Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

 

 "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 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been teaching His disciples about the "end times" and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple to come (beginning in Saturday's reading).  Yesterday, He continued to prophesy about the times to come: "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 explain that this generation refers to all believers at all times; that is, the generation of the Church, and not simply to those alive at the time of Christ.  

 

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  My study Bible cites St. John Chrysostom's commentary, that Christ tells of the angels being unaware of the exact day of His return "so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know," and to forbid them not only from learning the day, but even seeking to ask about it.  According to Mark 13:32, my study Bible continues, and in the St. Matthew text of St. Chrysostom, Jesus declares that even the Son does not know the day of His own return.  St. John Chrysostom says that this should not be understood literally.  Instead, it's a figure of speech to indicate that Christ, although He has revealed all the signs which will accompany His return, will not reveal the precise day to anyone, and that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Him.  

 

"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 points out that the second coming of Christ will bring a sudden revelation of judgment.  One will be taken to heaven, it says, and the other left for eternal condemnation.  This separation of the saints from the wicked will happen at the coming of the Son of Man, and not (as some teach today) at a certain time before His second coming.  

 

"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 comments that Christ's purpose in giving this discourse isn't to make people experts on end-time prophesy.  Rather, it's so they may watch and be ready, continuing in virtue and obeying Christ's commandments.  This warning is illustrated in the parable Jesus tells here of the returning master of the house.  

 

 It's interesting that Jesus tells this short parable of the master of the house and what his behavior would have been had he known what hour the thief would come.  In it He likens His second coming to a thief breaking into the house.  St. Paul picks up on this image and restates it in his Letter to the Thessalonians:  "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).  St. Peter does the same:  "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10).  In the Revelation we find the same imagery:  "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you" (Revelation 3:3); "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame" (Revelation 16:15).  Why would this blessed, extraordinary event of Christ's return in all of His glory be so described for us in this negative term of a thief in the night?  It is clearly meant as a warning, to stir us to remember at all times what we are to be about.  It doubly enforces the notion that the purpose of these revelations and prophesy of things to come is not so we make timetables and seek to calculate when this will happen.  This "thief in the night" image is meant to teach us the surprising nature of Christ's return, and how human beings become complacent with daily life and the cares of this world, rather than focusing on being prepared at all times should this event take place.  Elsewhere Jesus emphasizes the surprising nature of His return:  "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 21:34-36).  Once again, the whole point of this language is so that we understand that while we live in this world our job is to be prepared for His return, watchful and focusing on the things that we need to do to follow His commands, practicing the virtue He teaches, enduring in our faith.  We aren't told that there is more to do than this; it is enough that we always keep Christ's return in our hearts and minds and live accordingly.  For this is the work of faith (see John 6:27-29).  We remain watchful for the opportunities God places before us, the ways we need to serve, to practice our faith, to endure in the participation in His life by the grace He's given us, to strengthen our faith and grow in its grace for us.  There are all kinds of ways for us to be distracted, and perhaps that is true now more than ever for all kinds of reasons.  And yet, we're warned to keep watch over ourselves, and to continue in readiness for His return.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 door!  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 -- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch!"

 

- Mark 13:28-37 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His discourse on end times to the disciples (see Saturday's reading for the first part of His prophecy).  Jesus taught, "So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter 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.  For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.  And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the christ!' or 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect.  But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven." 

 "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 door!  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."  Let us remember that Christ's words in today's reading continue His discourse on the end times from the past two readings.  So, in this passage, when He refers to this generation, it's important that we keep in mind His words that alluded both to things which would happen in the immediate sense of history (such as the destruction of the temple and the Siege of Jerusalem) and also His prophecies about the entire age as we await His return.  My study Bible says that "this generation" refers to all believers at all times (in other words, the generation of the Church) and not only those alive at the time of Christ.  In other words, His prophecy is that the Church will continue to thrive until His return, regardless of how desperate things may sometimes appear.  

 

"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 -- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch!"  My study Bible comments that, although Jesus declares that the Son does not know the day of His own return, St. John Chrysostom teaches nonetheless that this is not to be understood literally.  It is rather a figure of speech.  Its meaning is simply that Christ will not reveal the precise day to anyone, and that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Hm.  Again, we note that the focus here is not on timetables, but on preparedness day by day.  We are to take heed, watch and pray.  

