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"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.
- Matthew 24:32-44
Yesterday, Jesus continued His talk to His disciples on the future in Jerusalem and of His Second Coming. He began this talk as He walked out of the temple with His disciples (see All these are the beginning of sorrows). In yesterday's reading, He said to them, ""Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
"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 "probably refers to the new race of Christians. The end is always near, 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 tells us: "The unexpected suddenness of Christ's coming will catch people unaware and engaged in earthly pursuits, just as in the days of Noah." Jesus' quite vivid imagery here suggests that the text conveys a great emphasis on our "unpreparedness" for this day, and the sudden nature of this moment. It is up to us, who have this warning, to be prepared in the ways He teaches. We note also the emphasis on the unknown chronology, only "His Father in heaven" knows.
"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." Here, my study bible says, "The Lord's purpose in this discourse is not to make the disciples 'experts in prophecy.' It is rather that they may watch and be ready, 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, and three longer parables which follow (24:45-25:30). They urge us to (1) watchfulness, (2) faithful responsibility, (3) preparedness, and (4) use of our spiritual gifts." For the rest of the discourse, lectionary readings over the next several days will give us the rest of the verses noted here.
I think it's important that we keep in mind that Jesus is preparing His disciples here for what is to come after He is gone -- after His suffering, death on the Cross, Resurrection and Ascension. How will the Church struggle to survive? What is to be the attitude of these early Christians after He is gone, and as they seek to evangelize and build their churches, spreading His gospel of the kingdom to all the world? It's important that we understand that the attitude He is conveying here for these disciples is the one that He gives us as His departure is prepared, as He is paving the way for His exodus from Jerusalem. This "departure" speech (if we can think of it in this context) is therefore a kind of preparation for the rest of the Church as it awaits His Return. In other words, it's a preparation to teach us who are of this Church how we are to set our faces toward the East (so to speak) and await in preparedness for His return. The vivid illustration of people at work in every day tasks, and the element of surprise and suddenness teach us about the essential reminders we must give ourselves that the Master will return at any moment, and we just don't know when that is. Not only do we have no idea, He has no idea (at least, that's what's implied in the text). There is a deliberate omission of any opportunity for timely planning. The key here is that we must always be prepared. Not only that, but it's up to us to remind ourselves that we must be prepared. This is an essential part of memory -- a sense of memory that keeps alive not only the events of Jesus' life, but also this promise: "the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." That, it seems to me, is a promise, deliberate and emphatic. So, what it really does is open up the question to us about what it means to be ready, to be prepared. Every moment becomes important. Life takes on a heightened sort of energy from this perspective. How do we take opportunities to be prepared for the Master's return? Is there something put in front of us now that needs a decision? And, just right this moment, is there a way to make choices that really reflect our awareness of this memory, this promise, this knowledge that His return will be unexpected? The heightened expectation of each moment thereby raises our awareness of what we are to be about, what we need to remember, and how we are to be about the Master's business.
