Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means 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 these things happening, 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 in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- least, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"

- Mark 13:28-37

On Saturday, we read of a disciples remarking on the glories of the temple in Jerusalem, and Jesus' reply predicting its destruction. In yesterday's reading, Jesus elaborated on what He had begun to tell to the apostles John and James Zebedee, and Peter and Andrew. He warned of the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem, and the siege of Jerusalem which was to come in A.D. 70. Thanks to this warning, the Church at Jerusalem was able to survive. But the warnings about what is to come at Jerusalem are also intermingled with teachings about the time of the end of the age. The two are inseparable. See "But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand."

In today's reading, Jesus continues His warnings, and His byword continues to be "Watch!" We are to be aware, and not to be fooled by false prophets.

"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 these things happening, 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." It is quite interesting that Jesus uses a parable of the fig tree, so shortly after the incident with the fig tree at the time of the cleansing of the temple. Again, here, he uses a fig tree as an image of promise, the promise of fruitfulness in its foliage. In yesterday's reading, Jesus gave many warnings about things that were to come: both in Jerusalem within the time of "this generation" of those to whom He was directly speaking, and in speaking of the time of the end of the age. But His words here assure us, as they have every generation since: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." We are to be prepared for His return.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- least, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" In speaking of the time of the end of the age, Jesus assures us that no one can make this prediction. His words, "Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is," are words for us to live by. They reveal what is to be our disposition in this time of the end, which was initiated by the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem, in which we await His return. My study bible says that "each generation since Pentecost has looked for the Second Coming of Christ, and that is proper." To my way of thinking, His warning that none of us knows when the time is becomes the hallmark of this passage: we are to be prepared. We focus on preparation. We are to be about His business as He has taught.

Let us consider His words then. What does it mean to "Watch!" as the byword with which He's left us? We have no time to waste! We don't know when the Master will return. This is the parable He's given us here for our disposition at this time. So, if we take His words seriously, it lets us know that there is work to be done, we shouldn't waste our time pursuing things that aren't worthwhile as goals. We should think about His return as a focus on which we can maintain an attitude that we are going to stress the truly important things in life, the things that we need to be aware of, that we shouldn't forget about. He's taught us the greatest commandments: to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. And He's taught us a new commandment, to love one another. If we focus in watchfulness for His return, then we focus on what is real and what is essential. And maybe, just maybe, we understand what time it is - what time it always is. "Watch!" is a word in the Greek that implies a heightened awareness, a kind of quickening, an alacrity, and that the time is short, we are not to waste it. We remember His strange words in yesterday's reading, that the days would be shortened at the end. Let us keep in mind what things are important, and what things are not. Let us consider what the time might be and what we are to be about as we await in watchful expectation. What will be important to Him when He returns? No matter when that is, we all have a limited time in this world and none of us knows how long that is. His words teach us always to "Watch!" Let us not waste the time of our lives, but focus on His call and the perspective He asks of us.