FRIDAY OF THE THIRTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (Luke 17:26-37) - The Word of God for Everyone

FRIDAY OF THE THIRTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious (Luke 17:26-37) Jesus said to his disciples: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; 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. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left." They said to him in reply, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather." The Gospel of the Lord:” Praise to You, Lord Jesus The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, The Word of God today teaches people how the day of God's coming will take place. God's invitation is not to worship material things above God and not to despise Him. God is Omnipotent and Almighty. He has full power to destroy sin. But He always gives people the freedom to choose to follow God or follow the material world. God sees clearly everyone's thoughts, words, actions, and deeds. He knows who is passionate about worshipping material things or focusing on God. In the time of Noah and Lot, people valued and worshipped material things above all things, and placed the needs of life above worshipping God, above His love, providence, compassion, and mercy. Therefore, some consequences were not good for humans, that is, humans had to die in suffering and live apart from God. God warns people: whoever fears for his life will lose it, and whoever risks losing his life for God will save it. The Word of God today also invites everyone to know how to love, forgive, and generously give everything they have been given by God. Because what is given with love is never lost. God is love. He cares about everything in human life and the soul. God gives people freedom: freedom to walk on the path of God's grace gives them eternal life. If one freely follows the path of the material world and leaves God out of one's life, that person's soul will not be happy in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven in the future. God invites people to aim towards a God of love, the only God and the goal of their lives. Only He can bring happiness and eternal life to humans. God gave two images from the time of Noah and Lot to warn people in today's world: We must be alert to not fall into Satan's traps and temptations of valuing and worshipping material things and worshipping humans above God. God loves people. He invites people to stand up and follow the path of love, and forgiveness, the path to God who is the supreme power above all things. Only that path can lead people to the main goal of human life, which is happiness in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. God invites people today to be alert in every place and time. Be alert in your thoughts, words, and deeds to not fall into Satan's trap, to no longer walk on the path of sin, but on the path of holiness, the good path given, and invite people to follow. Thanks Be to God. Amen.