Echo

The pithy prologue (Luke 1:1-4) offers three convictions when we listen to the Word of God.

1. Confidence

Literally, it means ‘with trust,’ from Latin (con-fiducia). A beautiful word, found often in the Bible.

Luke encourages us to have confidence, to listen and read with trust, because:

He is relying on ‘eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word’ (Luke 1).

2. Theophilus

Was Luke commissioned to write his gospel by Theophilus? Maybe, maybe not.

Literally, it means ‘loved by God’ or perhaps ‘lover of God.’ When we listen to or read the Word of God:

We should remember: We are loved by God.

We should remember: We are to be lovers of God.

3. Catechesis

Literally, it means ‘to echo.’ When we listen to the Word of God, we expect to feel the echo:

Because eyewitnesses have handed over to us the mystery of faith contained in historical events (Luke 1).

Luke, a man of science and a doctor, tells us we are dealing with reality, not fantasy.

Find the reality in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in YOUCAT (Youth Catechism), in YOUCAT for Kids.

Leave them lying around our homes, ensuring the echo is loud and clear.

Amen.