(Please read the scripture passage before reading the homily.)
Noah and Lot were rescued from certain death. Likewise, on the day of the coming of the Son of man, God will rescue the disciples from certain death.
On that day, if we were to go down into the house to pick up our things, we would find that we would have lost all our things and our life as well. Noah and Lot had to give up what they had to be rescued (saved). If we were in a plane crash, we must leave everything behind, even our carry-ons to seek safety. If there were only a fifty percent chance of coming out of the danger alive, would we make the right decision?
To the people of Jesus’ time, Jesus was the Son of Man and that this time was the time of discernment. To the Christians of Luke’s time there were dangers from persecution, from public opinion, and from their own fears: they had to be ready.
To the Christians of our day, the same warnings hold true. If we have become so involved with the daily routine of living and making money, we may not have our ark or escape plan ready. If we try to go back to reclaim what is ours, we may find that we have missed the moment of our rescue (salvation). We must be as ready as Noah, as ready as Lot, as ready those in the field, as ready as those on the housetops, and as ready as those in the one bed or at the millstone.
You ask, “Where?” The dead bodies are where hawks, vultures, and other carrion birds gather. We must gather around the body of the Son of Man. When we gather, we have a banquet and salvation. We who build arks and we who listen angels are rescued from disasters. We who leave everything behind and flee are also rescued, but if we who try to save our personal belongings, we will miss the rescue. Those who gather at the body will also be rescued (find salvation).
The passage has several important teachings for us. We must be prepared; we must give up everything; we must gather where the Lord is. We are disciples, and this message is addressed to us.