Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL, Bishop of Parramatta
Homily for the Feast of St Luke the Evangelist and the opening and blessing of the new parish building at St Luke’s Parish, Marsden Park
Readings: 2 Timothy 4:10-17; Psalm 144(145):10-13, 17-18; Luke 10:1-9
19 October 2025
Called to build a Church of faith, hope and love
My dear people,
It is with great joy and gratitude to God that we have gathered to celebrate our Feast Day and to open the new parish building, which will be our temporary church. Like a young fledgling family, we have our fair share of challenges. But the grace of God has enabled us to form a cohesive Catholic community and to become the instrument of peace, unity and cohesion for this burgeoning area.
In our parish prayer, we set out to become “a community of communities”, that is, a place where all people regardless of race, culture and language, can feel loved, accepted and encouraged to live the Good News. Like the early Christians, we may be poor in resources and lacking in many things. Yet we endeavour to be rich in mutual love, support and care for one another. I am deeply indebted to all of you who have shown tremendous generosity, commitment and effort in building this faith community from its humble beginnings. I am especially grateful to Fr. Gayan who has continued the legacy of Deacon Tony and his wife Annette in the nurturing of relationships and the partnership with God’s people.
The Word of God on the feast of St Luke challenges us to be a force for positive transformation in the world. In the first reading, Paul writes to Timothy concerning the trials and tribulations he faces in the work of preaching the Gospel. Not only does he have to contend with relentless opposition and persecution, but he also feels abandoned by some of his associates. Paul is undeterred, though. With the support of Luke and, above all, with the grace of God, he is determined to preach the Good News notwithstanding everything to the contrary.
In the Gospel, Jesus puts to his disciples an alternative vision of life, which is the polar opposite to what the dominant imperial system has to offer. He sends his disciples on an open mission to heal, restore and transform the lives of the poor and sick and the broken-hearted. Just as he himself was sent to bring God’s justice, mercy and compassion to all, the disciples are given the same missionary mandate.
Jesus is also clear that wealth and privilege are real dangers that have the power to separate one from God and from the human community. Hence, he warns them not to take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money and not even a spare tunic. This is a radical message that challenges our innate sense of security. It goes against the popular notion that the more we possess and the more riches we have, the more secure we are. Jesus’ injunction to us is to travel light, to take ourselves less seriously and to focus our attention on the work of the kingdom instead. When all else fails, our fallback position is an abiding sense of trust in God.
This was the way the early Christian community lived and shared the Good News. In the face of a fractured society, they shone as an agent of radical inclusivity, hospitality and justice. Against the dominant system of exploitation, self-interest and greed, they enacted an ethos of respect, justice and compassion. During the time of the Roman persecution, the Church gathered in places like the catacombs. It was poor, persecuted and few in numbers. Yet it shone like a beacon of hope in the world. Today, the Church might be more compact. But we endeavour not to lose our impact as an authentic sign of God’s presence in the world.
Brothers and sisters,
Today we honour St Luke our patron. His Gospel is my favourite because it puts in bold relief the Christ who has a particular concern for the least and the last, the downtrodden and the rejected. Luke gives us a powerful message through the Magnificat, the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Zacchaeus story etc. They reveal the God of reversals: the outsider became the insider, the outcast became God’s favoured, the last became the first.
In so doing, he breaks down barriers that separate us; he destroys human conventions, social taboos, prejudice, and stereotyping. He looks beyond the appearances and the external characteristics. He sees more generosity in the widow’s mite, more faith in the public sinner, more dignity in the beggar, more humanity in the prostitute, more goodness in the Samaritan. Such presentation of Christ is a source of joy and gratitude, but also a challenge for us to expand our hearts and measure up to the God of radical love, outreach and generosity.
We give thanks for a rich tapestry of faith that has been woven by many faithful, generous and committed parishioners. Our celebration of a new church building reminds us of our commitment to build a church of faith, hope and love. As we give thanks to God, let us become the temple of God ourselves by way of our faithful and active discipleship. In the awareness that God makes great things happen through our humble but tenacious faith, we commend our future into his hands. May St Luke intercede for us in creating and fostering a community where there is no barrier and where God’s universal and inclusive love is made present.
