Lk 17:26-37 Got A Surprise?

Friday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
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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."

Making the Most Of It.  I have heard that we only use a tiny fraction of our brain.  I think the same can be said of love and life. 

We need to learn how to make the most out of these two amazing gifts.  But how?

Well, there is nothing wrong with making merry.  It's great!  Really!  Be happy!  Love life!  Make the most out of it.  But don't get drunk.  Don't jump off the cliff.  Don't take drugs.  Don't become a slave to addictions, especially to pornography.   Get the most out of life.  Be holy. 

Whoever seeks to preserve their life will lose it.   Self-centeredness is as common as the common cold.  It is easy to catch and makes us dreadfully ill.  However, instead of infecting the ears, throat and nose, this illness affects the heart, mind and will.   Self-centeredness stifles creativity, generosity and forgiveness.  It numbs the heart and boggles the mind.  Simply put:  it sucks the life out of those who contract it. 

Self-centeredness paralyzes the body; it prevents us from reaching out to others.  It stifles the mind.  It hinders us from living beyond the moment and ourselves.  It leaves us half dead and ready to be used and abused by others. 

"Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather."

Crazy generous.  How can we make the most out of life?  Be crazy!  In other words, be like Christ who did some pretty crazy things.  He spoke to sinners!  He spoke to women.  He ate at the homes of tax collectors.  He went to parties but didn't get drunk.  He gave and gave and gave.  He loved and loved and loved.  He surprised everyone, friend and enemy.  

When was the last time you surprised someone?  When was the last time you did something great and holy? 

Let's get to work before the Lord surprises us.  After all, he loves to surprise people. "There will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left."