Daily Readings - Fri Nov 17 2017
Luke
26Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.27They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.28Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot--they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,29but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all--30so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.31On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.32Remember Lot's wife.33Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.34I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.35There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left."36See Footnote37And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of awareness and preparedness. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom reminds us that creation itself is a testament to God’s existence. It cautions against the tendency to mistake the beauty of the world for the divine itself, rather than recognizing the Creator behind it. This passage emphasizes that while creation is magnificent, it is merely a reflection of God’s greatness, and we must not lose sight of the Creator in the midst of His creation.
The Gospel from Luke takes this theme further, as Jesus warns us about the importance of being prepared for His return. Drawing parallels to the days of Noah and Lot, Jesus illustrates how people were so engrossed in their daily lives that they failed to recognize the impending judgment. Jesus’ message is clear: we must remain vigilant and not allow ourselves to be consumed by the distractions of the world. The example of Lot’s wife serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of looking back, both literally and metaphorically.
Together, these readings call us to live with a sense of awareness and faith. They remind us to seek God in all things, whether in the beauty of creation or in the midst of our daily lives. Jesus’ words challenge us to be prepared, not out of fear, but out of love and devotion. Let us strive to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, so that we may recognize His presence in all aspects of our lives and be ready to meet Him when He comes.