Where the Body is, there the vultures will be gathered together.” (Lk. 17:37)
Wisdom 13:1-9
Luke 17:26-37
In the first reading taken from the book of Wisdom, the wisdom writer tells us that men who do not know God who do not see good things in nature or appreciate and discover the goodness traced back to God are naturally stupid. It is like someone chasing the wind. Wisdom teaches us that one might try to gain knowledge by studying the activities of man and the universe but if he sole relies on his wisdom, it will lead him to perdition for God is the source of all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
The Lord also wants us to gain wisdom of heart with the example of the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37-39 ; Luke 17:26-27).He is talking about the wicked people whom the Flood “destroyed ” (Luke)/”took them all away” (Matthew). Jesus is saying it will be like this at His coming (twice in both passages). Then in Matthew, He says, “one will be taken… the other left.” His subject was the wicked. The verb was what will happen to them: ‘they died’.
Jesus’ disciples are clearly asking about where the taken were taken, and His response makes sense literally. And it is exactly what is prophesied in Revelation 19:17-18, 21, and Ezekiel 39:4, 17-20. And if you look at the part about the eagle in Job 39:27-30, the last phrase (in Job 39:30) says, “and where the slain are, there it is.” The eagles will clean up the mess from the many that were slain.
It’s true that we aren’t supposed to be consumed with self-preservation. Otherwise, we could survive physically to the coming of Christ only to be slain by our sins because we apostatized and He shall come upon us like a thief in the night. Wisdom means we must prepare all the time for we do not know the day or the hour.
Such was the mindset of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary whom the Church celebrates today. She was a good example of great humility. Her mind was focused on heavenly things. May we never be separated from our Lord especially at the Eucharistic feast by our sins. May we remain members of the mystical body of Christ and help those who are in need.
Fr Joseph Osho
