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."
We have been reflecting, in the past days, on the invisible, even secret character of the supernatural things, namely of the Kingdom of God. This Gospel fleshes this out even more by describing the unpredictable way supernatural things occur. Jesus makes reference to the sudden character of the flood in Noah's days, which came upon the world as an overpowering wave. Unpredictable, overwhelming, definite. Jesus specifically refers to the end of times, of course, which will happen in an equally definite fashion. We can also go ahead and apply it to the end of our time, which we cannot foresee either. Really, most supernatural things have that unpredictability to them, do they not?
I do think that the most common reaction when hearing that “it” can be any time, that one can never be sure when “it” comes is anguish. Why do we tend to get nervous? Because we fear death? Or because we feel unprepared for the last judgment? Both would be totally understandable. But let's take a look at the Gospel: Jesus uses a different term instead of death or judgment.The "wave" He announces is the “day of the Son of Man.” So it is not a question of when “it” will come, but when “He” will. The overpwoering flood at the end of times is the coming of Christ in an unpredictable, overwhelming, and definite way. Nobody will be able to avoid Him anymore. The flood of His coming will destroy all the intricate shields with which mankind tries to keep God our of their lives. The coming of His Kingdom will through down all the walls behind which we hide.
Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man in order to express how close and solidary He is to you. So, you do not have to be afraid! He refers to your last days as His days. So, you do not have to be afraid! He is your friend, your love, your happiness. So, you do not have to be afraid! Renew your resolve to give to Him the first place today. Make today His day. Then, His day at the end of times will be a day of familiar friendship, of strong love, and of a happiness which has its roots in your life now. A day to look forward to. A day to prepare for in prayer by saying: “Thy Kingdom Come!”
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