Luke the Evangelist was surely inspired by the authentic witnessing of those who had closely encountered Jesus. In his missionary journey with Paul, he would have shared Paul's experience of being deserted, betrayed, opposed, and lonely. When Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he did not forsake Paul, and that, taught him perseverance.

It is through Luke's Gospel, that we learn and celebrate the account of the Annunciation. Throughout his writing, a profound view of man and woman, rich and poor, righteous and evil, are divinely placed in the greater scheme of Jesus' salvific work. In his journey with Paul who was deserted by Demas, slandered by Alexander, "bitterly contesting everything that they say'' (v 15), they found friends in Crescens, Titus, and Carpus. Most importantly, Paul testified that 'when everyone deserted me, the Lord stood by me.'.

What does this mean for us?

Luke's accounts are from tangible human realities when becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, then and now. Friends will let us down and oppose us; however, others will would support us. We take heart that the Lord knows our situation, whether in times of crises, deep loneliness, despair, disappointment, joy, feasting, jubilation, fellowship and celebration. The Lord will always 'stand by us' and give us our own "St Luke'', whom Paul says, was the only one who "is with me'' {v 11}.