love and friendship that could be read loud and clear.

"Luke, my brother, would you pray for all of us still here on earth?"  

 

Fr. Peter Berendt, C.P. is a member of St. Paul of the Cross Community in Detroit, Michigan.

Footer

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

Name

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2025 | Log in