Louise McEvoy, Adult Ministries Coordinator, Child of the ’80s, and proud of it

Matthew 24:36, 44-51 (The Voice)

36 No one knows the hour or the day, not even the messengers in heaven, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. 

44 So you must be ready because you know the Son of Man will come, but you can’t know precisely when. 45 The trustworthy servant is the one whom the master puts in charge of all the servants of his household; it is the trustworthy servant who not only oversees all the work, but also ensures the servants are properly fed and cared for. 46 And it is, of course, crucial that a servant who is given such responsibility performs his responsibility to his master’s standards—so when the master returns, he finds his trust has been rewarded. 47 For then the master will put that good servant in charge of all his possessions. 48 But imagine that the master’s trust was misplaced, that the supposedly responsible servant is actually a thief who says to himself, “My master has been gone so long, he is not possibly coming back.” 49 Then he beats his fellow servants and dines and drinks with drunkards. 50 Well, when the master returns—as certainly he will—the servant will be caught unawares. The master will return on a day and at an hour when he isn’t expected. 51 And he will cut his worthless servant into pieces and throw him out into darkness with the hypocrites, where there is weeping and grinding of teeth.

 

Reflection:

In this 1985 classic, Back to the Future, Marty McFly and Doc must figure out a way to rescue Marty and, as most of you know…. Send him “back to the future” (insert thematic music). Most importantly, they need a power source to charge the DeLorean time machine. Since Marty is from the future, he knows the Hill Valley Courthouse’s clock tower gets struck by lightning at precisely 10:04 p.m. on November 12, 1955. With this insight, Marty and Doc make elaborate plans to do all they can to have Marty drive the time machine at a specific speed, at an exact location, at the exact time on a specific date. Talk about being prepared. 

 

In Matthew 24, Jesus gives us some information as he responds to the disciples’ questions about the return of Christ. Unlike in Back to the Future, we aren’t given specific dates and times for life’s most significant moments. In the case of this passage, we are told that the arguably most important event for Christians — the coming of the Son of Man —  is not going to be marked on our calendars. “Only the Father knows.” Yet, we are still encouraged to be prepared. In fact, Matthew’s gospel takes it even further — we need to be even more vigilant since we do not know the exact time. It can happen at any moment.

 

Throughout this chapter in Matthew, Jesus uses several examples to encourage his disciples to stay ready by living a life worthy of God. From a homeowner preparing for burglary to bridesmaids getting ready for the bridegroom, he repeatedly urges them to stay vigilant and focused. So how do we stay vigilant? 

 

Starting with verse 45, Jesus talks about the trustworthy servant/employee. Here’s the job description: 

  • one whom the master puts in charge of the staff of the household.
  • not only oversees all the work but also ensures the staff is fed and cared for
  • performs their responsibilities to the standards set by the Head of Household 

 

Then, verses 48 and 49 ask us to consider what happens when we have talked ourselves out of the master’s plan. When we remain faithful, or if we choose to cut corners, or if we choose to abuse the power (and responsibility) that we have been gifted, there will be a result (and to be quite honest is this one of those passages that I’d rather not visit often). However, grace abounds and we can choose to live our best life, in line with our master’s standards, as much as possible. 

 

When you know the exact time of a significant event, you re-prioritize your life and can determine what is most important. For us, our hope is not about knowing when he will return but that he WILL return. As Dr. Pace says, “We are Easter people” so let’s show the world what that looks like, continuously living like Christ is coming tomorrow. 

 

Prayer: 

Master Timekeeper, I praise you for the ultimate rescue plan. Help me to remember everything is on your timetable, not when it is convenient for my schedule. May I live my best life being fully prepared and always giving glory to you. May I be fueled by the spark of the Holy Spirit every day. In Christ, I pray. Amen.