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 

 

On Saturday, we read that Jesus taught His followers regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and also about the end times:  "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 expectation 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 here.  Not only will the destruction of Jerusalem happen within a generation, but all these things refers to the generation of all believers at all times -- the generation of the Church, and not only those alive at the time of Christ.  Christ gives a solemn assurance of His prophecy:  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."  Jesus warns that our real need throughout this time as believers await His return is to be sober, to be aware of who we are and what our faith is.  That this Day will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth is a vivid image teaching us about the unpredictability of dates and times, and the easy way we slip into forgetfulness of who we are.  

Origen has an interesting commentary on drunkenness, which Christ warns about.  He states that drunkenness is destructive in all things:  it weakens both soul and body together.  There are times when the body is weak, and the spirit grows stronger.  Even through illness, we see spiritual growth and a closer experience of faith in the interior life.  But with drunkenness this is not the case, and so it would seem regarding the other things Christ warns about:  carousing and cares of this life.  So with all three, body and soul are together diminished, destroyed, ground down.  We lose sight of what is important, and must draw ourselves away from these things in order to focus on what is good for us, and healing.  Let's note that each of these can be a kind of escape from life, often starting out as a way to avoid the deeper things that may be hard to fathom and to cope with -- but the end of each road is no longer an escape but another kind of deeper prison, even a desolate place.  Origen writes of drunkenness:  "Forgetfulness covers the mind so that one does not know oneself nor perceive he is a person."  Origen wrote in the early third century, before the time of modern pharmaceuticals and the kinds of epidemics of drugs that we know today.  But let's take seriously what he says about drunkenness to illuminate what happens to a person who seeks escape from these deeper struggles of life through whatever means is available.  For Christ, even "the cares of this life" form such overwhelming substance, as we see also illustrated in the parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15), when Jesus illustrates those who are "choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life" as the seed that fell among thorns.  Today we have other modern day distractions which may also serve to dissipate our lives and distract us from what is essential, but it's important to note the overwhelming nature of things that were common to human beings then and now, and Origen's comment about the dissipation of both the spirit and the body.  Let us not be lost in things that take us away from our spiritual lives, and give us only an immediate escape into forgetfulness or a type of obsession with something else.  It's a powerful thought to recognize how easy it is to lose ourselves in things that seem good but are dead ends in and of themselves.  Possibly the greatest power we have to put us in mind of the things that "bring us back to ourselves" is prayer and worship -- all the things that we can do to connect ourselves back to God, even for a brief period, even as we take just a bit of time from whatever we are doing in our lives.  Let us understand our dependence upon God, and that place where we truly remember who we are in God's love.  With Jesus' warnings, we are clearly to understand that this is true even in the midst of tribulations -- and that He is always with us even so, as we await His return with power and great glory.  Jesus teaches us that we are to "watch" and "pray always."  Let us take Him at His word, which will not pass away.

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.

Watch therefore, and pray always that you maybe 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 maybe counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

- Luke 21:29-38

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His prophesy regarding the destruction of the temple during the devastation of Jerusalem, and also regarding end times:  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who hare 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 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 expectation 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."  Again, today's reading is a combination of prophesy regarding what is to pass in Jerusalem within a generation's time, and the end times of His return.  We know what happened in Jerusalem in year 70; but Christ's words apply to the entire era since His Resurrection.   My study bible suggests that this generation refers to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church.  There are ways in which His specific warnings (see the readings from Saturday and Monday) directly teach the specific destruction that will come to the temple and to the city.   But the warnings of wars, famines, and other natural disasters ring true for the entire era.

"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 maybe counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.  These words are given the greatest emphasis in patristic commentary.  My study bible says that Christ's purpose in this discourse isn't to make us experts on end-time prophecy.  Rather, He gives us this prophecy in order to make us aware of our need to watch, and to pray always.  In the original Greek text, this reads that we must watch at all seasons, and pray always that we may have the strength to escape these things that are coming to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

