Ps 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18
Lk 17:26-37 Full Readings
The Son of Man Will Come Again
Brethren, every year, towards the end of the liturgical year, the Mother Church gives us a chance to reflect on the Readings concerning the end of times when the Son of Man Will come back. The aim is to remind us that we should always be ready because we don't know when the Son of Man will come again. Therefore, as we approach the end of this liturgical year, we start to reflect on Jesus' teachings on the end of times. We cannot take the teachings and the warnings in these readings for granted, we need to prepare. Be alert!
Yesterday, Jesus told his disciples that the kingdom of God is already among them, however, as we saw, it will be fully revealed and beheld at the end of time when the Son of Man comes back. Today he tells us how the day of his return will be. It will be like the time of Noah and Lot, and many things will happen on that day. Nobody will have time to look for his possessions or savings, we are going with nothing, two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, and the other left etc. These look frightening but they will happen.
These warnings are not there to frighten or instill fear in us but to help us to prepare well for the day with the knowledge of knowing what will happen on that day. On that day, there will be no I never knew. For those who are not be prepared for that day, their song will be, “Had I known.” It is here and now to prepare. The people in Noah's time and Lot's time were warned but they didn't heed the warning. They kept on eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, buying and selling, planting and building but when the flood (Noah's time) and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah (Lot's time) came, all were destroyed apart from Noah and Lot.
We too must heed the warning. It is easy to believe that you always have tomorrow to change, and so you give into temptation today. And then tomorrow comes, and the temptation is once again embraced with the thought that you will work on it tomorrow, and henceforth. We can easily go about perpetuating our sins and embracing our temptations while we have the ongoing good intention of changing tomorrow. This is a mistake, and we may end up like those in Noah's and Lot's time.
This is because: it always remains a possibility that our Lord will indeed come today and that today truly will be the end of the world. Or it always remains a distinct possibility that your life will come to an end today, suddenly and unexpectedly. If those were to happen, would you be fully ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ? Most people would not be, at least not fully ready. Thus, this should be motivation enough to work tirelessly today to be ready now and every moment hereafter.
What does Jesus mean when he says that one person will be taken and another left? God judges everyone individually on how each person has responded to his gracious mercy and invitation to accept his Son as Lord and Ruler over all. The Lord Jesus gives us personal freedom to accept or reject him as Lord and Savior. We are free to live as citizens of his kingdom or to choose the kingdom of darkness that stands in opposition to God and his rule. No one can pass off their personal responsibility to someone else - no matter how close the ties may be in this present life. We will each have to give an account to the Judge of All for how we have accepted or rejected him as our lord and saviour.
The good news is that when we go astray and come back to Jesus, He will welcome us back. He gives us his Holy Spirit to lead and guide us to avoid sin and to give us Wisdom so that we prepare wisely for the last day. The last day is Good News to those who have prepared for it and bad news to those who didn't for they will go into eternal damnation. Those whose hope is firmly anchored in heaven will not be disappointed when the day of final judgment comes. They rejoice even now that their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20) and they look with eager longing for the day when they will see the Lord face to face (Revelation 22:4). Is your hope firmly placed in the Lord Jesus and his return in glory?
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, help me to never lose sight of the goal of heaven that I may live each day in joyful anticipation of your return in glory. Amen
Be blessed
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