"we are one in the spirit" (see eph 4:4)
"I have no one with me but Luke." —2 Timothy 4:11
Luke is the great teacher on the Holy Spirit. His is the Gospel of the Holy Spirit, and his Acts of the Apostles is the account of the Holy Spirit creating and developing the Church. Because Luke is filled with the Spirit, he emphasizes God's call to unity and community, for the Spirit is the Source of our unity (Eph 4:3; 1 Cor 12:13). Luke recounted that Jesus sent out His disciples two by two (Lk 10:1). Luke himself was Paul's partner on some of his missions (see 2 Tm 4:11). Luke also noted that Jesus wanted His disciples to make a home their base for evangelization (Lk 10:7; Acts 16:15). Moreover, Luke emphasized that the Holy Spirit of Pentecost calls us to devote ourselves to the communal life (Acts 2:42).
In our lonely world of isolation, with the Church often more divided than united, when marriages and families keep breaking up, when Christian community is seen more as a cult than a calling — we need more than ever Luke's emphasis on the Holy Spirit of unity. Read Luke; live Luke. Be "of one heart and one mind" in the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:32).
Prayer: Father, unite me much more deeply with several of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
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: Because of St. Luke, the world knows about the Annunciation and the Nativity, resulting in great worship of Jesus throughout the centuries.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our booklet, Small Christian Communities.) (Teach "Luke." Order our audio or video tapes on the Bible Teachers Series. Our eight tape audio series starts with AV 5A-1. Our four part video series starts with V-5A.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Richard L. Klug, April 10, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 18, 2002