2 John 4-9
Psalm 118(119):1-2,10-11,17-18
Luke 17:26-37
Where the Body is, there the vultures will be gathered together.” (Lk. 17:37 ; Matthew 24:28).
When Jesus refers to “the days of Noah” in Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 17:26-27, He describes the wicked people whom the Flood “destroyed” (Luke) or “took … away” (Matthew). In both passages, Jesus says that the same will be true at His coming. In Matthew, He then says, “one will be taken … the other left.” Since His subject is the wicked, the verb describes what will happen to them: they will perish.
Jesus’ disciples appear to be asking where those who are taken will be taken, and His response can be understood literally. This interpretation also aligns with the prophecies in Revelation 19:17-18, 21, and Ezekiel 39:4, 17-20. In Job 39:27-30, the final phrase says, “and where the slain are, there it is.” The vultures will consume the remains of those who have been slain.
The vultures or eagles are also regarded as scavengers which serve as a sign to the elect of Christ’s true coming (Matthew 24:28), the great separation, in contrast with the false claims described in Matthew 24:23–26. We should not become preoccupied with self-preservation. Otherwise, we might survive physically until Christ’s coming, only to be slain by death because we had apostatized and He came upon us like a thief in the night. For this reason, we must remain prepared at all times, since we do not know the day or the hour. We must live according to the commandments, which means living a life of love, for God is love.
May we never be separated from our Lord, especially at the Eucharistic feast, through our sins. May we remain members of the mystical body of Christ and live lives of love and peace for God is our peace.
Fr Joseph Osho