 

From the beginning of the Bible with the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden and our earliest ancestors, there seems to be a history that continually repeats itself.  This is a history of God doing everything in order to bring God's creation back into embrace, into community, with God.  Human beings are even made mortal so that we may be able to repent and to return to God, and this story continues through the New Testament, where Christ comes into our world to call us into communion, and becomes one of us to draw us up with Him.  In today's reading, Jesus is emphasizing the nature of importance that we not forget who we are and what we're supposed to be about.  His repeated warnings about His return, and the judgment that will occur at that time, are not made to simply chastise, but to teach us to continue to be in communion with Him as best while can during the period of this age, in which we await His return.  We are to understand the difficulties, the "birth pangs" of this world as the age progresses, and the apocalyptic ("revealing") nature of the things we witness.  Christ calls us to "take heed, watch and pray."  So important is this message, that Jesus repeats the command to "watch" four times in today's reading.  We need to develop our discernment, and be alert to the opportunities that present themselves for doing as Christ asks of us (and also when to refrain from doing as we're not to do).  This calls for prudence and alacrity, the capacity to be aware, to study His word and the things available to us to help us to understand our faith.  Prayer is indispensable for coming closer to God, for remaining in communion and finding our way, and to enlighten our minds as to the things we need to open ourselves to, and the ways in which we might need to change and to discard what we think we know that is not good for us nor for community.  Perhaps there is a good reason we are not to know when His return is to be, so that we remain in this state of seeking how He wants us to live our lives in faith.  In short, this time of tribulations and upheavals, of "revelations" and things that may shock or surprise, is also a time of opportunity to follow Him, to abide in His word, to endure in faith and in the things Christ calls us to do and to be aware of.  Let us follow His word and remember, especially when we see the chaos of what might be revealed to us, and to seek the good order He would set us into.  Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."   In so doing, He reminds us again that this language, this discourse, is "apocalyptic" in the sense that in this time, of this age, old things are passing away to reveal the new, the fullness of which comes with His return (Revelation 21:1-2).  

 

 

 

 

 

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only

 

"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 given 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 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued telling the disciples His prophesy of what was to come in Jerusalem, and also speaking of end times:   "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 comments that this generation refers to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church, and not merely to those alive at the time of Christ.  

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  My study Bible cites the commentary of St. John Chrysostom, who says that Christ tells of the angels being unaware of the exact day of His return "so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know," and to forbid them not only from learning the day, but from even asking Him about it.  According to Mark 13:32, and the in the Matthew text of Chrysostom, Jesus declares that the Son also doe snot know the day of His own return.  St. John Chrysostom teaches this is not to be understood literally, but rather it is a figure of speech which indicates that Christ, although He revealed all the signs that will accompany His return, will not reveal the exact day to anyone, and that no believer should be so brazen as to inquire of Him.

"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."  Christ's second coming will entail a sudden revelation of judgment.  One will be taken to heaven and the other left for eternal condemnation, my study Bible explains.  This separation of the saints from the wicked will occur at the coming of the Son of Man, and not (as some teach today) at a certain time before His second coming.

"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."  Christ's purpose in teaching the disciples (and us) about the end times is not to make people experts in end-time prophecy.  My study Bible points out that it is rather to teach people to watch and be ready.  This means to continue in virtue and in obeying Christ's commandments.  

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to given 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."  This parable is given in illustration of Christ's teaching to "watch therefore," and to "be ready" (in the verses just prior to the parable).  The emphasis is on service and following the commands of the master (Christ) while he is away.  Note that to be disobedient and doing what is improper is to be abusive of fellow servants and forgetful of duties and loyalty.  To be appointed a portion with the hypocrites is to be condemned and exiled from the master's presence  (There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth).

