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36 "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. 37 "The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. 38 Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They knew nothing - until the flood hit and swept everything away. 40 Two men will be working in the field - one will be taken, one left behind; 41 two women will be grinding at the mill - one will be taken, one left behind. 42 So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. 43 But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. 44 Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up. (Matthew 24:36-44 The Message Bible)
Turn down the Christmas music, turn off the early Christmas movies, eat up the last of the Halloween candy, and yes, go buy your turkey today, before they run out or so they claim; and listen. Jesus is coming back. It's something we read almost out of muscle memory every time we have Holy Communion. And this is the season that is starting this coming Sunday we call Advent. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word "advent" as "the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event." We can't get more notable than Jesus can we? Jesus Himself speaks of this in the passage above, and that is what we will devote this devotional to.
were all amazed and impressed by the size, shape and spectacular symbolism of the Temple. Jesus deflated their balloon by telling them the day was coming when everything they were watching would be destroyed. Their response was, of course, "When will this be?" And here Jesus answers them in His own way. Jesus is an honest man, known for never lying or sinning. Here He says, that to know the exact time and day, no one know, not even the angels of Heaven, and here's the shocker, not even Jesus knows! Only God the Father knows. Now, in human terms, we all wink at people who, from certain families, claim to not know information that we could almost swear that they certainly had privy to in family meetings, but Jesus here is saying there are no family meetings and this particular information is for God's eyes only. Jesus has hints that help them. (I will say Jesus is simply saying, BE READY AT ALL TIMES!). Jesus knows that we can get, and do get, carried away by the mundane and the routine, of daily life. He compares it to the time of Noah; people carrying on as usual right until it was time to board the ark. "It was today? I thought it was next week!" Then the famous comparison: "Two men will be working in the field - one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill - one will be taken, one left behind."
This passage is a continuation of the Tourist Trap passage from a week ago, where the Twelve When our youngest was in school it was during the time when some churches were pushing heavily The Rapture, the belief that when Jesus comes, it will be as Jesus said, one taken, one left behind. And so, some churches and movie companies, made movies that stressed this. We saw one particular movie where a little girl came home when her mother had gone next-door and left her vacuum on, her brother also was called to help a friend, and he left his lawnmower on, and so all these things made the little girl, who had been in her church's program where this had been stressed, freak out. And the same thing happened to our baby girl. She was scared for a few moments then realized where we were. Jesus says, "So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up...Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up." Being ready is the only option we have. Live a life that glorifies God, serves others, loves all people, and shows compassion and empathy to all people and whenever Jesus returns, we will be ready.
Now, Advent is also about Jesus' first coming. This season also serve to prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus' birth and this event we call Christmas. That first Christmas, the world was not ready. It was certainly ready in terms of all Jesus brought with His birth and life, but were not aware, and sadly many died not having accepted what God offered to them. May the distractions, beautiful as they are, of this holiday season not draw us away from the true meaning and purpose of Christ's birth.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may our lives glorify You in all ways. May we truly proclaim the love behind that night in Bethlehem in ways that invite others to come to know You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: See beyond the decorations of Christmas to concentrate on the true markings in you that identify you as a follower and servant of Jesus.
Receive my love and blessings for joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
