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An Unexpected Hour

Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 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. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”


"In the olden days," we used to have doorbells...remember? You could be going about your business whatever it was and out of the blue, the doorbell would ring. We don't have a doorbell anymore. The 1950's one that was installed when the house was built was disconnected years ago. I haven't heard a doorbell ring for years...but this morning when I read the gospel, it occured to me that the unexpected hour of the coming of the Son of Man was sort of like the ringing of a doorbell. Think back to how it catches you off guard, a piercing bell or chimes.

I wonder if that's what it will be like when God comes close, when the Light pierces the darkness, when after waiting and yearning we are touched by Grace. Or will it be apocalyptic? Will there be fire in the sky or great loud bells? Something apocalyptic happened to Paul on the road to Damascus! And yet, the disciples on the road to Emmaus were gently touched by Grace as they broke bread with Jesus.

Advent is our time to wait and be prepared. I wonder how Jesus will come this time. I don't know if it will be in the form of reconciliation, healing or peace or in a loud and chaotic storm. But I have a strong feeling it will be at an unexpected hour, so I will begin my watch for the Light today.



I wonder Oooh, I wonder Oooh, I wonder What is to come, out of this darkness

I've been moving moving moving moving through the darkness... I wonder when the light is cracking open..

I thought this candle had long gone out... But today today today today I can see There's still a flickering flickering

Oooh, I wonder...

Burn burn burn burn on the inside Burn burn burn burning like a bright light Burn burn burn burn on the inside This light's still burning, burning bright

I thought this candle had long gone out... but today i can see, there's more than a flickering

BY S. NUTTING/ K. LONGAKER

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