Lord, in the lives of the saints may we find you, and finding you, live as your saints of today, walking your way and sustained on your Word and your love. 
In the name of God, who is Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen.

So today we remember St Luke our Patron Saint – what, I wonder, do we know about 
St Luke?

Luke is one of the four evangelists, whose symbol is the ox, which features on our banner of St Luke in the church. He writes the Gospel which bears his name – and it’s beautifully written, full of historical detail, and shows Jesus with a special care for those who are poor, outcasts, telling tender stories of women and children. Luke tells us all about social justice.  

Luke shows us the human Jesus – he tells us Mary’s story, the annunciation, visitation, the loving friendship of Mary and her cousin Elizabeth and gives us Mary’s song of joy we know as the Magnificat – ‘My soul magnifies the Lord!’

Luke shows us too the vulnerability of the baby in the manger, in the ox’s stall. 

Luke’s Gospel has some stories not found in the other Gospels – stories which are well-loved such as the Parables of Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, and the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus.

Luke was a doctor – a friend of Paul –– Paul calls him the Beloved Physician, and Luke accompanies Paul on some of his travels. 

Luke is known for his eloquent preaching, he helps Paul spread the good news, telling the story of Jesus. Luke is also an apostle – one who is sent. He suffers along with Paul-  getting thrown out of synagogues, attacked, and experiences  the problems and uncomfortableness of first century travel, including shipwreck.

In our Gospel reading for today Luke tells us how Jesus sent out 70 of his followers on a journey, not unlike Luke himself being sent out later on all his travels.

Let’s imagine that we ourselves are being sent out on a long journey into the unknown, what sort of things would we need to take with us?

We might take a good-sized Backpack and put inside it a map, waterproofs, a flask, some snacks, definitely some chocolate. We’d make sure we’d got some good stout walking boots with us. We’d certainly pack a purse or wallet, most likely containing a debit card, credit card, contactless card, and an emergency number… in case we lose all our cards! And then there would be our mobile, maybe laptop, and of course a battery back up…

I’m sure we’d also take a walking stick, hat, sleeping bag, sleeping mat….and while we’re at it, well why not add the kitchen sink!! 

But with all this, we’ll certainly be well prepared for the journey.

Let’s go back and check what actually happened in the Gospel passage set for today.

Jesus calls his friends together and says right off you go on a journey into the unknown, strange places you have never been before, carrying a rather unusual message people might be a bit suspicious of. So let’s check his list of essential items, to tick them off and make sure we’ve got everything, because surely if anyone would know what we really need, its Jesus.

So Jesus sent out 70 of them, that’s good – lots of personnel on the ground – we should be able to get around a fair few places with that many of us.

And they were to go out in pairs – yes that’s great – good safety advice there – always have someone to watch your back.

Then he talks a lot about harvests and labourers – basically the message seems to be that there’s a lot more work to be done than people to do it – well what’s new you might ask!

Then he says, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves – what!  This sounds a bit scary – where’s the risk assessment, that’s what I want to know – has he got the public liability insurance sorted out??  Where’s the emergency back up??

And then, finally, some proper advice about what to pack….purse, sandals…

But hold on a moment – he says carry no purse, take no bag, have no sandals on your feet!

What!! Is he mad?  No money, no backpack, no walking boots – pah to sandals!  What is he thinking of?

And then he says – greet no one on the road – well that’s probably for the best – after all, you can’t trust strangers these days can you?

Whatever house you enter say Peace be to this house!  Well, yes, fair enough.
Cure the sick – now hang on a moment – that’s a bit beyond my pay grade if you ask me – isn’t that what he’s supposed to be doing?  

And say to them ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you….’  

The kingdom of God has come near to you….in me?  How can that be?

All I’ve done is set out, with nothing to sustain or protect me on the journey, being forced to trust in God, because, well let’s be honest, there’s nothing else is there? 

I’m just going because he told us to, on this mad, hare-brained crack-pot scheme, when I’d rather have been safe at home, getting on with life as usual, and here I am with nothing but my belief, I don’t know why, that he is the One we’ve been waiting for, here I am, going out just as I am, having to trust that all will be well, that offering his peace will be enough….

Here I am – trusting Jesus, trusting God, trusting that the kingdom of God is really here – and its nothing like I expected!

Is that the point I wonder?

Luke the doctor turned disciple did just this- Paul the Pharisee turned apostle did this – and we too, now, are doing this – trusting God, following Jesus, telling the good news, letting go of all the props that weigh us down and hold us back, stepping out in faith alone and telling the whole world ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’

And telling this to a world so much in need of that Good News – a world full of suffering, and fearful, vengeful hearts. 

But a world made by God – and a world saved by God.

Isaiah’s prophecy and Luke’s Gospel show us what God’s salvation looks like – the eyes of the blind are opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped; the lame leap like a deer, and those whose voices are silenced will sing for joy. 

And waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert – all miracles of healing and transformation – this is the Gospel that Luke shows us and the reality of the early church that he was a part of.

Today we pray this same healing and transformation for the people of the Middle East – the Holy Land where Jesus and Luke lived and loved its people. People just like us – so often at war with themselves and with one another. And this miracle of healing and transformation is possible – and believing that will help us live in such a way as to bring about peace. 

So as the people of St Luke, and the people of St John the Baptist – both of whom went about preaching the Good News – today let us renew afresh our faith, our trust, our willingness to do all we can so that God can work through us to bring the miracle of Healing and transformation to those most in need.

Say to everyone – Peace to you – the kingdom of God has come near to you.

Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston. 15th October 2023. (St Luke’s Church Peterborough UK)

Readings: Ephesians 4.17-end, St. Matthew 9.1-8