Saint Luke, Evangelist – Feast
First reading: 2 Timothy 4:10-17b
Saint Paul’s final letter to Timothy paints a deeply human picture of the early Church, a community not merely structured by rules, but sustained by friendship, fidelity, and love. His words reveal a man surrounded by both joy and pain: some companions have remained faithful, others have abandoned him; yet amid loneliness, Paul radiates peace because he knows he is never alone, “the Lord stood by me and gave me strength.” In this passage, we see the Church as it truly is: a family of imperfect people, bound together by grace, carrying one another in weakness and in hope. Saint Luke, whom Paul calls “the beloved physician,” embodies this spirit of quiet faithfulness. His companionship reminds us that simple gestures of presence, care, and loyalty are among the Church’s greatest strengths. As Luke chronicled the life of Christ and the Acts of the Apostles, he gave the Church not only history but heart, showing that evangelization begins in genuine human relationships. To be Church, then, is to live as brothers and sisters, supporting one another with warmth, forgiveness, and faith, so that Christ’s love may be felt in every human encounter. Let’s reflect: Do I help build a Church that feels like a family, marked by faithfulness, care, and human warmth, or do I sometimes forget that the Gospel is lived first in relationships of love?
Don Giorgio