ARE YOU A LAST-MINUTE PERSON? I was having a nice conversation with a good buddy, and we were laughing at how we are so different from our wives. In his case, he says, whenever he and his wife go on a trip, he’s a last minute kind of guy, whereas his wife, Marite, wants to prepare way in advance. I remember my youngest daughter, Nicky. When our family had plans to vacation abroad, Nicky would be packed one month in advance! That’s how ready and excited she was.
In fairness to us, last minuter husbands, I’d say, we’re not really careless; but because we already know what we need and know where our stuff is easily, it doesn’t take much to pack up and go.
But wisdom dictates that when something is expected to happen, but you don’t know exactly when, it is better to be ready way in advance, right? For instance, if you know your house is in a flood zone, and it’s the rainy season, you don’t want to wait until the heavy rains come before you start sand-bagging vulnerable sections of your house, right? That’s why we keep a well inflated spare tire in our trunk, right? Or why you carry an umbrella in the car wherever and whenever you go. In those cases, it is wise to be ready. Laging handa, ika nga.
As we start the advent season today, with this passage from Matt 24:37-44, we are reminded of one important thing: Jesus IS coming back, and when He does so, He will return not as a savior but as a judge. So when you sing: “you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why.” It’s not Santa Claus who’s coming to town.
This is serious matter. For those of us who are ready, this is a message of hope, and that is why Christmas is a season of hope, because Jesus will finally come to restore everything as it was in the beginning in paradise. And for those who have accepted Him as our savior – which is all we need to be ready for His return — it is indeed going to be a joyful and welcome event. This message of His return is a message of hope.
However, for those who are NOT prepared, for those who refuse, or even for those who postpone their decision to accept Jesus as the Lord of their lives, there are no second chances for them. Listen to what today’s gospel says: There is no last minute, because Jesus will return in an instant without notice and without warning. Those who are ready, He will take with Him to paradise. Those who are not ready, will be left behind. There is no second trip. They’re lucky that Jesus hasn’t come yet. But who knows when? And what if He returns tomorrow?
And we remind ourselves this important message today, at the start of the advent season lest we forget. Usually, we celebrate this season and remember when Jesus came for the first time as an infant child. But the reason that the very first message in this season is about the return of Jesus, is because we need to remind ourselves over and over and over again, that He will come again as Judge, and we need to get ourselves ready; we need to let everyone else get ready. We don’t know when, but it will be in the twinkling of an eye.
For those of us who are ready, we celebrate. For those who are not ready, or who do not know, they need to know – and it is your task and mine – to give them this important and URGENT message of hope, and to be ready, because Jesus is coming already.
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