Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  

- Luke 21:29-36

In our current readings, Jesus has been teaching in the temple in Jerusalem.  He has been in disputes with the leadership, being tested by those who seek to trap Him.  He began to give a warning prophesy to His disciples about the destruction of the temple that was to come a generation after His Passion (see Friday's reading).  On Saturday, we read that He taught them, "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectations of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."   This generation seems to have a double meaning.  The events of the destruction of the temple and the Siege of Jerusalem will come to pass within a generation; but this generation also refers to all believers at all times, my study bible explains.  It is the generation of the Church, and not only those alive at the time of Christ.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  Here is the warning that the Day of His return will come unexpectedly, and as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  The bywords of all of the accounts of Christ's prophecy of end times and of His second coming are watch and pray.  In this case, He tells us to pray always.  This is our disposition as followers of Christ, to be alert and awake to the spiritual realities of our lives, and to pray always in awareness and preparation for standing before Him.

I have had the experience of being responsible for the care of an elderly parent, who went through a long illness over several years.  Admitted to a hospital for care when her doctor was unavailable to check on her growing weakness, first an extreme crisis suddenly emerged to put her in ICU, which was resolved only with the help of a courageous battle-experienced surgeon.  But nevertheless, later life and death decisions had to be continually made as she remained in the hospital over a period of a few weeks.  Particularly in those times of judging whether additional care and treatments would be detrimental to her true well-being and wishes, and then determining the best possible help for her as she was in the final stages before dying, constant prayer was indispensable to this process.  Thankfully she passed very peacefully.  Christ's words to watch and pray always were the most worthy advice during that time of terrible stress and pressured decisions, where a renewed spirit from prayer was the only strength that made it possible to face each new decision with energy, courage, and resourcefulness.  Not only is it necessary, under such circumstances, to consult as fully as possible with expert opinion one may trust (that is, to seek and find good expert care), including good pastoral care, but also to make the decisions that only the party responsible for another's life and well-being can make.  Christ teaches His disciples in today's reading about the end times.  It is His final word both on the terrible devastation that is to come to Jerusalem and the people of Israel, and also on the time of the end and His return.  The times that He describes are times of terrible strain, facing death and calamity on a scale that is unimaginable to any of us if we have not lived through such fears and frightful experience of war, disaster, and death.  But death comes into our world nevertheless and affects our lives in various ways.  The times that Jesus describes are the most terrifying possible, but each of us in our own lives may also experience the stress of making choices for loved ones in times of deep strain on self and family relations.  During that time, as well as other times of extreme personal challenge, we must never neglect Christ's words and teachings about watchfulness and constant prayer.  This is the way to renew spirit and heart, to find the internal resources for the vigilance necessary to go through the strain that death brings to all concerned.  Such times may bring out the best and the worst of circumstances and of people involved, from professional caregivers to family members and friends.  But one friend we can count on is the One who gives the advice to remain watchful and to pray constantly.  There are prayers of the Church for every occasion, for times throughout the day, for prayers to saints and to the Virgin Mary. We may all consult our pastors and our fellow faithful for help in praying for us and with us.  But there is nothing that compares to personal commitment to prayer for keeping our strength and vigilance in times that draw out every strength we have, and touch the deepest wells of character and confidence and faith in order to cope with what is asked of us.  When Jesus warns us not to let our hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, He is speaking of the importance of being alert to His message and the state of our souls at all times.  None of these things must take us away from what is truly needful:  the care of spirit and soul in His love and faith and mindfulness of how we are to be living.  We seem to have two choices:  either we are going to "check out" and be blind to what is presented to us and is needful, or we are going to step up to the plate with prayer and watchfulness as our true help in life.  What He teaches us bears out its truth in times of deep trouble -- but He calls on us to remember God even when everything seems routine, during the ins and outs of life, through the good and through the bad and all that comes between.  He warns us that the Day will come as a snare, but then again, there is so much in life that also may come as a snare.  Let us be aware of the things we always need, and the depth of life He asks us to truly live, the place of prayer in which we are to dwell.