Matthew 24:36-44: a reflection

36“But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left. 42Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.

As Jesus speaks of his coming, he makes clear that its exact time is unknown, and draws from that very uncertainty a call to constant readiness. No one knows of that day and hour, he says, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. And because the day is unknown, he calls his people to be always ready: Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes. He compares it to a thief who comes at an unexpected hour; if the householder knew when, he would be watching, but he does not know, and so must be ready always. The point is not to calculate the time, which is hidden, but to be always ready, because the time is unknown. The very fact that we do not know the day or hour is why we are called to constant readiness, not to occasional preparation for a known moment. Because we cannot know when, we must always be ready. The unknown hour calls for constant watchfulness.

Notice how Jesus turns the unknown timing into a call for readiness: because you don't know the hour, watch always. He does not give his people a date to prepare for; he tells them plainly that no one knows the day or hour, not even the angels. And precisely because it is unknown, they are to be always ready, always watchful, like a householder who cannot know when the thief will come and so must be ready at all times. If the time were known, one could prepare only for that moment; but because it is unknown, constant readiness is required. This is the wisdom Jesus draws from the hidden hour: not to speculate about when, which is impossible, but to be always ready, since the Lord may come at an hour we do not expect. The unknown timing is not a reason to relax, as though we had time; it is a reason to be always ready, since we cannot know we have time. Constant readiness, not occasional preparation, is what the unknown hour calls for. To be always ready is the fitting response to a day we cannot predict.

That is worth taking to heart, for not knowing the day or hour is precisely why we are called to constant readiness. We can treat the unknown timing of the Lord's coming as a reason to relax, as though we had plenty of time; but Jesus draws the opposite conclusion: because the hour is unknown, we must be always ready, since the Lord may come when we do not expect. The unknown timing calls not for speculation but for constant watchfulness. Do not treat the unknown hour as a reason to delay readiness; be always ready, since the Lord may come at an hour you do not expect. Be always ready for the Lord's coming, since not knowing the day or hour is precisely why constant readiness is called for, as Jesus said no one knows that day, not even the angels, and so we must watch, for the Son of Man will come at an hour we do not expect; for the hidden timing is not a reason to relax as though we had time, but a reason to be always ready, since we cannot know we have time, and constant watchfulness, not occasional preparation for a known moment, is the fitting response to a coming we cannot predict.

Lord Jesus, as you speak of your coming, you make clear that its exact time is unknown, and draw from that very uncertainty a call to constant readiness. No one knows of that day and hour, you say, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. And because the day is unknown, you call your people to be always ready: Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes. You compare it to a thief who comes at an unexpected hour; if the householder knew when, he would be watching, but he does not know, and so must be ready always. The point is not to calculate the time, but to be always ready. Show me how you turn the unknown timing into a call for readiness: because I don't know the hour, watch always. You do not give your people a date to prepare for; you tell them plainly that no one knows the day or hour. And precisely because it is unknown, they are to be always ready, like a householder who cannot know when the thief will come. If the time were known, one could prepare only for that moment; but because it is unknown, constant readiness is required. The unknown timing is not a reason to relax, as though I had time; it is a reason to be always ready. Take that to my heart, for not knowing the day or hour is precisely why I am called to constant readiness. I can treat the unknown timing of your coming as a reason to relax; but you draw the opposite conclusion: because the hour is unknown, I must be always ready. Keep me from treating the unknown hour as a reason to delay readiness; help me be always ready, Lord, since you may come at an hour I do not expect, watching constantly rather than relaxing as though I had time.