First Reading

Reading from the second letter of the apostle Saint John

2 John 4-9

Brothers and sisters: I was very glad to learn that many of you are living according to the truth, following the commandment we have received from the Father.

I urge you, then, brothers and sisters, to love one another. This is not a new commandment, but the same one we have had from the beginning. Love consists in living according to God’s commandments. And the commandment consists in living according to love, as you have heard from the beginning.

Now many deceivers have appeared in the world, for they deny that Jesus Christ is truly man. These are the true impostor and antichrist.

Be careful, then, so that you do not lose the fruit of your labors and may receive the full reward. Whoever strays from the truth and does not remain faithful to the teaching of Christ is not united to God; but whoever remains faithful to the teaching of Christ is indeed united to the Father and the Son.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 17, 26-37

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “What happened in the days of Noah will also happen in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating and drinking, men and women were marrying, right up to the day Noah entered the ark; then the flood came and destroyed them all.

It will be the same in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building; but on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

On that day, whoever is on the roof and has belongings in the house must not go down to get them; and whoever is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever tries to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life will preserve it.

I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: one will be taken and the other left; two women will be grinding grain together: one will be taken and the other left.”

Then the disciples asked him, “Where will this happen, Lord?” And he replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”