As in the Days of Noah: Living Prepared in Ordinary Times

Jesus warns his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will be sudden and unexpected, . . .

. . . just as in the days of Noah and Lot, when people were absorbed in ordinary activities and unprepared for God’s intervention. Jesus urges readiness, detachment from worldly attachments, and a willingness to surrender one’s life to God.

As the liturgical year nears its end, the Church’s readings focus on the end times . . . not to inspire fear, but to remind believers that life is a journey toward God. The Homily explains that preparing for Christ’s coming involves two essential steps: acknowledging the existence of God and allowing God to influence one’s life.

The first reading from Wisdom warns against admiring creation without recognizing the Creator. True wisdom is to see beauty in the world and let it lead us to God.

What Does Being Ready Mean

The Gospel adds that being ready means letting God shape our daily lives, rather than resisting His influence. Ordinary activities become spiritually empty when God is excluded from them. Preparation involves letting God’s will challenge and transform us, trusting Him even in moments of doubt or suffering. Genuine trust requires a full surrender of the heart . . . not holding back parts of our lives from God.

The Homily concludes with an invitation to affirm love for Jesus from the heart and to let this love guide all actions and decisions.

Listen to this Meditation Media: Listen to:

As in the Days of Noah: Living Prepared in Ordinary Times
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Art Work

Noah and His Ark: American Artist: Charles Willson Peale: 1819

Noah kneels in the foreground surrounded by family and creatures.

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Gospel Reading: Luke 17: 26-37
First Reading: Wisdom 13: 1-9