In today’s Gospel, Our Lord wishes to say this: “I warn you not to fall from the pure faith, for you know not it what hour I will come. When anyone neglects his looking for me, then I will come as suddenly as the lightning flashes from heaven. When anyone clings not to him by faith, he is lost. Therefore see to it, that the day does not come upon you unawares. Remain steadfast in the faith, so that if you are indolent and sleep, Satan may not tare you from your faith. So you need not ask where the place is, where Christ shall come. I am where I wish to be. For just as the eagle does not paint for himself the place to which it will fly, but wherever the carcass is, there they will be gathered together; thus mine own will also find me. Where I am, there shall my elect also be. (Bl. Martin Luther)
There is no other way, no other name whereby to be saved, than Christ’s alone, through whose death and shedding of blood we are delivered from sin. Do you think that God should let the whole world sink because they did not understand the way to salvation? Friend, if you refuse to heed the words which Christ here speaks, that is what will happen to you. He says, “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect.” Also: “Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” Therefore, don’t be swayed by their numbers, nor by the wise and learned of the world, but heed Christ’s words: The days will come, if the time is not shortened, when no man will be saved. (Blessed Martin Luther)
So that we might not be ignorant of the place to which Our Lord will come, He tells us that “wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” By talking about “sanctified eagles,” Our Lord shows that the sanctified Faithful shall be gathered together at the place of His Passion. It is proper, then, that we look to His coming in glory on the cross. For that is where He gained for us the glory of eternity by the lowliness of His suffering and death. (St. Hilary)
