Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 32nd Week in Ordinary time – Friday – Luke 17:26-37

After mysteriously predicting His Passion and Resurrection and warning the disciples not follow those who proclaim false messiahs, Christ uses the Old Testament to describe His Second Coming, the end of the world and the Final Judgment.

Christ likens the Second Coming to the sudden cataclysmic destruction revealed in well-known Old Testament accounts.  During Noah’s time, despite the perversion and sinfulness, human activities continued up until the sudden and devastating flood. So too, during Lot’s time, while abhorrent homosexual acts were widely accepted, humans lived and worked up until the destroying fire and brimstone from Heaven leveled Sodom and Gomorrah. Despite the appearance of normality in human activities, where there is perversion at the time of the Second Coming, there will be sudden destruction.

Christ reveals the selective nature of the coming holocaust and offers Divine Counsel to those who will be granted eternal life. Men (or women) in identical circumstances will be selectively saved (one man/woman taken, the other man/woman left); the sinful will be destroyed and the just preserved.  When the destruction comes, men are to flee, abandoning possessions and not look back with sorrow for the life they are leaving behind. Rather, men must be prepared to give up their lives for the sake of God and their brothers and sisters; in this self-sacrifice will come the reward of eternal life.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ recounts the ancient Scripture He inspired men to write. Divine Prophet, Christ warns of the coming destruction and offers advice as to how to survive.  Divine Judge, Christ makes clear that many will be destroyed and some will be accepted into Heaven.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1)  Many have the hopeful delusion that every soul, no matter how sinful and unrepentant, goes to Heaven. Reread the Savior’s explicit words in today’s Gospel to dispel this delusion.

2) Despite the recent acceptance of homosexual acts, God always has and always will condemn these “acts which cry out to Heaven” (CCC 1867); Christ Himself describes the righteous destruction of Sodom with fire and brimstone from Heaven. Pray for all people who are engaged in sexual sin of any sort to repent and be forgiven by Christ.

3) With the pleasures and pressures of the world, many men simply ignore or postpone the need to seek holiness. Pray that Christ strengthens your resolve to persevere in the Spiritual Combat to prepare for your own inevitable Judgment.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Sorrowful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ

Virtue of the Day – Faith

Corporal Work of Mercy – To visit the sick

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To forgive all injuries