So what is the purpose of Jesus' teaching of end times prophesy to His disciples?  It is not merely to answer their anxious questions, but more to prepare them, and us, for the time in which we live now.  That is, the time in which we await the return of Christ, the Master.  And how is it we are taught to behave?  What's our proper "posture" (so to speak) as we live in this time of waiting and expectation?  We are to follow His commands and to be faithful servants, doing as He has taught.  In the period just prior to Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, the disciples display in various ways their concern for their positions in what they seem to presume is the worldly kingdom He will come into imminently.  Each time He responds to them, His emphasis is on service and humility, and most importantly, the care of the "little cones" (see Matthew 18; 20:20-28).  That is, of those with less power in the Church, while they will lead.  Here again, in the final parable in today's reading, the emphasis is the same:  on the responsibility for the care of fellow servants, and remembering and being aware of duty.  The servant who fails in the parable is the one who beats his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunkards.  To be apportioned a place with the hypocrites clearly evokes Christ's final sermon in the Temple, a sermon of woes directed at the scribes and Pharisees.  While Jesus gives indications of events and circumstances that surround His return, He's very careful to emphasize that no one knows when that will happen -- and even to imply that He Himself does not know.  This refraining from giving dates and chronology only highlights the importance of knowing that our duty is to watch and to be ready.  We're not to "eat and drink with the drunkards" because to do so is to be forgetful and not alert to the signs of the times.  To "watch" is to be aware of our circumstances and our duties.  Does someone need care?  Are we cleaning up our own act, and staying away from what's not good for us?  Are we aware of the duties of righteousness and the ways in which we serve God, relate to neighbor and to our world, and how we use and care for the resources we have?  One can't be drunk and forgetful and know what one is about, nor careful of how one treats the "little ones" in the Church, and one's fellow servants of Christ.  This is important because it tells us what our disposition is to be in this time, what He expects us to be doing and how He expects us to be living without His immediate presence as Son of Man.  He remains the Master, and we know what He expects of us until His return.  He doesn't give us a date intentionally, so that He emphasizes our state of alertness, watchfulness, readiness.  Jesus says, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only," giving us not only a sense that He will not reveal a time or date, but also a poignant testimony to His own humility and service to the Father.  Just as He follows such authority, so we should follow His example.  He reminds us that "a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master" (Matthew 10:24), and therefore gives a deepened emphasis on gracious service in imitation of Him as we await His Second Coming.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

 

 "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 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been telling His disciples about the end times.  In yesterday's reading, He taught 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 all 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 this generation refers to all believers at all times; that is, to the generation of the Church, and not merely to those alive at the time of Christ.  

 

 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  According to St. John Chrysostom, cited by my study Bible here, Christ tells of the angels being unaware of the exact day of His return "so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know," and to forbid them not only from learning the day, but from even inquiring about it.  According to Mark 13:32, it adds, as well as in the Matthew text of St. Chrysostom, Jesus declares that the Son also does not know the day of His own return.  St. Chrysostom teaches that this is not to be understood literally, but rather is a figure of speech which means that Christ, although He revealed all the signs that will accompany His return, will not reveal the exact day to anyone -- and that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Him.

"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."  Accompanying Christ's return will be a sudden revelation of judgment; these two events are inseparable one from the other.  One will be taken to heaven and the other left for eternal condemnation, my study Bible says.  This separation of the saints from the wicked will occur at the coming of the Son of Man, and not at a time before His second coming.  

"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 says that the Lord's purpose in this discourse is not to make people experts on end-time prophecy.  Instead, it is so that they may watch and be ready, which is to continue in virtue and obeying Christ's commandments.  This warning is also illustrated in the parable of the returning master (which will be in the reading to follow; verses 44-51).

 In Jesus' talk of end times, He emphasizes surprise.  First He remarks that absolutely no one but the Father knows the day or the hour, the time of Christ's return.  But then He tells us that life will go on with people unsuspecting about what is to happen.  Certainly it seems that only those who understand His teachings will have any sense of this impending time; we're to watch for the greening of the shoots of the tree, so to speak.  That is, the signs of which He's spoken, which portend His return.  Most of the things He discusses are with us always, such as famines and pestilences, or warfare and earthquakes.  It may be that the time just feels more pressing.  Moreover, Jesus' teachings on end times are combined with the destruction that was to come in Jerusalem, as He clearly predicts the destruction of the temple that came with the Siege of Jerusalem in AD 70.  So our sense of Christ's return is combined with the extremely violent upheaval of the past, a destruction that marked the end of a great era and the beginning of a new which we might call modern history.  But when He returns, certainly -- as we remarked in yesterday's reading and commentary -- that will mark a new era indeed, which time itself seems to change and the world will shift in its realities, and this will be accompanied by Judgment.  That marks a complete shift in the realities of the world, where two women are illustration here as those who work side by side when one is taken and the other remains.  The same is true of the illustration of two men working in a field, where one is taken and the other is left.  What we consider normal relations will be entirely disrupted, a judgment will come that changes all things we understand.  In this we can seemingly take assurance, and so we are told to "watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."  And this remains His byword to us, to "watch."  We must keep alert and watchful, to obey His commandments, to follow as His disciples, to continue in the ways He has taught us even as we wait for Him to come.  It is in this way that we remain ready and vigilant, and those who watch will be the only ones who have possibly a sense that His return is coming, that judgment comes soon.  So in all things, we are prepared through one thing:  a focus on discipleship, on the cultivation of virtue, the following of His commands and teachings, and to understand that it is how we walk through this world that is most important.  Faith is important, but it is faith that is truly lived that He is looking for, faith in which we are told to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12); that is, with all care and sincerity, taking choices seriously for the value they are worth in the eyes of Christ.  Keep in mind that this is in the midst of a world of which we're told that "the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now" (Romans 8:22), and so what we are expecting is to be born into the fullness of the return of Christ, and this is the great and important emphasis here.   And it is important that we understand the return of Christ in this context; that the meanings within our lives are made all the more powerful and poignant through His teaching about His return, for we expect an even greater fullness of life.  This is why we are to watch and anticipate, because it is all linked to the life in abundance that Christ promises, and to miss what He offers in His teachings is to miss this promise of the fullness in His return.  But Christ warns us to be ready, to live our lives as He is taught, for the fullness of that life that awaits transfiguration is prepared and rooted there, in living faith.  In living His faith and commandments, in participating in His life, He teaches us how to live His love, and this is the ground of being.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

