Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop, 11 November, 2022

Gospel  Lk 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.”

Reflection

Whoever seeks to preserve his or her life seeks to strengthen his or her position, her power, using earthly and often scandalous means. The taste of power is often very palatable to the worldly. In circles where power is in the hand of a Christian, we are reminded that it was given to us and it can be taken from us. God entrusted us with power at a particular time, and can give us more power if we are worthy or unworthy, it is a grace. But holding on it , through devious means, will surely lead us into a worse spiritual condition and make us fall in trust of both God and humankind. And so, who ever seeks to preserve his or her life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. The more humble and giving we are, open to the will of God, the more the eyes of the Lord will follow us gently, because God can trust us in being good caretakers of those God has put in our care. 

Activity: 

Are you in power? Or are you trying to seek power in the coming elections? Rest! Leave it to God. Do your daily duty faithfully, and leave the rest to God.