Surprise

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111618.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.

What is the state of my life right now? Do I constantly prepare for God’s coming, or do I procrastinate? Am I ready to face God if he comes right now?

May we listen to his call and prepare for God’s coming. 

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-

Daily Readings

November 16, 2018

Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 495

Reading 1 2 JN 4-9

[Chosen Lady:]
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth
just as we were commanded by the Father.
But now, Lady, I ask you,
not as though I were writing a new commandment
but the one we have had from the beginning:
let us love one another.
For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;
this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning,
in which you should walk.

Many deceivers have gone out into the world,
those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh;
such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.
Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for
but may receive a full recompense.
Anyone who is so "progressive"
as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God;
whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18

R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Alleluia LK 21:28

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

Gospel LK 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."