I’m always intrigued by what comes to mind when I begin to reflect on the Scriptures and prepare a homily. Sometimes it is a memorable commercial. Capital One a bank uses the catchy phrase, "What's in your wallet?"
Another line from an advertisement that sticks with me is "age is just a number but mine is unlisted." I don’t remember what product was being advertised, but what struck me about both of these commercials was the person who voiced them. I related to them.
I felt something similar as I reflected on the Scriptures today for this the feast of St. Luke, author of one of the gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and three prayers from the Divine Office.
In the Letter St. Paul wrote to Timothy, he didn’t tell us what was in his wallet - instead he shared with us his deep feelings of betrayal from two of his friends Demas who deserted him and Alexander the coppersmith who deeply pained Paul resisting his efforts to bring the message of Jesus to others. Paul also shared his feelings of loneliness and abandonment but not by God who he said stood by him and strengthened him.
The Capitol One commercial asked what was in our wallet. The reading from Paul to Timothy surfaced all kinds of emotions about my experience of being a follower of Jesus.
What Paul described was not only real for him but real for many of us. In the gospel this past Sunday Jesus asked James and John if they could drink the cup. Paul was describing what that meant for him.
It also applied to the 72 that Jesus appointed to go out to prepare communities for his coming. Jesus told them he would be sending them out as lambs among wolves.
While the traditional parade was happening with floats, bands, and marchers in the thousands, about 100 people chose to have a Eucharistic Procession bringing Christ into the marketplace. Their reception was met with curiosity on the part of some while others spat upon the priest as he passed with the Blessed Sacrament. The hundred were lambs among wolves.
There will always be those like Demas and Alexander who choose to pass on the invitation to help proclaim that the Kingdom of God is among us. There will be those who are more concerned with what is in their wallet; others that their age remain unlisted. But what about us? What is in our hearts when we hear these readings today?
