1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - A

For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Mt 24:37-44

This section of St. Matthew’s gospel is directed at those who live carelessly and unprepared as if the judgment were not coming.

vv. 37-39.

The story of Noah and the Flood.
• The Genesis story emphasizes the wickedness of the people while Matthew emphasizes the unexpected coming of the flood for those who are unprepared.
• Noah is a model for a man who lived by faith and was preserved from de-struction because of his obedience to God.

Verses 37 and 39 are examples of “inclusio”. They both speak of the coming of the Son of Man. Only Matthew makes use of the term “Parousia” (coming).

v. 37. For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

The ordinary meaning of son of man is a man. But in Dn 7:13-14 it refers to the Messianic King. Son of Man is how Jesus referred to himself in Matthew and was applied by the Church to Jesus after his Resurrection.

vv. 40-41. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.

The end comes as a surprise. One is taken to the Kingdom; the other, left for destruction. The criterion is readiness for the coming of the Son of Man.

vv. 42-44. 

Vigilance and readiness for the coming of the Son of Man is compared to that of the coming of a thief. See also 2Pt 3:10; 1Thess 5:4; and Rev 3:3. 16:15.

v. 42. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Staying awake is alertness to the will of God.

v. 43. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.

The Palestinian house had mud walls. You gain entry by just making a hole.

v. 44. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

Regarding the end of time, the right attitude is alertness and preparedness and not speculation and fear. For this reason, Luke does not place vv. 42-44 immediately after 24:1-36 (called the “Little Apocalypse”).

By being alert and ready you will not suffer loss in the coming judgment.