"the quality of mercy"
"I have no one with me but Luke." —2 Timothy 4:11
When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, Luke was the only one with him. Although Paul was on trial, everyone had abandoned him (2 Tm 4:16).
Luke seems to have had a heart of mercy for the lonely and abandoned. Only in Luke's Gospel do we meet the penitent woman (Lk 7:37), the good Samaritan (Lk 10:33), the prodigal son (Lk 15:12), Lazarus the beggar (Lk 16:20), the thankful healed Samaritan leper (Lk 17:16), the tax collector in the Temple (Lk 18:10), Zacchaeus the tax collector (Lk 19:2), and the "good thief" (Lk 23:40). These are just a few of the people that only Luke records as receiving God's mercy.
As in Luke's time, our world is increasingly overflowing with lonely and abandoned people. Although many are innocent victims of others' sins, we have also caused our own problems. We have begun to receive the just wages of our sins (Rm 6:23). Although we deserve to suffer, we can receive and give mercy because Jesus met the demands of justice on Calvary. "Blest are they who show mercy, mercy shall be theirs" (Mt 5:7).
Prayer: Lord, have mercy on me and on others through me.
Promise: "The harvest is rich but the workers are few; therefore ask the harvest-Master to send workers to His harvest." —Lk 10:2
Praise: Writing about the Savior of the world, St. Luke especially emphasized prayer, poverty, and purity of heart.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 24, 2000
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 27, 2000