Reflecting on the Past from a Distance

Nov. 15: Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s readings reflect a certain temporal distance that some sections of the New Testament have from the events of Jesus’ life.

At the start of the Second Epistle of John (clipped from today’s first reading), St. John refers to himself as “the ancient” because he was one of the few remaining Apostles. Remember, St. John was given the important task of taking care of Mother Mary, by Jesus Himself. As a consequence of that assignment, he's the only Apostle who wasn't martyred, and lived to old age.

Luke wasn’t an Apostle, but he knew many of the Apostles, as well Mary. Unlike Matthew and John,¹ Luke’s Gospel is second-hand, which has some advantages. He’s able to get a little distance and objectivity, seeing the long-term implications of the things Jesus said and did.

Reading 1

2 Jn 4-9

[Chosen Lady:] I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.

Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist. Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.

St. John not only watched over Mary, but the burgeoning Church. And so in his letters, John often answers theological questions the arose as the faith spread. Here, we see him correcting a misunderstanding about the humanity of Christ. Certain sects believed Jesus was a spirit who came to Earth, but was never corporeal. John (and his adopted mother) knew better. He walked with Jesus, ate with Jesus, fished with Jesus. Before and after Jesus' death.

Even as John corrects the heresy, notice his patience. He talks about the commandment of love. He welcomes anyone who accepts his true teachings. People make theological mistakes; we all do. But if we're open to correction and accepting the truth, we can still be accepted.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18

R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
 With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

The arc of this psalm is interesting. It begins with saying those who follow God are blessed, then admits (by implication) that the singer may not always be that person. We have to keep seeking out understanding, keep trying to do better. We ask God to show us what we're missing.

Alleluia

Lk 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

Jesus warns us that we’ll see troubling times, but we should remain steady in our faith.

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."

The Second Coming will be a surprise when it happens; anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something. Heck, early Christians believed it would happen any day now, and they were obviously mistaken.

But remember, Luke is writing this down decades after the Resurrection. So this warning isn’t just about the Parousia; it’s also for everyone who passes away before then. It happens every day—eating, drinking, buying, selling, and then suddenly, they’re gone without warning.

So rather than trying to preserve our lives (which won’t happen), we should should lose it to God.

1. And probably Mark, although Mark wasn’t one of The Twelve.