Heaven and earth will pass away

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming, ' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

- Matthew 24:32-51

Over the past two readings (Do you not see all these things? and The End of the Age), Jesus has been speaking to his disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem (and the temple) and the end of the age, in answer to their questions. In today's reading, we continue with the discussion about the end of the age and the Second Coming, which Jesus refers to as the coming of the Son of Man (in the language of the book of Daniel).

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away." My study bible says that the words "this generation (v. 34) probably refers to the new race of Christians. The end is always near (v. 33), just ahead of us." But, because this long discourse combines teaching on both the destruction of Jerusalem (which will take place in A.D. 70) and the end of the age, I might suggest that it is possible that these words of warning refer to Jesus' predictions of "wars and rumors of wars" and rumors of false prophets and false christs that will precede the "abomination of desolation" - when the Roman General Titus entered the Most Holy Place before ordering the temple to be burned. Those things would indeed take place before "this generation" would pass away. However, all is subject to interpretation, and I must defer to those far more experienced - including in the history of the Church's interpretation - than I am. (Indeed, this is one very important reason why I include the notes of my study bible.) Of course, there is yet another important way of looking at the Scriptures, and in particular these passages we are currently studying, and that is their overlapping nature. The end of the age is inextricably bound with the predictions of the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem. And in that sense, we are living in end times, and have been since Jesus' coming into the world. So, just as this discourse overlaps and contains threads of both subjects, so we must also see them linked in a spiritual sense. Scriptures are not scientific, literal textbooks but ways of inspiring us to see with the eyes of Spirit; that is, to perceive on many different levels at the same time. Scripture is meant to provide us with a window on spiritual perception, which includes not simply the conventional perspective on our three-dimensional, time-bound, historical world, but also much more. As Jesus promised us life in abundance, so the dimensions of life in the whole of cosmic spiritual reality are many (as in the "many mansions" Jesus promised were in his Father's kingdom), including the "eternal present" of the realities of the heavenly kingdom. One reality may exist within the other, reflect it, or contain its seeds. Therefore, "this generation" just may refer to both. My study bible continues its note here, saying, "The end is always near (v. 33), just ahead of us."

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left." My study bible notes, "The unexpected suddenness of Christ's coming will catch people unaware and engaged in earthly pursuits, just as in the days of Noah (v. 37)." What will happen will take us unaware - at an instant in the midst of our daily lives. It seems to me that Jesus is trying to give us a clear picture that we can't effectively plan for this. It is very important that he tells us that "of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only." In this sense, he's conveying the idea that not even he knows this - so clearly, this is hidden from all of us for a reason. My study bible gives reference to passages from Acts 1:7 & Zechariah 14:7 which also refer to this understanding: "He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.' " and "It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime—a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light." A unique day, known to the Lord.

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." My study bible notes here: "The Lord's purpose in this discourse is not to make the disciples 'experts on prophecy.' It is rather that they may watch (v. 42) and be ready (v. 44), continually engaged in virtuous action, obeying his commandments -- remembering that we cannot know the time of his coming. These warnings are illustrated by the parable of the householder and the thief (v. 43), and three longer parables which follow (24:45--25:30). They urge us to (1) watchfulness (v. 43), (2) faithful responsibility (vv. 45-51), (3) preparedness (25:1-13), and (4) use of our spiritual gifts (25:14-30)." So, clearly, the emphasis here is not on "prophecy" as my study bible notes, but it is to prepare them for the time he will be away; that is, the present time in which we, too, live. In that sense, "this generation" does seem indeed to refer to the "new race of Christians" - the people of God who are his followers. We are to watch, and be ready. This means that the practice of righteousness that he has taught is our way to be ready.

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming, ' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." We recall the parable Jesus has told already about the wicked servant, who failed to deal with those under him as the master taught in his own relationship of righteousness. So, too, here Jesus is teaching us how we must be about our master's business while he is gone. The faithful and wise servant, whom the master made ruler over his household, "to give them food in due season" is the one who will feed the members of the house with proper food for proper times. We can interpret this instruction to his disciples as teaching about the necessity for "feeding his lambs." Those who would follow and be faithful servants of the master must take care of the whole house, with good spiritual food for the children and all those members who dwell in it under them. They must practice the love of Christ, which we have read so extensively about in Matthew's gospel - and most recently in his discourses on humility, and how to treat the "little ones" in the church, to receive the least among them as if they were welcoming Christ himself. Ultimately, it all comes down to love - and love as practiced and therefore taught by Jesus to his disciples. They must feed his lambs and share this love with the whole of the household which is in their care, of which they are stewards. The spiritual food can take so many forms, but its great substance is love - and under that is all righteousness. Love is the characteristic which is inseparable from its many attributes in the person of Christ and the spiritual teachings he embraced and espoused: righteousness, justice, faith, mercy, hope, truth. It is through these practices, and the feeding and loving care of the world (for this is indeed a church that is meant to embrace and invite the whole world and all that is in it) that we prepare for the second coming, and the end of the age whose time we do not know. Jesus' long discourse on what is to come is a warning, not simply to save their souls, but to be about the master's business, to feed the sheep, to care for the little ones, to be good stewards "for the life of the world." This is how we remain awake, and watch.