Please read this passage before reading the homily.
When will all this happen? This is the question that opens this section of Luke’s gospel. One might answer that it will happen when Noah enters the arc again or when Lot leaves Sodom again. It will happen in the middle of the workday or in the middle of the night. We do not know when or how.
Storms on land and sea seem to be increasingly more frequent and severe. They are also happening in more areas. The ‘when’ is now, this now or the next now. We do not know; we can only stay prepared.
The last question is where. The reference to vultures may point us to Jerusalem, the place of the death of Jesus and the conquest of death by Jesus. This whole conversation is set during the time when Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for his passion death and resurrection.
Earlier Jesus had said that Kingdom of God is among us, We make him known and revealed to our generation. We do not have to chase down rumored sightings of Jesus. He is not there; he is among us, with us. If we live this, then we shall be ready for every coming of Jesus.
We don’t need compasses, GPS’s or calculators: we just need be ready.
Blog 20 November Luke 18:35-43