“A question of timing”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Saturday, July 9, 2022
Matthew 24:32-51 (Forward, p. 72) CEV p. 1016
Almost assuredly, some people will point to today’s passage as an instance of the contradictions found in the Bible, here from the mouth of Jesus Himself. In verses 32-33, Jesus says that when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come. And, what are ‘these things’? Well, they are listed and described in the preceding verses of chapter 24: false Messiahs, wars, famine, earthquakes, an abomination in the Temple, desolation, and signs in the heaven. And yet, in verses 36, 39, 44, 50, it says that nobody knows when the Son of Man will return. In fact, verse 36 says that even Jesus does not know.
So, how do we put these things together, this apparent contradiction? I would suggest two things. Firstly, that the above-mentioned signs are rough indicators only, meant to forewarn us to be especially ready, but not to give us anything by way of an exact time or date. And secondly, might I suggest that the ‘signs’ and the coming of Jesus are two separate events, with the signs occurring first and Jesus’ return coming sometime afterwards.
What all of this says to me is that we need to be ready no matter what the date. And what we need to focus on is not the signs but the Saviour (and doing His will), and not on times but on the task (to be faithful, in the meantime, with doing whatever task He has tasked us with, whatever task He has assigned us.)
I’m afraid that some folks over the years have become so engrossed with the signs and the timing, so caught up in trying to second guess God—after all, God surely has a purpose in not giving us all the details—that they neglected carrying out His assignments, things like taking the good news to everyone, or loving each other and carrying for His people, or taking care of the earth. Let us not be guilty of so doing, but instead be focused on Jesus and on doing His will in whatever time—long or short—that remains. Amen.
Forward notes: ”Therefore you must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour” (verse 44).
“An elderly parishioner astonished me. She had incredible energy, particularly in political activism and the cause of racial justice. She seemed fundamentally at peace with the nature of things—that our lives were made up of blessings and disappointments both, and it was a waste of the former to dwell too much on the latter. I asked her once, ‘How do you do it?’ She didn’t weigh herself down with expectations, she explained. ‘As soon as I land, I jump ashore.’
“I think of her fundamental readiness as I read these words from Matthew. They hold two amazing promises. Chief is that the Son of Man, the Messiah, is absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt coming. Secondly, nobody, absolutely, positively no one but God knows when. This tension is at the heart of the Good News! Too easily, not knowing can turn into not believing, despair, and fear.
“So what does it look like to be ready? Perhaps we take our cue from the elderly parishioner, who is always moving, yet waiting for God in her heart.”
Moving Forward: “Do you jump ashore, or are you weighed down?”