REFLECTION FOR TODAY
November 12, 2021
By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA
Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” Lk. 17:26-27
As Christians baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus, we should long and hope for the second coming of Christ. But whenever the talk of the second coming of Christ is mentioned, it elicits fear in us. Jesus gives us the example of Noah and Lot in our gospel reference of today.
In both of their stories, people were eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting, and building up, until the very day the floods destroy the earth at the time of Noah and fire rained down from the sky at the time of Lot. Both Noah and Lot were saved, but many others alive at that time met with sudden and unexpected destruction.
Eat and drinking are good, but when we become entirely wrapped up in them so that they become an end in themselves, and spiritual task are neglected, then they become evidence of gross materialism, false security, and selfishness. The people of both Noah and lots time failed to realize their perilous situation until it was too late.
Jesus says the “days of the Son of Man” will be like these previous two events. At an unexpected time, Jesus will return to earth, and the Final Judgment will ensue. Jesus is calling us to be always ready. We may have heard this message often. It may even be easy to believe there will always be tomorrow to change but what if tomorrow doesn’t come?
We should never become so immersed in the things of this world as to forget eternity. God could call us to himself at any moment. Our life is in his hands. Whenever he calls, at morning, midday or evening we must be ready. It always remains a possibility that Jesus will come today and not tomorrow.
Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. To “gain life” means to try to hang on to life. it denotes “earthbound” people. “To lose life” means to practice self-denial and self-sacrifice.
Reflect, today, upon whether you regularly seek to lose your life for the sake of the Kingdom of God or not. Do you continually choose grace, mercy, Heaven, obedience, love, self-sacrifice, compassion, forgiveness and the like, every moment of every day of your life? If so, then our Lord will continually bestow the gift of His saving grace upon you here and now, preparing you for the ultimate moment of judgment. If not, then you will be more like the people of Noah’s and Lot’s time who met with sudden destruction when they least expected it. Live for God now, today, in this moment, and you will be eternally grateful you did.
Lord, You come to me always, suddenly and unexpectedly, and so often I do not hear You or perceive Your presence. Please help me to live continually for You and by Your grace, choosing Heavenly realities over temporary indulgences. May I live this way always, meeting You every moment of my life and anticipating that glorious final meeting with You at the time of judgment. Jesus, I trust in You.