Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

Collect of Saint Luke

Lectionary: 661

Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter,
first say, 'Peace to this household.'

Once, as Saint Francis passed along a meadow he was struck by the sight of a single lamb amid a flock of goats. He immediately saw the Lamb of God surrounded by his enemies and led away to slaughter. Although he had no money he persuaded a friend to buy the lamb, which became a pet in the merchant's household. 

Lambs, like kittens, puppies, and ducklings, invariably charm our imaginations by their innocence, vulnerability and eager gullibility. They follow anything that vaguely resembles mama. 

Christians, sent into the world like lambs among wolves, also resemble the Lamb of God. By their innocence, vulnerability, and eager desire to announce the Gospel of salvation, they inspire wonder and gratitude. Their poverty makes them a curiosity in a world obsessed with acquisition. They seem to enjoy life as it is without the embellishment of needing to own and control more. 

Saint Luke was fascinated by the poverty of Jesus and his disciples. No sooner had Mary, the Lord's first disciple, heard the angelic announcement than she abandoned the security of her home in Nazareth to set out on the road to Jerusalem. Several months later, we find her with Joseph in Bethlehem and giving birth in a manger.  

Nor will she jealously guard her single greatest possession, the Christ Child, against unfamiliar persons and curious eyes. Rather, she generously shows him to the rough shepherds who suddenly burst into the stable shouting wild stories of a singing host of angels in the sky. And she will allow the old man Simeon to take the child in his arms and dance around the temple as he weeps for joy. She can hardly imagine what it's all about but their joy only confirms her own wonder at the miracle of birth and promise and hope. 

During these troubled times, Christians should keep the image of a lamb foremost in their minds. We are called to be like lambs, and we must be like those who... 

...follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the first fruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished. (Revelations 14:4-5)

After his obvious human nature, the image of the sacrificial lamb gives us our best understanding of Jesus and his mission. It is an apocalyptic symbol, like angels, pregnant virgins and pregnant old women. It dominates the Book of Revelation: 

...then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the [seven] spirits of God sent out into the whole world.

He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.

When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.

They sang a new hymn:

“Worthy are you to receive the scroll

and to break open its seals,

for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God

those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.

Whenever we hear talk of a final solution or the last hope for democracy we should think of the Lamb of God and dismiss the rest as nonsense. Because the Lord has commanded us, we are not afraid.