Luther Seminary “Moved by the Promise ‘God Pause’” - Thursday, 28 November 2013 – Matthew 24

Luther Seminary “Moved by the Promise ‘God Pause’” - Thursday, 28 November 2013 – Matthew 24: The Necessity for Watchfulness

36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day[b] your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Footnotes:

Matthew 24:36 Other ancient authorities lack nor the Son

Matthew 24:42 Other ancient authorities read at what hour(NRSV)

Repair persons always seem to be scheduled to arrive "sometime between 9 and 4." Of course this is less than helpful information for someone whose schedule is overbooked already. If I knew exactly when to expect her, I could get a lot of work done and still be available to open the door. But things are rarely that precise (or convenient!) in the real world.

Why, then, do we expect the Kingdom of God to come in a scheduled, orderly, predictable manner? Perhaps we fear that we haven't "done enough." Perhaps we know we have not taken our discipleship seriously and hope that it isn't "too late." Remember, God holds all times in loving hands and offers us grace for the day we have been given. As we begin this Advent Season once again, we are invited to live fully, trusting God to guide us each day.

God grant us grace and wisdom to live each day wisely so that on our final day we may be at rest in you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rebecca Wegner

Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Brunswick, Maine

Master of Divinity , 1992

Matthew 24:36 "But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,

39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.

40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.

42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."(New American Standard Version)

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