Matthew 24:36-44

“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” vs. 36

When Matthew wrote his gospel there was a strong expectation that Jesus was going to return and finish what he had started. So when Matthew read accounts of Jesus’ apocalyptic teachings and decided to use them in his gospel, he made sure to let his readers know that no one knew when that return would be, that not even Jesus had known the day or the hour. It was Matthew’s way of telling people to ignore the predictions that were likely preoccupying believers, particularly now that the temple had been destroyed. Through the centuries since Matthew wrote these words there has continued to be speculation about the end of the age, especially when wars, natural disasters, plagues, and imminent destruction loom large in our collective consciousness. Some are feeling that anxiety as we move into the second quarter of the 21st century. Whether we agree on causes or not, climate change is real, and the consequences are devastating. And when we add in the growing potential for nuclear war, and the completely uncertain results of our obsession with Artificial Intelligence, we shouldn’t be surprised by the current explosion of interest in apocalyptic scenarios. The end is coming! But we still don’t know when. There is one thing that we can count on though. God has not and will not abandon us!

Thought for the Day: What are my plans for the future?