Monday, October 18, 2021 - Saint Luke, evangelist - It is I who have chosen you from the midst of the world, so that you will go, that you bear fruit, and that your fruit remains, says the Lord - Luke 10, 1-9

On the one hand, Jesus has just chosen his disciples. He did not settle for the Twelve Apostles, but also chose seventy-two others. In other words, Jesus, until today, never ceases to call men to follow him. Let us note that neither the apostles nor the seventy-two other disciples indicated themselves to be chosen, it is a question of Jesus' own and free choice. Also in our Church, although there are elections at different levels of the apostolate, the elect will always need the approval of higher authorities, a bishop or a priest, for their mandates to be effective.

On the other hand, the call of Jesus is not addressed exclusively to bishops, priests or deacons, there are also religious and especially all the baptized faithful. That is to say that the call of God is not limited to only the twelve as well as to the seventy-two, but all men. Also, it is not wise to exclude yourself by saying to yourself: "This does not concern me at all". Let us beware of indifference and isolation. All the more so since the Church is now convened in synod to reflect on the theme: "For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission".

Once his choice is established, then comes the time for the mission. Jesus did not choose us so that we cluster around him, he sends us on a mission. There, we must be even more careful, we must be faithful both to our commitment and to the restitution of the message which we are responsible for announcing. In this mission, we are not simple indicators, but must ourselves walk on the path and if necessary, constitute ourselves as guides, as leaders. Moreover, the mission is not accomplished solo: "He sent them two by two", mentions the Gospel. This amounts to saying that we must have a deep sense of collaboration, of communion and of openness to others. Let us also keep in mind, that he sends us to meet him. Our mission must therefore never be a means of asserting ourselves neither for our fame nor for some other material interests. The mission consists exclusively in proclaiming him, Christ. Let us announce the proximity of the Kingdom of God, let us proclaim the salvation and the peace that Christ offers us and not condemnation and terror. May Saint Luke, whose feast we celebrate on this day, intercede for us. Amen.