Pay Attention – Matthew 24:36-44

A text – Matthew 24:36-44

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 the 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 hour you do not expect.

A reflection:

The coming of the Kingdom of God takes us by surprise. No doubt many times Jesus’s followers would look at him, stunned and surprised, when he spoke of God and God’s unending love for earth and all of its creatures, including humans. They were stunned and surprised when he stopped his journey to this place or that to make life better for a leper or to heal a woman who had been hemorrhaging for years. They had a hard time seeing that Jesus had come to reveal how God is with the creation God loves, and how the Kingdom or Reign of God will be when we live in the bountiful abundance of God with no more weeping. The disciples were looking for Jesus to take over in a big political way, but Jesus was every single day pulling back the curtain to reveal what God is up to every day in love among us.

Looking for God’s activity and then suddenly recognizing it causes surprise. Shock, even. We think of God as far away (and maybe long ago). But God is continuing to pour out gifts, if only we would notice. And the day we look forward to, Jesus says, when the Reign of God will be visible to us all, that day will come without warning. No one will be able to predict it.  Pay attention, Jesus says. Be ready. Expect it. Because that day will be the start of an amazing new life for us.

Remember Radar, from M.A.S.H.? He would be engaged in work or arguing or feeding a pet when suddenly he would stop everything and say, “Wait for it…” and the sound of helicopters would fill the air, bringing the wounded to be saved. Let’s be like Radar. Let’s listen, pat attention. Prepare to stop everything and notice God’s Kingdom coming near – so close you can just about hear it. Be ready. Pay attention. Surprise and shock are very very near.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you that you have not stopped creating. Thank you for coming near to us so that we can glimpse how you love everything and everyone that you have created. Help us to see you at work. Help us to hear you inviting us into your Kingdom. Help us to never stop paying attention. Amen.