My Dear People,

Today we begin (liturgical) year A. This means that for Sundays, we will read from the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus asserts that the day of his arrival is a mystery known only to the Father. To illustrate this point, Jesus turns to the story of Noah. Here we have a contrast between the days leading up to judgment and the day when it strikes. Noah’s generation did not know that God was about to pour out his judgment in the torrents of the flood, and so they went about their business, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. By the time the rains came roaring down, it was too late, and all but Noah and his family were carried away to a watery death. The point is that Noah readied himself for what was coming not by sitting around and watching the sky but by making diligent preparations in obedience to God.

The Son of Man will come suddenly and unexpectedly, so disciples must be prepared. This is shown by two scenes from daily life, with folks going about their daily routine. In the first, there are two men working in the field; in the second there are two women turning a stone mill. In both one is taken, and one is left. Because modern media have given popular exposure to certain dispensationalist views of the future, many believe some of humanity is “left” to endure the tribulation. Apart from the problematic eschatology that underlies this, the interpretation seems to be backward. More likely Jesus speaks in the idiom of the prophets, where those who are taken are those captured or killed in judgment and those who are left constitute the surviving remnant that is spared (Isa 1:9; 4:3, Jer.  40:11; Ezek. 14:22).

When it finally arrives, the hour when the Lord comes will catch many by surprise. His arrival will be “like a thief at night” (1 Thess. 5:2). The danger is that disciples will be lulled to sleep, like the master of the house who settled down to bed, only to discover in the morning that a nighttime burglar made off with his valuables. Preparedness for the Lord’s return requires spiritual alertness and vigilance. “Spiritual alertness and vigilance” means to be and remain in the state of Grace. If one is not in the state of grace, the individual should do measures of repentance, that is go to confession as soon as possible so that he or she will remain in the state of grace. 

This week we welcome Fr. Felix Gonzalez who replaces Fr. Victor.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente