Mark 13:36 — Community Reflections

MARK 13:36 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”

If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping — the sleeping disciples of Gethsemane (Mark 14:37–41) will fail this exact instruction within hours of its being given. The sleeping that the doorkeeper must avoid is the spiritual inattentiveness that misses the moment of the master's return. The sudden arrival leaves no time for preparation; the vigilance must be continuous, not occasional.

Church Fathers on Mark 13:36

The Lord wishing to prevent His disciples from asking about that day and hour, says, 'But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.'
Theophylact · 11th century

This ignorance of the day and hour is urged against the Only-Begotten God, as if, God born of God had not the same perfection of nature as God. But first, let common sense decide whether it is credible that He, who is the cause that all things are, and are to be, should be ignorant of any out of all these things. For how can it be beyond the knowledge of that nature, by which and in which that which is to be done is contained? And can He be ignorant of that day, which is the…
Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century · de Trin., ix

For we must needs watch with our souls before the death of the body.
Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

Read all 10 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!