Second Coming ... Second Priority

The Sacred Scriptures are timeless.

They first spoke to the people of the times in which they were written.

But the word speaks to us still today.

As it did to all those generations before us.

And will to all those who come after us.

Today’s Gospel passage seems particularly well targeted for us—

Disciples who are 2,000 years out from the writing.

It speaks of waiting for the master’s return.

Keeping the faith, being faithful servants, no matter how long that return might take.

The early Christians thought Jesus’ second coming would happen very soon.

St Paul wrote to the Corinthians recommending that they put their lives on hold

And focus all their attention on preparing for that coming.

He said: I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. (1 Cor 7:29).

Eventually the Corinthians had to resume paying attention to the necessities of daily life.

And find a proper balance between attending to this life and preparing for the next.

And that’s where we still find ourselves today.

We’re still waiting, and still balancing.

Fortunately, we’re not trying to balance goals that are incompatible.

Faithfully living our daily lives is itself our preparation for our next life.

We do have to deal with the conflicts and temptations that threaten our faithfulness.

And we have to learn to keep our balance.

With one foot in the spiritual world and one in the material world.

We each have to find the right balance for our current roles in life.

The average cloistered monk will spend a lot more time in formal prayer and meditation.

The average young mother of three will spend a lot more time in direct service to others.

But we can all work at becoming “contemplatives in action”.

That requires that we maintain our awareness that God is in everyone and everything.

And that we dedicate all our actions, great and small, to serving God---
Maybe through just a brief morning prayer.

If we can do that, then all of our actions of daily life can become prayers.

That second coming has already been long delayed.

But, today’s Gospel, suggests that could be to our advantage:

… should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.

After 2,000 years we must be into the second watch by now, or at least well into the first.

Whenever that surprise second coming might happen, we want to be prepared.

But almost certainly, long before then, we’ll get a private surprise visit from Jesus.

So, in the grand scale of time, for any one of us, the Master is coming very soon.

Tuesday 29^th Week in Ordinary Time

Lk 12:35-38                                    Read this Scripture @usccb.org