Matthew 24:42-51 NRSVue

⁴²Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³But 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. ⁴⁴Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

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? ⁴⁶Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. ⁴⁷Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. ⁵¹He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
Throughout the gospels Jesus speaks about being ‘awake’ and paying attention. Am I so preoccupied with the busyness of life and my own particular cares and concerns that I sometimes forget to watch and pray?

Reflection
The idea that God might come at any hour makes some people nervous and afraid. If I let Jesus lead me into a deeper love of God, I realise that I have nothing to fear but am able - at any time - to say to God, ‘Look, here I am.’