Be Ready – Reflection on Matthew 24:42-51
As one grows in the spiritual life, the forces of the universe that are not God often attempt to tamp down beliefs. This phenomenon obstructs the deepening moments of faith that surface from within the heart and mind. Jesus directly speaks to the ability to be ready and awaken your spirit to Him, not sometime in the future, but right now. He invites you to join in with the living reality of the communion of those in heaven and holy people on earth. Even if we can only grasp and understand it a little in the present time, participating in heaven now prepares us for its infinite breadth and depth even before death. One of my favorite quotes from Saint John of the Cross gives us a clue to awakening to the here-and-now Son of Man: “The Beloved has more compassion when he beholds the need and resignation of a soul that loves him.”
Jesus Discourses with His Disciples by James Tissot (full resolution painting)
More details are available at the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 24:42-51 – Scripture*
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.
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel reading and considering this Matthew 24:42-51 Reflection – Be Ready.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Matthew 24 Bible passage.
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This Lectio Divina on Matthew 19:16-22 on Giving up Much is in the Lectionary season of Ordinary Time.
Additional Lectio Divina Scripture reflections are available by season.