32nd Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 13th November 2020 — Gospel: Lk 17,26-37
Lacking Knowledge of the Scriptural Warning
Jesus states that when he appears as son of Man, there will be division between people. Some will be judged ready to be taken into God’s kingdom; others will be left outside. This takes place while they were doing daily chores of life. Jesus points out to the example of Noah and Lot with respect to the coming judgment of God, which Peter also refers to in his epistle (2 Pet 2,5-8). Several lessons are taught by the OT incidents concerning Noah (Gen chs.6-9) and Lot (Gen ch.19). Both men lived among wicked men. Both were taken out of God’s judgment. In both cases, the judgment of God was poured out on a wicked generation and many died. And in both, no one seemed to be aware of the judgment of God that was coming until it was too late.
Peter refers to Noah as a “preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2,5). Then why did the people not heed the warnings of judgment which God provided? Jesus brings out the reason why the judgment fell upon them. Because everybody was going about their daily activities of living. People were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling, planting and building. They never realized that judgment was coming upon them. While in Noah’s and Lot’s day, there were exceedingly wicked people but Jesus did not emphasize their wickedness. He did not say that when the end came, they were engaged in their sinful practices. These people were judged for their sin, but they were caught off doing what everyone does. Indeed, the one that is taken and the one that is left are both doing the same things (17,34-35). Jesus warns of the spiritual dullness which unbelievers face because of their worldliness. He gives the reason that men do not look for the kingdom when their “life” is wrapped up in this life, and especially in the “things of this life.” When their “lives” are caught up in the pursuits of living, they become insensitive to spiritual matters, and in particular to those warnings of the Scriptures concerning God’s coming and His judgment.
