FIRST READING
“He who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint John (2 John 4-9)
[Elect lady,] I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. And now I beg you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward. Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 119: 1.2.10.11.17. I b (R. lb)
R/. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord! R.
Blessed are those who keep his decrees!
With all their hearts they seek him. R.
I have sought you with all my heart;
let me not stray from your commands. R.
I treasure your word in my heart,
lest I sin against you. R.
Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word. R.
Open my eyes, that I may see
the wonders of your law. R.
ALLELUIA Luke 21:28
Alleluia. Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“So it will be on the day when the Son of man is revealed.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 17:26-37)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was in the days of Lot— they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the other left.” And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The commandment of love of God and neighbour is the greatest of all commandments, says St John in today’s first reading. This is the way of Jesus and this is the true manner of living.
The unexpected nature of the coming of the son of man as depicted in the gospel is very frightening. This was portrayed by images of Noah and the flood, the days that two men will be sleeping on a bed, one will be taken and the other left, two women will be grinding together, one will be taken and the other left. The warning is not to frighten but to stimulate Christians to action. It is to motivate all to be prepared by living according to the commandments of God.