“Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:3).”
Saint Ambrose of Milan offers the following insight on this verse from today’s Gospel:
“He says this to the seventy disciples whom he appointed and sent out in pairs before his face. Why did he send them two by two? Pairs of animals were sent into the ark, that is, the female with the male, according to number, unclean but cleansed by the sacrament of the church … Those animals are opposites, so that the one eats the other. A good shepherd does not know how to fear wolves for his flock, and therefore he sends those disciples not against a prey but to grace. The forethought of the good Shepherd prevents the wolves from harming the lambs. He sends lambs among wolves in order that the saying may be fulfilled, “Then wolves and lambs shall feed together.” (Exposition of the Gospel of Luke, 7)”
Today is the feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist. A very good overview of this Gospel is posted in the New American Bible section of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Fr Felix Just SJ provides great resources for many aspects of theological study, including links to insights on prayer from the Gospels, particularly the Gospel according to Saint Luke. Perhaps today can also be an opportunity for some further study about the Sacred Scriptures found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church beginning at paragraph 50 and continuing through to paragraph 141. Also well worth prayerful study are two Church documents, Sancta Mater Ecclesiae (Instruction concerning the Historical Truth of the Gospels) and Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Vatican II).
Lord God,
Who chose Saint Luke
to reveal by his preaching and writings
the mystery of your love for the poor,
grant that those who already glory in your name,
may persevere as one heart and one soul and
that all nations may merit to see your salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.
Who chose Saint Luke
to reveal by his preaching and writings
the mystery of your love for the poor,
grant that those who already glory in your name,
may persevere as one heart and one soul and
that all nations may merit to see your salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.
Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!
