Matthew 24:36-44
Friends, we come to the end of our reflective journey through the first week of advent. All week we have been thinking about the "to come." We have thought about the hope to come, the kingdom to come, etc... Today we turn to Jesus words in the passage from Matthew as we consider our preparation for the "to come."
Jesus does not give us any details about the coming of the Son of Man. He does not tell us when and how this will happen. On the contrary, Jesus tells us that not even he knows the day and the hour. Instead of telling us about when the return of the Son of Man will come, he tells us how to be prepared. Jesus says to stay keep awake and to be ready. We should be ready for the coming of our Lord at all times.
Jesus gives examples of daily activity to highlight when we should be ready. So, even as we go about our daily business, we should be prepared for the coming of the Lord. In each interaction, each decision, each moment of our lives we should be ready for the coming of our Lord. Perhaps, this means that there will not just be one "coming" for the whole world. Perhaps the Lord will come in my life tomorrow in the form of a person in need. Or, the Lord might come in your life tonight when your child gives you a hug. Each moment we have the choice to live according to the coming kingdom, or not. Each moment the Lord comes to us. Are we ready? Are we prepared to participate in the "to come?"
This has been the final reflection for the fist week of Advent.
Week 2 begins this Sunday as we begin wrestling with the theme of Eternal Justice and what it has to do with the coming Kingdom of God.
Jesus does not give us any details about the coming of the Son of Man. He does not tell us when and how this will happen. On the contrary, Jesus tells us that not even he knows the day and the hour. Instead of telling us about when the return of the Son of Man will come, he tells us how to be prepared. Jesus says to stay keep awake and to be ready. We should be ready for the coming of our Lord at all times.
Jesus gives examples of daily activity to highlight when we should be ready. So, even as we go about our daily business, we should be prepared for the coming of the Lord. In each interaction, each decision, each moment of our lives we should be ready for the coming of our Lord. Perhaps, this means that there will not just be one "coming" for the whole world. Perhaps the Lord will come in my life tomorrow in the form of a person in need. Or, the Lord might come in your life tonight when your child gives you a hug. Each moment we have the choice to live according to the coming kingdom, or not. Each moment the Lord comes to us. Are we ready? Are we prepared to participate in the "to come?"
This has been the final reflection for the fist week of Advent.
Week 2 begins this Sunday as we begin wrestling with the theme of Eternal Justice and what it has to do with the coming Kingdom of God.