Luke 17:26-37

Today’s scripture passage is first of all a reminder that catastrophe can strike without warning. It is a reminder of the preciousness and fragility of life itself.  Jesus associates this reality with the day of his coming, his return to us on earth.

Secondly, it holds up to us a mirror to see our own times, when people are consumed with eating, drinking, marriages and sexual relationships, business dealings, entertainments, television, movies, digital pasttimes, and so on, which seem all consuming.  Yet all this can be suddenly gone if a disaster comes, so remain aware of big vision.

Thirdly, this reading asks us not to get so consumed by bodily needs and diversions that we forget the spiritual.  The physical is impermanent – as much as it is part of God’s creation, and God wants us to care for our bodies – it is still impermanent and subject to change, whether sudden or gradual.  Yes, keep writing, it is fine.  But when the disciples ask, where, Lord, will this sudden coming happen?  Jesus replies, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”  What does this mean?  It means he is not referring to a specific geographic location or point in time necessarily, but to the nature of the body being impermanent.  As he has said elsewhere, look to heaven to store up treasures.  That means invest in the eternal, the life of the spirit.  Amen.