Surprise

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111717.cfm) reminds me that God will come when we least expect it. 

When we are expecting important visitors, we prepare the house. We do extra cleaning, we take out special utensils, and we do our best to have the best version of our place for the visitor to see. However, no matter how beautiful they may see the house, it may not necessarily reflect the true state of the house – since it was prepared for beforehand. When the same visitor comes back unexpectedly, most probably the house will not be in the same order. There will be differences, for he will see the real and current state of the house, and not the prepared one. This is how God will visit us.

God will surprise us. He will come when we least expect it, when we are at our truest, and we will not have time to prepare for him. He will see the real state of our lives, of our souls.

In the gospel, the flood came as a surprise. People were doing their thing. The weather was sunny and normal. However, when Noah got to the ark, flood came and destroyed those unprepared. This was also the case with Lot. People were doing what they do normally, they were living in sin, and when Lot left Sodom, the city was destroyed. They were caught unprepared and suffered the consequences.

We are reminded to be prepared for God’s ultimate surprise. He will come when we least expect it. And he will see us in our real state. We should not wait for something before we change and prepare. We should not wait for old age of when things settle down before we live right and serve him. We should not think that there will be time to repent and prepare tomorrow, for tomorrow is uncertain. We need to live right now. we need to be prepared anytime. So when God comes to surprise us, it will be a pleasant one for us.

May we listen to his call and prepare.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for the reminder. Thank you for the examples. Lord, I know you will come when I least expect it, so I ask that you help me prepare. Sorry for the times I ignore you, or the times I feel I would have an opportunity in the future to prepare for you. Sorry for being too complacent. Help me act with a sense of urgency. Help me live right, starting today, and everyday for you. So that when you come to surprise me, I will be glad and be rewarded with eternity with you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 17, 2017
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Lectionary: 495

Reading 1WIS 13:1-9

All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God,
and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is,
and from studying the works did not discern the artisan;
But either fire, or wind, or the swift air,
or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water,
or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods.
Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods,
let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these;
for the original source of beauty fashioned them.
Or if they were struck by their might and energy,
let them from these things realize how much more powerful is he who made them.
For from the greatness and the beauty of created things
their original author, by analogy, is seen.
But yet, for these the blame is less;
For they indeed have gone astray perhaps,
though they seek God and wish to find him.
For they search busily among his works,
but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair.
But again, not even these are pardonable.
For if they so far succeeded in knowledge
that they could speculate about the world,
how did they not more quickly find its Lord?

Responsorial PsalmPS 19:2-3, 4-5AB

R. (2a) The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

AlleluiaLK 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 17:26-37

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.
Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot:
they were eating, drinking, buying,
selling, planting, building;
on the day when Lot left Sodom,
fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all.
So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, someone who is on the housetop
and whose belongings are in the house
must not go down to get them,
and likewise one in the field
must not return to what was left behind.
Remember the wife of Lot.
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it,
but whoever loses it will save it.
I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed;
one will be taken, the other left.
And there will be two women grinding meal together;
one will be taken, the other left." 
They said to him in reply, "Where, Lord?"
He said to them, "Where the body is,

there also the vultures will gather."