At the beginning of Jesus' discourse, right after His vivid prophecy of the images of the destruction of the temple, Jesus taught that "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven."   Nearly all of these things are events with which we are familiar.  In some sense, we may even say most of them characterize our times.  They are things we hear about on news broadcasts.  So we may infer that the teachings Christ gives here warn not simply specifically about the terrible destruction that is to come in Jerusalem, but also that they apply to our own times.  The destructive power of war becomes ever more destructive.  Proxy battles between large powers rage, even without troops present from the countries supplying weapons to both sides.  Today extreme destruction is possible through remote telecommunications, as are assassinations and bombings via drone strike.  Violence and displacement of populations through warfare and related violence takes place in our world at a greater rate than ever before, with refugee crises involving far greater populations as a result.  We could safely say that in a time of such instability, even "fearful sights" have become something with which we have become all too familiar.  In Christian history, there have also been reported various signs from heaven, but these have been associated with revelation of God's help to Christian faithful (for example, Constantine's vision at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, which led to the end of Christian persecutions by the Roman Empire).   As our era has unfolded, which continues to include persecutions in various places, let us consider what this means for us.  When we see fearful sights, tremendous and growing violence, growing fears of natural disasters, let us consider that it is a time to remind ourselves of Christ's words.  His commands to us are simply to watch and to pray always.  We're not to be fearful, we're not to indulge in end-time speculations and fantasies.  We know what we are to be about; we have work to do as His good servants, as His disciples.  This word for "watch" in the Greek of the original text means being alert and awake, not sleeping.  It means to be vigilant, ready to act.  The emphasis here is on what we are to be doing, following His commands.  He gives us a proper work to do, and as His disciples we should take that seriously.  This is the opposite of fearful behavior; it is rather to live with full purpose, all the time.  Let us always keep this in mind, particularly when we see sights designed to simply make us afraid.

When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?

 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying:  "There was a in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

- Luke 18:1-8

Yesterday we read that when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!'  Do not go after them or follow them.  For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.  But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:  They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:  They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so it will be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away.  And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.  Remember Lot's wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed:  the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together:  the one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field:  the one will be taken and the other left."  And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?"  So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying:  "There was a in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily."  In yesterday's reading, Jesus described tribulation to come to the world (see above, 17:22-37).  My study bible says that persistent and faithful prayer, as described by the tenacious widow in Jesus' parable, is the remedy for that tribulation.  Prayer is the "recipe" for our way of life in this time that we live in.  St. Paul teaches, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  All of these things:  rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks, refer mainly to prayer.

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  My study bible says that Christ often uses this form of a question when speaking of characteristics that are rarely found (see also 11:11, 12:42).

The time of tribulation and testing isn't only about a period just before Christ's return.  It is a certain way that we can think about the period we live in now, the age, which begun with Christ's Incarnation and will continue until His Second Coming.  It is a time of testing, that requires discernment on our part.  There's a struggle going on, a spiritual battle.  Christ is the "stronger man" who has come to bind the "strong man" (see Luke 11:21-23).  With this description, Jesus responded to those who accused Him of casting out demons by the power of demons.  In effect, what Christ described is something He has come here to do, to claim His authority in our world -- over that of the "prince" or "ruler of this world" (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).  What that indicates is a kind of power struggle going on, a spiritual battle behind the scenes of our world, one in which we struggle -- as followers of Christ -- with things that may oppose our faith and our work in discipleship to Him or as servants of Christ.  This isn't like a political battle in the world we see around us, nor is it manifest as some sort of real-world military battle.  This is a battle that goes on in the midst of us, where we meet the kingdom of God that is within us.  It's a battle in which we struggle within ourselves, because it is a battle for hearts and minds, for souls.  Therefore the key to this particular struggle is discernment.  The way to help our capacities for discernment, to arm ourselves in the struggle for faith, is through practices that shore up our own discipleship -- but the main weapon is prayer.  In fact, one could say that all practices of the Church:  almsgiving, fasting, worship, thanksgiving, etc. are forms of prayer.  They are ways of communion with the One whom we serve.  We rely on His Holy Spirit.  We seek relationship always with the Father, Son, and Spirit.  Where one is, there the others are also.  To stay in communion -- to pray --  is to choose a side, to wage a battle, to struggle for one's own faith.  And so, St. Paul teaches us, "Pray without ceasing."   It is upon this kind of struggle that Christ establishes His Church in the world, and gives us the Kingdom within us.  And He asks, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"   This question is not for the time of His return, as He's made perfectly clear that we don't know what time that is.  It is always asked for right now.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away

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."

