NOTES for Luk 17:26-37

Continuing the tradition of Israel's prophets, the Lord speaks of the end of the world, the day when the Son of Man will be revealed, as the end of history, and reminds His listeners of events that prefigured that day. Knowing our thoroughly unhealthy interest in the end of the world, which sometimes concerns us more than the Gospel itself, the Lord directs His disciples' attention to what truly matters for us.

Both of the events He cites as foreshadowings speak of a catastrophe overtaking people because of their own sins. In both cases, God offers a way of salvation that consists in absolute trust in Him. In each case, only a few prove capable of taking this opportunity. For the others, the catastrophe comes unexpectedly, because people do not think or worry about what kind of people they are.

Continuing, the Lord confirms to His disciples that the Last Day will indeed come unexpectedly upon the world, and that the only possibility of salvation will be trust in and devotion to God. He speaks of people in identical circumstances—two in one bed and two women grinding together—whose inner disposition enables some to entrust themselves to God and prevents others from doing so. Among other things, these words of Christ matter because they help us interpret the foreshadowings: Noah and Lot are chosen and saved not on their merits, but because of their ability to believe God and leave the sinful world around them.