Panagia Gorgoepikoos ("Quick to Hear").  Fresco, 1563.  Docheiariou Monastery, Mt. Athos, Greece

 

 "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

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His warnings to the disciples of things that will come to be in Jerusalem:  "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 Christ's 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 suggests that this generation refers to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church, and not merely to those alive at the time of Christ.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  My study bible cites St. John Chrysostom, who says that Christ tells of the angels being unaware of the exact day of His return "so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know," and to forbid them not only from learning the day, but from even inquiring about it.  In both Mark 13:32, and in the Matthew text of Chrysostom, Jesus says that the Son also does not know the day of His own return.  What Chrysostom says about this is that it is not to be understood literally.  Rather it is a figure of speech which tells us that Christ, although revealing all the signs that will accompany His return, will not reveal the exact day to anyone.  Moreover, no believer should be brazen enough as to inquire it of Him.

"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 comments that the second coming of Christ will entail a sudden revelation of judgment.  One will be taken to heaven and the other left.  This separation will occur at the coming of the Son of Man, according to what Christ says, and not -- as some teach today -- at a certain time before His second coming.  But note the tone of Christ's vivid images:  life continues on as usual, without people thinking or concerned about what is imminent.  The change of time will be sudden and not expected.

"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 says that Christ's purpose in making this discourse to the disciples is not to make people experts on end-time prophecy.  It is instead so that they might watch and be ready,  continuing in virtue and obeying Christ's commandments.

There are times when, no matter what other distractions or current events or terrific involvement in the affairs of life are going on, one must get down to what really matters.  This is the emphasis that Jesus puts on remembering that He "comes as a thief in the night," as Saints Peter and Paul put it (2 Peter 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:2).   If we keep this in mind, then it gets us down to brass tacks, so to speak.  It will keep us in the awareness of what we are to be about, and what really matters deeply.  His return is a solemn promise, for which He counsels us to watch and be ready.  Essentially remember Him and His words is a way to keep ourselves aware of the importance of His commandments, of practicing our faith, and remembering even that He is there present, with us, through all things.  From the earliest tradition of the Church, prayers of the Hours have been part of its fabric.  They come to us, of course, from Jewish tradition.  But what is the purpose of punctuating our day with prayers, except to "remember God," to remember what we are to be about, to keep our minds focused on our real priorities, and not to lose ourselves in the activities and concerns of the present time?  Prayer can keep us focused not only on our priorities, but on what is essential within ourselves that we need to place greater weight on, to follow in good discipline, and to keep in mind as we make decisions and look at events and circumstances in which we find ourselves.  It seems that with the passage of time, our societies get busier and busier.  Indeed, I was once told by an economic historian who studied such things that with each new invention that was meant to save time, people just got busier.  Our hours fill up with tasks to be done, places to go, things we need to do.  Distractions abound for all of us, unless we intentionally make time -- make room, so to speak -- to remember Christ.  This is often best done by deliberately taking time for prayer.  Prayer need not take an enormous amount of time to be effective, neither does it need to be original.  The prayers of the Church, and the Psalms of the Old Testament, provide plenty for us to select and make time for.  A friend who is a deacon in charge of religious education has lately reminded me that the Our Father is a prayer suggested even for the times when we are alone, and closing the door on our "inner chamber," teaching us that we are never alone in prayer, as "Our Father" is a communal address (see Matthew 6:5-13).  Jesus teaches us to watch and to be ready, in keeping with His earlier admonitions not to be deceived by false christs, and to endure.  On the whole, He teaches us that our priority is to be mindful, and regular prayer helps sharpen our awareness and insight, keeping our focus where it needs to be.   As Jesus says, we are always to be ready.  The icon above is called in Greek Panagia Gorgoepikoos.  Panagia means "All Holy" and is a title for Mary, the Mother of God.  Gorgoepikoos means "Quick to Hear."  She is the one who comes speedily to listen to prayer, and is always ready to do so.   She reminds us that we don't pray alone, and that there are intercessors who both pray with us and hear our prayers. Let us follow her example and be always ready.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