And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.
 
- Luke 21:29-38

 Yesterday, Jesus continued His talk to His disciples in Jerusalem.  He spoke of the coming destruction of the temple, and of the city.  And He also spoke of the things that would happen when "the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled", giving them warnings regarding both events:  "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 expectation 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."  We know that He has already warned that many of those listening to Him would see the events of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.  But here, it's a different type of warning about another event, His return, or Second Coming.  My study bible says that "this generation" refers to all believers at all times.  That is, the generation of the Church, and not merely those alive at the time of Jesus.  This is as firm a promise as He will make:  heaven and earth would pass away (see yesterday's reading regarding the darkening of sun, moon and stars), but these words remain.

"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's the real point of this discourse.  It's not so that we know all the signs and predict for ourselves when the event will happen.  Here's another promise:  the Day will come unexpectedly if we forget what we are to be about, what His commands and teachings have taught us to be and to do.  It's a snare, otherwise -- a trap.  And we're also to pray consistently -- actually, the Greek indicates that we're to pray always for strength, because this is the only way to watch ourselves.  It's interesting also that He says it's for all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  This is a teaching for everyone.

Jesus' final word is to watch.   But this word isn't about watching for signs.  It's for watching ourselves, being aware and mindful of who we are and what we are doing.  Think about it; the events He names here are going to come as a snare on everybody.  We're deliberately given no exact time, and implications are we're not even to inquire about it.  The point is that we're to be prepared, by praying always, and by being aware that in fact it can come entirely unexpectedly.  We're to be mindful, not to forget His teachings and commands about how we are to live in this world.  What does it mean to practice what He has taught us?  What are His great commandments?  He's answered that the two greatest commandments in the law of Moses are to first, love God with all our heart and mind and soul and strength, and second, to love our neighbor as ourselves.  He's even given a kind of proactive example to answer the question, "Who is my neighbor?" as posed in Luke's Gospel:  the story of the Good Samaritan (see Go and do likewise).  Jesus has previously taught that we are to try to settle matters with "our adversary" before we get to the court, because we don't know what the magistrate will decide if we leave everything until that day of judgment.  Good advice for worldly problems and also for spiritual ones!  So it is with the affairs of soul and spirit we must do our best to reconcile in the here and now, and before that "day" comes -- which will indeed come to all.  This awareness is supposed to get us to think about what becomes important in light of that Day of His return.  What do we want to settle now?  Against whom have we trespassed?  And if there's a kind of a "debt" we feel someone else owes us, let us take it to prayer and handle it well.  Pray always isn't just a phrase He's tossing out.  It's through prayer we find the solution before we get to court, we get advice and guidance by praying always.  It gives us the strength to survive the snares that lead us to forgetfulness, thoughtlessness, a lack of awareness for these times He teaches about.   It's the best advice I can think of, and it's what Jesus leaves us with.  So, where are you in the "affairs of the court" as Jesus puts it?  Do you have unsettled matters of the soul?  If there are ways in which this awareness of what is to come for all of us one day does not suggest a way to settle a matter, or perhaps you feel there is nothing for you to do before that day, consider prayer.  Prayer can enlighten us better to the things of which we're entirely unaware in our lives, things that need settlement and work -- and particularly ways in which we are asleep to the reality of the time.  Jesus mentions carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life as distractions that keep us from true wakefulness, mindfulness, alacrity.  We can imagine ways in which we "forget" by keeping busy, or our own forms of "carousing," a drunkenness can be with anything that keeps us in a fog, forgetful in some sense of dealing with life itself.  This can be any form of excess.  And we all know the daily cares of the world; and anxieties and toil that keep us from focusing on the real matters of the soul, the rest we need in Christ, and the refreshing life that brings.  These are all ways in which we recall His talk of being prepared, settling our affairs, putting our lives in order so that the problems before the Judge become easy and simple.  We may not have to go to court at all.  Finally, there is the new command with which He left His disciples:  "Love one another as I have loved you"  (John 15:12).  That's a tall order, but one we need to think about -- what does it mean to model His kind of love?   Let's remember what is really important in the light of His return.