11/14/2025 (Friday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 17:26-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
26 “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man;
27 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.
28 Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying,
selling, planting, building;
29 on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all.
30 So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
31 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.
32 Remember the wife of Lot.
33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.
34 I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left.
35 And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.”
37 They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”

11/14/2025 (Friday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Luke 17:26-37

Life today moves at an incredible pace. People are constantly chasing after success, comfort, and recognition. We wake up each morning with a list of things to do such as meetings to attend, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. In the midst of it all, it’s easy to forget that life is temporary, and that one day, everything we hold on to will fade. The message from the Gospel above is a powerful reminder that we must live with spiritual awareness, because the moment of God’s coming, whether through the end of time or the end of our own earthly life, can come when we least expect it.

During the time of Noah, people lived as if life would go on forever. They built homes, raised families, and enjoyed their daily routines. They didn’t see any problem until the rain started to fall. The same happened in the time of Lot. People were busy with work and pleasure, unaware of the coming destruction. Today, we see the same pattern. People are so absorbed in their screens, careers, and ambitions that they forget the deeper purpose of existence. When tragedies like natural disasters, pandemics, or sudden loss strike, many are caught unprepared, not because they didn’t believe such things could happen, but because they never thought it could happen to them.

We live in an age of distractions. Social media floods our minds with images of luxury and success, encouraging us to compare and compete. The desire to “keep up” often pushes spiritual growth aside. We invest heavily in physical health, career growth, and financial stability but how often do we invest in our soul? There’s nothing wrong with progress or ambition, but when we lose sight of what truly matters especially our relationship with God and our love for others, we risk building a life that looks full on the outside but is empty within.

Consider how sudden events can change everything. A businessman once spent years climbing the corporate ladder, sacrificing family time and spiritual life for success. One night, he suffered a heart attack and realized how fragile everything was. Lying in the hospital, he didn’t think about his promotions or possessions; he thought about his neglected family and forgotten faith. That wake-up call led him to rebuild his life, not around wealth, but around purpose. His story echoes the lesson of readiness: the time to change is now, not later.

Readiness doesn’t mean living in fear; it means living with purpose. It means choosing kindness over indifference, forgiveness over resentment, and faith over doubt. It means treating every day as a gift and every opportunity to love as sacred. In a world obsessed with temporary gains, readiness is about focusing on what lasts forever, our soul and our relationship with God.

We can also see this truth reflected in our global experiences. The pandemic reminded us how quickly life can change. One day we were making travel plans and attending concerts; the next, we were confined to our homes. Many realized then how uncertain life can be and how important it is to nurture faith, hope, and compassion. For some, it became a moment of spiritual awakening; for others, a time of reflection about priorities.

The call of Jesus in this passage is not to panic but to prepare, to live intentionally, to let go of attachment to material things, and to remember that eternity is real. Every choice we make today shapes our readiness for tomorrow. Every act of love, every moment of prayer, and every instance of humility strengthens our soul for the day when we meet the Lord face to face.

In the end, the lesson is simple yet profound: Be faithful today. Live as if God were coming this very moment. Love deeply, serve sincerely, forgive quickly, and trust completely. The future is uncertain, but when your heart is anchored in God, you are always ready. Because readiness is not about prediction, it’s about preparation. It’s not about knowing when the Lord will come, but about being sure that when He does, He will find you living a life that honors Him.

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