“You also must be ready” (Matthew 24:44)
Priest Habtamu Teshome
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ spoke about the words, “You also must be ready” to His holy disciples. What our Lord God told them is topic sentence. He warned them saying “Be alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 2:42) We shall know that if the owner had known at what time the thief would come in the night, he would have woken up. He would not have leave the house to be dug. Let us observe His words careful: “Therefore, you shall be prepared. For the Son of Man (God of the Son) will come at an hour you do not expect. Who is the faithful and discreet servant that the Lord has appointed over the people of the house to give them their food regularly? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matthew 24:42-47)
What is preparation?
Preparation means pre-preparation. As in the Proverbs (6:6), the Wise Solomon said, “ Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,” without a master, without a pasture, and without a laborer, he gathers his crops in the winter. It means to be careful before the event. Thus, in Torah Genesis (41:53-57), Saint Joseph kept grain so that the Egyptians would not starve; And all the nations went up to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph. Preparation means not sitting down and in Job (3:26) it is stated “I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.”
Why do we prepare?
1. “Because the time and place when our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ will come is not known.” We must always be ready and wait in patience. (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9) And the time and hour of our death is unknown.
2. it is to inherit the kingdom of heaven. In the Gospel of Matthew (25:34), our Lord said, “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” In the Book of Revelation written by Saint John, we are told, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” (Reverence 22:14)
What is preparation revealed?
Saint John the Baptist began his sermon by saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) Repentance is our identity that leads to the kingdom of heaven, because repentance saves souls and purifies our inner being. Our Lord will come on an unexpected day. Blessed is he who wakes up and cleans his clothes. Sin is an obstacle that hinders the relationship between man and God.
Sometimes, even if we are suffering from different diseases, that repentance will cure our diseases. It cleanses our physical diseases that we might not even know. It also illuminates the soul. Water is one of the four essential qualities of our body. Why is our body full of water? Why is the wind fire less? Why is less earthly character? Why is our water lots in our body? Because water cleans things that are dirty, damaged and impure; Water is inexhaustible and it is necessary for man and all other creatures to drink copious amounts well. Therefore, we always fall into mistakes that we know and do not know.
Just as water cleanses us because we have a life that is washed by repentance, because we always have a body ready to wash and because we are human beings, because water is abundant in our body and because we are human beings, we sin in three things: we sin in thought, speech, and action; And we complain in God. Because these three things are in us, they need to be purified and renewed, so our water is abundant. But our spiritual self is our conscience. Satan flee from us when our conscience is clean. If our conscience is good and repels Satan, Satan will not come near us with any miracle. When we wash in the water of repentance, there will be perfect joy among the Angels. Repentance gives glory on earth and in heaven. (Book of Axioms of Friday)
Taking Part in Holy Communion
Our ministry can only be strengthened when we are bound by the flesh. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to this earth for us sinners. (Matthew 9:17) Not for the righteous; For those who were lost, for those who wronged us, for those who made us sad, for those who offended us. (Luke 23:41) That righteous Zeeman, who lived his whole life in the grip of sin, said, “I tell you the truth, today you will live with me in heaven.” He was saved because he admitted saying I am a sinner; I am a sinner” and repented. (Matthew 9:17) Saint Jared asked in the cave, “Who pointed it out?” He says; who told you? is it the wind? or Is it the shadow? Or which one told you? Who told you to repent and that God is forgiving” Who will tell us now? When Prophet David committed a sin, God sent Prophet Nathan to him. Who will come and tell us when we affront and offended God? Every day the church tells us in different ways; But we did not listen well.
Living in love
Saint Paul tells us, “Love is the end of all the law.” (Romans 13:10) Do we Christians practice what we say? or do we just say state the truth? As it is said, “due to the love of money, people become cruel because of the abundance of rebellion.” This is what we see now; (Matthew 24:12) But when we begin to live in love, we see God; He is glorified by us. We know His divinity. He will protect us.
There is love in religion. A person who has religion means that he has God. A person who has religion means that he has love. A person who has religion means that the kingdom of heaven belongs to him. Our Lady Saint Mary intercedes for a religious person. A religious person is not afraid of anything. A person with religion will endure. He does not complain about service; but aske, “When should I serve? How can I serve? We are ready for service.” He does not complain; He worries about everyone else.
According to Saint Paul in his message, “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.” Our Christian character should be full of humility. (Colossians 3:12) Our service is done with humility; It also brings obedience. If we have humility, God will be with us. No matter how hard time we are facing and no matter how much problems and sufferings exist in our lives, we should do our service humbly; but if we have a tongue full of bitterness and a heart blinded by hatred, we will perish. Therefore, it is important to live steadfastly in religion by turning to God in repentance and making money with humility and patience.
By fasting and Praying
Life without fasting and prayer is lie an empty vessel. We can reach to Our God when we are diligent in prayer and fasting. Lord has taught us if we plead in faith, we shall receive. (Matthew 21:23) We can fill what is in complete in our lives if we pray. God then will bring us back to Him. our service will also be with love.
Fasting and praying are very essentials in our Christian life. It will help us pass all the problems and be diligent in our religion. Holy Orthodox Church has taught us about the seven chronical fasting season in support of these Christians endeavors. We shall keep these rules and live by them. We must also glorify God and live by His command. We shall always live being ready!
May God’s will be with us in living prepared and inherit His kingdom, Amen!