In St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy we read: Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you … I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus. This passage is not unique. In almost all his letters Paul lists his collaborators by name and the Acts of the Apostles lists others — depending on how you count, 73 in all. This puts a lie to the notion of Paul as a “lone ranger.” He was effective as a missionary because of the involvement of those he called “co-workers.” When we think of our vocation as “missionary disciples” we should have a similar plan to collaborate with others.
