Reflections on Scripture | Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
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."

Reflection

In this gospel. Jesus is trying to awaken His disciples to what's coming. A radical transformation that will be beyond any of their imaginings. So what He’s asking them to do is to pay attention to what's happening, be open, listen, look and read the signs.

He uses a strange image at the end. You know that when you see buzzards flying around in the sky, you know that there's someone or something dead. That's what He’s saying. Pay attention to what's going on in the temple, and in the church, because it is something that is dead that needs to be reborn.

Closing Prayer

Father, your intention always is for life, for light, for beauty, for truth, for love. Help us to see around us when those things are not there and know that they must change and that you have the will and the desire to change them. Using us as your Minister of Life and Light. Bless us in this ministry. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Ame

Kyle Cross