From Rome St Paul wrote his second letter to his companion and disciple, Timothy. In this letter Paul says that his other companions had deserted him except for Luke. It is this Luke who wrote the third gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke tells us a lot about Paul's journeys, work and preaching, and evidently travelled with him some of the time as his companion. He narrates this in the Acts of the Apostles. In his gospel, Luke tells how Jesus selected and sent out a large number of disciples who were to precede Him to the places He would visit. And, notably, He sent them in pairs. It's also Luke who tells us about a pair of disciples walking together to Emmaus on Easter day.

Companionship on a journey is a clear theme, whether the journey of life, going or being sent on a mission, preparing the way of the Lord. The work and mission the Lord gives is not for a solo effort or in isolation: Christians are always in a community, even if sometimes they are physically alone in their mission or ministry. A very old Christian spiritual tradition is that of 'accompaniment', going along with someone, being a soul-friend or spiritual guide. Do I have a soul-friend, to encourage and guide and strengthen me? Who is my "Luke" to share with me God's word? and for whom am I, perhaps, their "Luke"?