Do You Love Me?

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I read today's Gospel through tears of joy. I was profoundly touched by the conversation between Jesus and Peter. I was moved to tears by the gentleness and compassion Jesus shows to Peter, and to us if we but ask.  The gregarious, outspoken disciple is finally humbled by the Lord and recognizes, maybe for the first time, that Jesus truly loves him, trusts him, forgives, and forgets all of Peter's failings and weaknesses. This passage is moving but we would do well to first read the entire 21st Chapter of John, a mere 25 verses to really understand how the relationship between these two men has moved to an entirely different level. John brings his Gospel to a close by taking us back to the very beginning of the relationship. Back then, Peter was out fishing all night, catching nothing, before his first encounter with the Lord. Here too, Peter, who is at this point confused, wrestling with emotions of hope and guilt, joy and sorrow, is out fishing all night catching nothing. Ag
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Do you want to be Taken or Left Behind?

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Luke 17:26-37

In recent years there has been a deluge of Apocalyptic literature produced in the Christian world. The Left Behind series comes to mind. In these books we are shown what happens to those who are "left behind" after the "rapture" (a recent theory that reared its head in the 19th century) which proposes that Jesus will return, take the good and leave the bad to be ruled by the anti-Christ for a period of time before the end of the world.

Often, those who believe in the Rapture will point to today's Gospel as a proof-text to support their idea - "I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed;one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together;one will be taken, the other left."

The question is, however, is it better to be taken or to be "left behind?" Jesus points us back to the days of Noah and Lot. In the days of Noah who was taken? That evil generation that "the Lord was sorry he had made..." (Genesis 6:6). Who, in the days of Noah, was left behind? Scripture tells us that only 8 people were "left behind": Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives.

In the case of Lot, his wife disobeyed the instructions of the Lord and was taken (turned into a pillar of salt) while Lot was "left behind." (See Genesis 19)

When Korah and his family rebel against Moses the ground opens up, swallows them and then closes again.  Moses and those obedient to the Lord are "left behind."  (See Numbers 16)

In Scripture, it seems that it is the good guys that are "left behind" while the evil are wiped from the earth.

As we begin our approach toward Advent our daily Scripture readings and Sunday Mass readings focus on the coming of Christ. In the early part of Advent we are reminded to be ever ready, we know not the day or hour that the Master will return.

Being ready for His return is what is important, not only during any certain season, but everyday. How much different our world would be if we all lived as though the Lord may return any second, before our next breath! This is not to say that we would be standing idly around, bible and rosary in hand. Rather, it means that, as St. Paul says, "whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." You and I must be ready, our souls must be in a state of grace, for He is coming back and He is both Our Savior and Our Judge.

A good practice for today or for Advent would be for us to constantly stop throughout the day, maybe at the striking of each hour, and ask ourselves if we would be ready if the Lord arrived right now. Would we be comfortable having Him look upon us in our present state? Would He find me doing little acts of love or speaking unkind words? Would he find me busy with my duties or entertaining worthless or sinful thoughts? I must be ready. He is coming back just as He said He would!

Two good books that explain the Church's teachings regarding the End Times and being "left behind" are Will Catholics Be Left Behind: A Critique of the Rapture and Today's Prophecy Preachers (Modern Apologetics Library) and The Rapture Trap: A Catholic Response to the end times fever.
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