Week 47 of the Church year
സ്ലീബാ പെരുന്നാളിനു ശേഷം ഒന്നാം ഞായർ
Jesus tells his disciples that no one knows the day or hour of his return, not even the angels. So he gives them one word for everyone: watch.
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus tells his disciples to learn from the fig tree: when its leaves appear, summer is near. His words will outlast heaven and earth. Nobody knows the day or hour, so they must stay awake, like servants whose master may return at any time.
After the Feast of the Holy Cross on 14 September, the last weeks of the Church year look towards Christ’s return.
Jesus does not ask us to guess the date. He asks us to be found awake.
ഈ ഞായറാഴ്ചയുടെ വായനകൾ
The kingdom of God is among you; remember Lot’s wife.
No one knows the day or hour; keep watch, like a faithful servant.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt for grain and bow before him.
Wash yourselves, learn to do good; come, let us reason together.
Heaven must receive Christ until the time of restoring all things.
The Spirit searches all things; we have the mind of Christ.
Learn from the fig tree; no one knows the hour, so watch. This is the Gospel of the day.
Open in five scenesJoseph’s brothers go down to Egypt for grain, not knowing who they will meet. Isaiah says wash yourselves, learn to do good. Peter says heaven must hold Jesus until all things are restored, and Paul says the Spirit searches the depths of God.
References follow the official lectionary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Your parish may read them in a different order.
Pick a scene to see what happens in it and what is easy to miss.
Learn from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and puts out leaves, you know summer is near. So when you see these things, know that he is near, at the door.
Most trees in Israel stay green all year. The fig loses its leaves, so its new leaves are a clear sign of a new season.
This generation will not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not.
Jesus claims for his own words what Isaiah said of God’s word: it stands for ever (Isaiah 40:8).
But about that day or hour no one knows, not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Jesus shares our human limits even here. Anyone who claims to know the date knows more than he chose to.
Be on guard, stay awake. It is like a man going on a journey who leaves his servants in charge, each with work, and tells the doorkeeper to stay awake.
Each servant has their own work. Watching does not mean doing nothing; it means doing your job well.
Watch, because you do not know when the master is coming: evening, midnight, cockcrow or morning. Do not let him find you asleep. What I say to you, I say to all: watch.
Evening, midnight, cockcrow, morning: these become the hours of Jesus’ passion in Mark 14–15, when the disciples fall asleep.
The verse to keep
“ആകാശവും ഭൂമിയും ഒഴിഞ്ഞുപോകും; എന്റെ വചനങ്ങളോ ഒഴിഞ്ഞു പോകയില്ല.”“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Peter, James, John and Andrewപത്രൊസ്, യാക്കോബ്, യോഹന്നാൻ, അന്ത്രെയാസ്
The four disciples who ask Jesus privately about the end (Mark 13:3).
Peter · Andrew · James, son of Zebedee · John, son of Zebedee
“—”
വാതിൽക്കൽ ഉണർന്നിരിക്കുക
People have always wanted to know when the world will end. Jesus refuses to tell us. Not even the Son knows, he says, only the Father. Instead of a date, he gives a single instruction for everyone: watch.
Watching in his picture is not staring at the sky. It is servants getting on with the work they have been given, while the doorkeeper stays alert. The house runs as the master would want, because any moment he might walk through the door.
The Church year is drawing to a close, and the readings turn to the end of all things. That can sound frightening. Jesus means it to make us faithful. If the master came tonight, would he find us doing what he asked: loving, forgiving, praying, serving? That is what it means to be awake.
കുടുംബമായി സംസാരിക്കാം
If Jesus came back tonight, what would you want him to find you doing?
Two minutes after the audio. Everyone gets a turn, and nobody is interrupted.Do one job you have been neglecting, at home or at church, as if the master were coming tomorrow.
Lord Jesus, your words will never pass away. Keep us awake and faithful at our work, so that whenever you come, you find us ready. Amen.
The whole year
Every Sunday of the Church year, season by season: readings, the Gospel and a question for the family.
Sunday 1 of 6 in Sleeba