REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 32ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1 17TH NOVEMBER 2023

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 32ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1 17TH NOVEMBER 2023

Wisdom 13:1-9; Ps.19; Luke 17:26-37

Salvation is Personal

The gospel of today continues the lesson taught by that of yesterday, namely, that the coming of the kingdom of God will not be associated with perceptible signs. Men and women will be about their normal daily routine when the end will eventually come. Therefore, we must already be ready.

Going further, Jesus used an illustration to demonstrate the judgmental nature of the second coming of Christ. He said that two men will be in one bed, one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding together, one will be taken and the other left. What this means is that human relationship does not interfere with the judgment of God. We will be judged not on the basis of our relationship with people but on the basis of our relationship with God.

When you are close to high profile persons, you are said to be connected. One who is connected gets uncommon favours. This principle does not work exactly in God’s kingdom. We may be close to or even related to our priests, but if that closeness does not influence our lives for the better, if will not guarantee us heaven. The only workable connection is heaven is Divine Connection.

Heaven is not a place to parade ones social status but ones spiritual status. Do not be satisfied that your parents are praying for you while you do not pray for yourself. Do not find solace in the spiritual vigour of your spouse while you swim in complacency. Salvation is personal. The holiness of another will not stand for you on the judgment seat of God. So, rather than concern ourselves with perceptible signs for the end of the world, let us be busy copying the good around us so that we become stronger in Divine connection.