Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 11.11.11

Wisdom 13:1--9

Luke 17:26--37

The first reading is a warning to all those who follow idolatry in one form or the other. God's judgement is upon them. The Gospel reading  warns us christians to be faithful to God and not be overly attached to the world.This creation will pass away one day ( though that 'day' is not specified ) and instantly God's  judgement will be upon all of us both living and dead.This is what happened at the time of Lot and Noah and again foretold by Jesus about the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army in 70 AD by the Hand of God. In our own memory we  are witnesses to massive destruction by Tsunamis, earthquakes, floods. epidemics etc. Our end may come any time.But the Final End will come when Jesus returns to judge the world. What do we learn here about Jesus coming? Jesus will come when everything is going on normally, when nobody is expecting him.Jesus will come suddenly and without warning.When Jesus comes it will be too late to do anything or get anything. Material possessions have no meaning at that time, and those for whom they do have meaning are destined for judgment.When Jesus comes people side by side will be separated, one for salvation, the other for judgment.When Jesus comes his location will be immediately obvious from far away. It will not be hidden or secret.We christians must be ready and watchful, lest we be lulled into spiritual lethargy by the progress of life from one generation to the next and assume that Jesus wont return after all -- that there must have been some mistake. 

The Apostle Peter issues such a warning for us in  2 Peter 3:3--13.  " First of all you must realize  that in the last days cynical mockers will undoubtedly come -- men whose only guide in life is what they want for themselves -- they will say, "Where is his promised coming ? Since our fathers fell asleep, everything remains exactly as it was since the beginning of creation ! " They are deliberately shutting their eyes to the fact that there were heavens in the old days and an earth formed by God's command out of water and by water.It was by water that the world of those days was deluged and destroyed, but the present heavens and the earth are, also by God's command, being carefully kept and maintained for the fire of the day of judgement and the destruction of wicked men. But you should never lose sight of this fact, dear friends, that with the Lord a day may be a thousand years, and a thousand years only day. It is not that he is dilatory about keeping his own promise as some men seem to think; the fact is that he is very patient with you. He has no wish that any man should be destroyed; he wishes that all men should find the way to repentance. Yet the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. In that day the heavens will vanish in a tearing blast, the very elements will disintegrate in heat and the earth and all its works will disappear."

Let us pray that God will be merciful to us and prepare us for Jesus' sudden coming. Let us not cling to material things and be wholly immersed in the affairs of this world. Let us keep our eyes ever open looking for His appearing. Let us not be like Lot's wife who was so near to salvation but missed it because of her attachments to worldly life. Let us not disregard the love and sacrifice of Jesus for us on the cross .

God Bless.