 "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 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

In the past two readings, Jesus has begun teaching about end times, and the destruction of the temple with war to come in Jerusalem.  In yesterday's reading, He told His disciples, "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 this generation refers to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church, and not merely those alive at the time of Christ.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."   St. John Chrysostom suggests that Jesus says the angels are unaware of the precise day of His return "so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know," and to forbid them not only from learning the day, but from even inquiring about it.  In accordance with Mark 13:32, and Chrysostom's Matthew text, Jesus declares that the Son also does not know the day of His own return.   Chrysostom teaches that this isn't to be taken literally but is rather a figure of speech.  Rather it means that Christ, although He revealed all the signs that will accompany His return, will not reveal the exact day to anyone, and that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Him.  

"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 points out that the second coming of Christ will entail a sudden revelation of judgment.  One will be taken to heaven and the other left.  This separation of the saints from the wicked, it says, will occur at the coming of the Son of Man according to the text, and not as some teach today, at a certain time before His second coming.

"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."  What's the purpose in Christ's discourse on this subject?  It is not to make people experts on end-time prophecy, but to tell us that we must watch and be ready -- continuing in virtue, my study bible says, and obeying Christ's commandments.

"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 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."  Here's Christ's illustration of our lives in this time, as we await His return.  We're to remember the that we're servants of the Master, and treat our fellow servants and conduct our own lives according to His instructions.  The repeated stress is on the fact that we don't know when He'll return.  Moreover, He repeatedly emphasizes that it will be at a time we're not aware of.

The unexpected quality of Christ's return is something Jesus vividly and repeatedly teaches us.  He urges us to really understand that not only is the hour unknown, but explicitly says that He's coming at a time we're not going to be aware nor looking for it.  The tone of these warnings is to give us pause, to pull us up short, and to consider right here and right now where our focus is.  To teach us about the end time is not to prepare us in the sense that we can anticipate a time or an event and plan for it.  Rather, the intention here is to tell us to focus on what is at hand and how we're living our lives, because no one knows that day and hour -- least of all us!    On the contrary, Jesus' teaching has the effect of teaching us that every moment counts:  there is no spare time to waste in our lives, and each moment is significant.  As servants, we're given the image that we always have a job to do, duties and responsibilities, commands to follow.  He specifically mentions the duty "to give them food in due season."  Let us consider that He's speaking to His disciples, including the apostles who will go out to all the world preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God.  So, as servants of the Master, how do we give our fellow servants food in due season?   Moreover, He proclaims another kind of beginning of creation as with Adam in Eden:  He's put us in charge of His household (whom his master made ruler over his household).   How do we feed others, and with what?  We're reminded here of the Lord's Prayer request:  "Give us this day our daily bread."  The word translated as "daily" really means something much more, and was apparently coined just for the prayer as it doesn't appear in any other literature or anywhere else.  It means "supersubstantial" or "above the substance" or perhaps even more literally, "supernatural" -- it's the bread that is the food of eternal and true life, that extra substance that we need because we do not live by bread alone (4:4).  Connecting the passages, we can't help but understand that Christ is asking us -- not only as fellow servants, but as those whom He's put in charge of His household -- to feed all those for whom we bear some responsibility in community with this bread that gives life, His word.  Moreover, we are to do this by living the lives He asks of us, following His commands ourselves.  His household is to be ruled with compassion and wisdom, humility and grace.  He asks of us alertness and care.  The opposite is selfishness, abuse, exploitation.   How do we stand as those whom He's put in charge of His household?  What's on the list to do today?

