Sunday of Saint Luke the Apostle and Evangelist: Colossians 4:5–11, 14–18

The Church is a community of persons. This is what the Epistle reading reminds us on Sunday, October 18, 2026, as we honor Saint Luke the Apostle and Evangelist. His commemoration draws our attention to a man who served the Gospel through his writing and preaching. Church tradition recognizes him as the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.

The conclusion of the Letter to the Colossians initially appears to be a list of names and practical instructions. Yet these greetings reveal the life of the Church: people of different backgrounds are united in Christ and learn to give expression to their faith through relationships, responsibility, and service (Col. 4:7–18).

Paul begins by calling for wisdom in our conduct toward “outsiders,” those who do not belong to the community. He urges neither isolation nor contempt, but responsible witness. The phrase “making the most of the time” can be understood as an invitation to use every opportunity for good. Our speech, too, is to be “gracious, seasoned with salt”: gentle, yet not lacking conviction; truthful, yet not offensive. Discernment means knowing how to respond to each person, recognizing before us a fellow human…