Daily Readings - Fri Nov 17 2017
Luke
26"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.28"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.30"It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.31On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.32Remember Lot's wife!33Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.34I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.35Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."36Verse omitted from the New International Version37"Where, Lord?" they asked. He replied, "Where there is a dead body, 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.