You also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

 "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

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His discourse on "end times""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."  Jesus has just described two scenarios:  the destruction in Jerusalem that was to come, and also the time of His return, His second coming.  My study bible says that this generation referred to here is the "generation" of the Church, all believers at all times; it's the characteristic of the age, not merely those alive at the time of Christ.  But in yesterday's reading, it was made clear that among those listening to Him speak there would be those who would see the catastrophe to come in Jerusalem.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  My study bible cites St. Chrysostom, who comments that Christ tells of the angels being unaware of the exact day of His return "so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know," and to forbid them not just from learning the day but even inquiring about it.  In Mark 13:32, and also in Chrysostom's Matthew text, Jesus declares that the Son also doesn't know the day of His return.  Chrysostom's commentary teaches that this isn't to be taken literally but rather is a figure of speech.  Christ has revealed all the signs that will accompany His return, but won't reveal the exact day to anyone - and believers should not attempt to inquire of Him.  However we understand it, Christ's words are very clear:  this is a great mystery, not to be known nor revealed until the time of the return itself.

"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."   The signs of judgment are in the vivid images Jesus gives here.  His second coming will come with a sudden revelation of judgment.  One will be taken to be with Him, and the other left.  This will happen with the coming of the Son of Man.   These images of two together, and one taken is reminiscent of the parable of the Wheat and the Tares.   Jesus' first emphasis, however, is on the fact that no one will know the time at which this occurs.

"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."  Jesus assures His followers of several things.  He has assured us of His return.  He has assured us of judgment.  And He assures emphatically and repeatedly that we do not know what hour our Lord is coming.  This is something that will remain a mystery, and will take the world as a sudden event, at an hour we do not expect.  What He calls us to be is ready, aware of what He has told us, and about the work of good servants.

Judgment is a tricky subject.  There are theories about what is called Universalism:  that is, put very simplistically, that in an eternity of God's love, repentance will come to all, and all will be saved.  Jesus speaks, however, quite vividly about two together, and one taken.  We have to wonder, what is the other left behind for?  All of these things are mysteries we don't really know the answer to.  But there are some things that Jesus assures us about.  One is the reality of Judgment, another is the fact of His return.  He assures us that it will happen suddenly, and when we don't expect it.  And His counsel for His followers is simply one thing:  to be alert.  That is, to be carrying out His commandments.  As Master of the house, He may return any time, and it's His servants He wants to find doing as He's asked.  Let's recall His commandments:  loving God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and loving neighbor as oneself -- that is as another creation of God.  He's given us, His followers, another command:  to love one another as He has loved us.  In tomorrow's reading, we'll be given a parable about what a good servant is, and what constitutes a bad servant.  Jesus' parables about good servants and bad focus quite a bit on justice and on forgiveness, treating one another well and justly.  They also give us an insight into corruption, and how it flourishes where His commands aren't heeded.  There's a very good reason why we are to remember the imminent, unknown, surprising nature of His Return, and to keep it uppermost in our minds.  It reminds us of His values, and most of all it is a prompting about the essence of justice and mercy in His sight and in the ways in which we live our lives.  To be just is not only to be merciful but also to treat one another with the kind of fairness that puts His call to community first, to right-relatedness before all else.  What gets in the way?  The selfishness of corruption, of looking the other way when someone else is beaten, or targeted, or cheated.  "Corruption" has often been used as a word that indicates the state of being "fallen," and to indicate evil and its its effects.  When corruption flourishes in a society it goes hand in hand with a denial of God.   If we are to look at Scripture, the great prophets all roared about corruption: judges who were bought off, false prophets who foretold good news for those who paid them to do so.  Jesus' critiques of the leadership in the temple speak of an underlying corruption, hardship laid on the poor, even tithing used as a cover-up for practices that obscure and deny justice and mercy and faith.  The prophet Micah speaks against those "who build up Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity" (see Micah 3:9-11).  It doesn't matter how "good" the stated cause, what counts in the sight of God is how we get there, whose word and teachings we follow, and what and who we truly love.  If we keep His return in mind, His judgment, we are far more likely to take these teachings seriously.  As the prophets speak, it is those who feel that "God doesn't see" who are the most corrupt (see Psalm 94:7).   John's Gospel teaches that those who fear the light do so because their deeds are evil; those who live His truth do not fear the light (John 3:20-21).  How we treat one another, how we build our societies, what levels of corruption we tolerate that harms the poor and powerless, have everything to do with our faith and whether or not we take His return seriously.  It all depends on what we love most and first.  St. Paul tells us that it is the love of money that is the root of all (kinds of) evil, continuing the teachings of the prophets of Israel and of Jesus the Messiah.  Whose judgment and consideration do we put first?   What do we love before everything else?