Jesus On Running Out Of Time

In today’s gospel the Pharisees ask when the kingdom of God will come. The disciples also ask Jesus a similar question. They are expecting a powerful kingdom however, they are unaware that the kingdom is already in their midst in the person of Jesus. Jesus initiates the new reign of God, announcing the good news and healing every sickness and infirmity.  Evil continues to lose ground and will be definitively conquered by Jesus with his death & resurrection. To choose Jesus and his Gospel is to continue the fight against every manifestation of evil.  Jesus calls each person to live a conscious, vigilant and spiritual life.  For the kingdom proclaimed by Jesus, there is no need to go ‘there and here’ because his coming will be as sudden and obvious as lightning that brightens the whole sky.

Jesus’ second coming will be seen by all, so we must be on guard as it will bring judgment as in the days of Noah & Lot. On that day everyone must be prepared, for there will not be a second chance to follow Jesus. Just as Lot’s wife was not supposed to look back but did and missed out on her salvation because she did not heed the angel’s warning not to look back at the doomed city. In the same way those hearing Jesus’ teaching should heed His warning and be prepared. Lot’s wife identified her life with her possessions in Sodom, and in her longing to preserve that “life” she looked back and lost her life.  The disciples must commit their lives totally in service to Him “living in love of God and love of neighbour.  

Since Jesus’ return is certain, we must always be vigilant and faithful so as not to be caught unaware.