32ND FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 17:26-37) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Nov 15
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - Wis 13:1-9
"For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its Lord?"
A reading from the book of Wisdom
1 Foolish by nature were all who were in ignorance of God,
and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing the one who is,[b]
and from studying the works did not discern the artisan;
2 Instead 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[c] of the world, they considered gods.
3 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.
4 Or if they were struck by their might and energy,
let them realize from these things how much more powerful is the one who made them.
5 For from the greatness and the beauty of created things
their original author, by analogy, is seen.
6 But yet, for these the blame is less;[d]
For they have gone astray perhaps,
though they seek God and wish to find him.
7 For they search busily among his works,
but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair.
8 But again, not even these are pardonable.
9 For if they so far succeeded in knowledge
that they could speculate about the world,
how did they not more quickly find its Lord?
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 17:26-37
"So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed."
✠A Gospel according to Luke
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, a person who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise a person 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.” [36 ][a] 37 They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”
32ND FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 17:26-37)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear people of God,
Today’s Word of God instructs humanity regarding the manner of the Lord’s coming in glory.
God calls on humanity not to worship material things above Him, and not to despise Him.
God is Almighty and All-Powerful, and He has the power to destroy sin; yet He always grants humanity the freedom to choose either to come to Him or follow the material world. God sees clearly every thought, word, action, and deed of each person. He knows those who cling to worldly desires and worship material things, and those who direct their hearts toward God.
In the time of Noah and Lot, people valued and worshiped material things above all else. They placed the needs of life above the worship of God, above His love, providence, and mercy. As a result, an unfortunate consequence befell humanity: they had to die in suffering and live apart from God.
God warns humanity that whoever seeks to save their life will lose it, but whoever is willing to lose their life for God will save it.
Today’s Word of God also invites everyone to live in love, forgiveness, and generosity, giving freely all that God has given to us; for what is offered with love will never be lost.
God is love, and He watches over all things in the life and soul of humanity.
God grants humanity the gifts of freedom: the freedom to walk on the path of grace that He has bestowed leads to eternal life, but the freedom to follow the ways of the material world, excluding God from their lives, results in a soul that will not find happiness in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven in the life to come.
God calls us to turn toward the God of love, the one true God, who is the ultimate purpose of our lives. Only He can bring true happiness and eternal life to humanity.
God presents two images, those of the times of Noah and Lot, to warn humanity in today’s world that we must stay vigilant and not fall into the snares and temptations of Satan by valuing and worshiping material things, or exalting human beings above God.
God loves humanity and calls us to rise and walk along the path of love and forgiveness, running to God, who is the Almighty and Most High above all things. That path alone is the ultimate purpose of human life, the path that leads to true happiness in the eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
God calls humanity today to remain vigilant at all times and in all places, to be watchful in our thoughts, words, and deeds, so that we do not fall into the snares of Satan, not to walk the path of sin, but to walk the path of holiness, the good path that God bestows and calls us to follow.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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