So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man comes at an hour when you do not expect him. This verse is part of a longer teaching on vigilance and watching, but what strikes me is the impossibility of what Jesus is asking.
You can't actually be ready for something you don't expect. You can stay alert. You can refuse to become complacent. You can keep your values oriented toward transformation. But you can't prepare for the actual moment of surprise. I think that's the point. Jesus isn't looking for perfect preparedness—he's looking for people whose values are aligned such that whenever he shows up, whenever disruption comes, they'll respond with integrity instead of panic. It's not about expectation management. It's about character formation. If you're being honest, growing in love, paying attention to justice—then whenever the real test comes, you won't be caught unprepared in the way that matters.
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