Friday of the 32nd Week of Ordinary Time – Luke 17:26-37
The
Gospel for today is a bit unsettling. The reading begins with Jesus
saying 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
Noah, his family and friends entered the ark. The flood of water
quickly followed and destroyed everything on the earth. Jesus then
talks about Lot. In Lot’s time they also were eating, drinking as well
as buying and selling. On the day Lot and his family left Sodom, fire
and brimstone rained down upon them from the sky.
What
was Jesus trying to tell his listeners? What is Jesus saying to us
today? We all know that at some point, the “end of time” will come.
However, we do not know the day or the hour it will arrive. Nor do we
know what this experience will be like. The stark description Jesus
gives us is not an inviting nor a hopeful message.
The gift is: today and every day we have a choice.
Each morning, I can ask myself: How will I live my life today? Will I
choose to carouse as they did in Noah’s day? Every day we have a
choice. If we live each day in a loving manner, we will have no need to
be fearful of dying. However, if we are hurtful or indifferent to the
individuals in our lives and to the world, we may get some “fire and
brimstone.”
Every
choice we make is a significant choice! Today (every day) is a good
day to make thoughtful and loving choices and decisions. If we strive
to love each and every day, we will have no need to be afraid of dying!
The gates of heaven will be wide open and Jesus will be waiting for us
and he will welcome us with open and loving arms! It is our decision to
make. What will we choose?
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