The Cloak of Friendship

~~~ Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist ~~~

~~~ 2 Timothy 4:10-17b ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ Luke 10:1-9 ~~~

 

Luke is the only one with me.

 

Some scholars believe that Saint Luke was a slave.

It is also commonly held that he was trained as a physician.

We know too he was a close friend of Paul.

Luke was a Gentile, not a Jew.

Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles.

While we do not know the details of his conversion

we do know that he became close friends with Saint Paul.

 

In Paul's final time in prison it is his faithful follower

and friend Luke

who remains by his side.

 

Luke's writings are unique in his perspective.

Only in Luke's Gospel do we have Mary's beautiful Magnificat.

Luke tells us of Mary's visit to Elizabeth...the Annunciation.

Only in Luke do we hear the Prodigal Son parable of mercy and forgiveness.

Like gives us a picture of Jesus consistently reaching out to sinners.

Luke seemed to have a special place in his heart for the poor and for women.

 

 

Paul is asking for some of his belongs

to be brought to him while he is in prison.

There are many things in life that hold sentimental value for us.

Paul is confined and is seeking what little comfort he can

 through some things from home.

 

When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas,
the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.

Perhaps he is cold in his cell and needs his cloak for warmth.

Maybe cooler weather is moving into the area.

Maybe he just wants to wrap himself up in his cloak...

like a security blanket.

 

The papyrus rolls and the parchments most likely

contain some of his previous writings.

Maybe they are even old journal manuscript.

Keeping a journal allows you to capture

the details and emotions connected to a certain time period or event.

 

Reading over what you have written months or years later can bring joy.

In prison, Paul continues to reach out to his followers.

Who can really cheer up Paul?

 

He is being confined, unable to go himself and preach.

He has the strong desire to be out with the others,

but that is not possible.

As he rereads his previous writings

Paul is reminded of some points he wants to include

in his subsequent letters.

 

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious

splendor of your Kingdom.

 

Paul was blessed to have his friend Luke.

We too are blessed with good friends in our life.

 

I am so grateful for my friends.

Like Luke, my friends bring me great comfort.

Friends provide the cloak of love and support.

 

I invite you to say a prayer today especially for your friends.

For it is by your friends that you are defined.

I strive to be worthy of my friendships.

May we offer mutual care.

Blessed through friendship.

Pen & Ink Pep Rally

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus

 

~~~ 2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 ~~~ Psalm 96 ~~~ Mark 3: 20-21 ~~~

 

Timothy was Paul's son in the faith.

Paul was Timothy's mentor and Timothy was Paul's disciple.

Timothy often traveled with Paul in Galatia, Philippi, Corinth, and other areas. 

 

Timothy comes from a family where his mother and grandmother

were known for their piety.

Perhaps they too were Christians.

But Paul saw that Timothy had received great faith through his maternal ancestors.

What he learned from them made a lasting impression.

 

Paul saw even greater potential in Timothy, so he took him under his wing.

Paul taught Timothy all that he could and delighted in him.

 

 

 

 

Today the church gives us this beautiful letter from Paul to Timothy.

 

 

"...I am grateful to God...

...as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,
so that I may be filled with joy,
as I recall your sincere faith
that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and that I am confident lives also in you."

 

If someone wrote a letter to me with that opening paragraph I would be so moved.

Paul writes with such fondness and affection for Timothy.

Praying for someone day and night what more could you ask for?

 

Paul is longing to see his friend once again.

He longs for them to be reunited to the point of tears.

Tears of joy and gratitude for the gift that Timothy has been to him.

 

Timothy has a faith so strong that even Paul is impressed.

The strong faith of Timothy is owed in part to his mother and grandmother.

 

Paul values family and friends, but accepts that he must

travel about the region doing the work of God.

Titus was also a missionary who traveled with Paul preaching the gospel.

 

Paul writes these letters to encourage his dear friends.

He writes to remind them of their faith.

He writes to fan the flames in their hearts assuring them that he cares for them.

Paul writes to let them know that he has not forgotten them.

He writes because they have a mission to carry on even in his absence.

These letters are like vitamins for their faith.

It is a pen and ink pep rally for these men.

Rah, rah you are doing a great job!

Rah, rah, keep up the good work!

 

I  invite you to sit down with one of these letters

 and pretend that it was written to you.

Read it carefully letting each word linger for awhile in your heart.

Allow yourself to feel cherished through Paul's words.

It will bring joy to your soul!

Extreme 'Spiritual' Makeover

The Conversion of Saint Paul

 

~~~ Acts 22:-16 or Acts 9:1-22 ~~~ Psalm 117 ~~~ Mark 16: 15-18 ~~~

 

"Go out to all the world, and tell

the Good News."

 

Just as Paul was commissioned to spread the good news

we too have been given the same calling.

Saul, as he was called then, would have never dreamed that he could be

completely turned away from his persecuting endeavors.

 

He actively sought out those followers of 'the Way'

and handed them over to the officials as criminals.

You might wonder how in the world God found Paul

a desirable candidate to be in the service of the Lord.

Not only did God find Paul desirable;

he inspired him to preach and write with unbelievable clarity.

 

Much of the New Testament is attributed to Paul.

Much of what we find inspiring enough to quote today comes from Paul's writings.

Just think how much we would be missing had it not been for Paul.

 

The story of Paul's conversion gets our attention

 because it is vivid, detailed, and graphic.

We know what it is like to be blinded, even only temporary,

 by bright sunlight.

Your first reaction is to close your eyes in order to diminish

the amount of light entering into your eyes .

This bright light is abrupt and the eyes need time to physically adjust.

 

Paul needed time to adjust to what had just happened to him.

Not only did his eyes need time to physically adjust;

his soul also needed some time.

The bright light of God had shocked him inside and outside...

physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

 

God sent a messenger to comfort Paul and to usher him into his new reality.

His new reality was to live for God from then on.

He was no longer living to gain approval from the authorities.

It was no longer important for him to prove his loyalty by rounding up the wayward...

those pesky believers of 'the Way'.

 

Ananias, acting on behalf of God,

 lays hands on Paul that he might regain his sight.

Ananias did as he was instructed, in spite of having reservations about Paul.

For Paul's reputation had preceded him throughout the region.

He was a person to be avoided lest you risked imprisonment.

 

 

Paul's conversion was more like a spiritual triage.

He experienced three conversions...

physical

restored eyesight

 

spiritual

inspired words

 

emotional

new heart

Paul's conversion resembled an extreme makeover.

 

Everything about who Paul thought he was God changed.

God redirected Paul's passion and conviction.

Paul had the strong character traits God could use;

 he just had to convince Paul...

it took the Extreme Makeover to accomplish it.

 

Remember God looks at your strong traits and uses them

to spread his Good News. 

What you perceive as short comings God can repurpose.

Never underestimate what God can accomplish with your life.

 

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.

"Go out to all the world, and tell

the Good News."