Readiness as Response!

Friday, November 17, 2023

Wis 13:1-9; Lk 17:26-37

In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues yesterday’s theme – the coming of the Kingdom – with its characteristic of suddenness. As Jesus cautions us about the surprise, he wants us to get ready with a response.

At first, the examples of Noah (Gen 6:4-7,11-13) and Lot (Gen 19:15-25) help us understand the sudden nature of the Divine judgement. However, what we should not overlook is the reason for the destruction of those cities. 

God punishes the cities because, in them, not God’s will but wickedness reigned supreme. It was accepted as normal and routine. When fear of God was absent, evil flourished. God’s intervention amounts to recreation. 

The suddenness of God’s Kingdom is not a cause for alarm but a reminder of repentance. If our lives can manifest a transformed living, such repentance is the praise of God itself. 

Secondly, Lot’s wife is an example of ‘not to look back but to look forward.’ She acted against God’s instructions and was punished. God’s invitation is always to move ahead and not to cling to our past life. In that sense, God’s invitation is an opportunity to correct ourselves.  

Thirdly, Jesus’ insistence on readiness is our response to meet with the sudden nature of the coming of God’s Kingdom. If we do not know the precise hour to face the inevitable, then constant readiness is the best possible answer. ‘That some will be taken suddenly’ only strengthens the need for readiness. 

I believe that Noah who obeyed God’s command, offers us an example of readiness. He built the ark when it was not raining. Yet Noah was ready with his response to the deluge!

Let us pray for making readiness our habit!

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar