It is 18th October 2016. We celebrate the Feast of St Luke the Evangelist. He is the writer of the Lukan gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. St. Luke brought out the merciful heart of God through the parables of Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan and the lost coin. St. Luke presented the infancy narrative of Jesus and Christ’s universality of redemption. He accompanied St. Paul in his missionary journeys and was his side when he was in Rome house arrested. St. Luke is the Patron Saint of Physicians, artists, brewers, glass-workers and notaries. The entrance antiphon of the Holy Eucharist acclaims, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings of peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation.” (Is.52:7). The readings are from 2 Timothy 4:10-17; and the Gospel from Luke 10:1-9. The first readings brings out the companionship of St. Luke with St. Paul when he had no one on his side. St. Paul tells us that God stood by him through thick and thin. “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed.” (2 Tim.4:17). The responsorial Psalm praises, “Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendour of your Kingdom.” (Ps.145:12). The Gospel invites us to play our part in spreading the Good News to all people. It is the missionary discourse. Jesus expects a bunch of qualities from those who wish to spread the Word of God. There is a tremendous shortage of the messengers of God’s Word and therefore we need to raise our prayers for the Sowers of God’s Word and a very special prayer for those who are already ploughing the hearts of God’s people that they might be protected against the Evil one. We must never lose focus on Christ when people refuse to accept Jesus as the Saviour. The conversion belongs to God. We are just the instruments in God’s hand to do what God wants us. We need to be patient with the recipients of the Good News. They enjoy their space and time to come back to the one who created them. At times, we lose temper and cool when people do not receive the Good News and respond to it as we wish. Let us go on spread the Peace of Christ to all whom we come into contact, and “to cure the sick and say to them the Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” (Lk.10:9). May you have a good day.