“For the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

            These words are directed specifically at Jesus’ “little flock” — toward us, toward all of us down through the ages who think of ourselves as his disciples.

            Let us be clear that these are, first and foremost, words of joy, not foreboding. But let us be equally clear that they do contain a challenge, maybe even a warning: They mean that God, in Christ, is even now bringing in a new world, and to receive that new world, we need to prepare ourselves. We need to be ready.

            So let us ask ourselves: Where is our heart? Where is our treasure? What are we “banking on” — figuratively or literally? Are we relying on the comforts and pleasures of this world only — eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die? Or are we actively storing up “treasure” in the new world that is coming, that God is even now bringing in through Jesus Christ?

            When the new world comes, there will probably be “possessions” that we will enjoy. But what we now regard as our possessions won’t in themselves take us to that new world. They could very well hold us back if we don’t keep them in perspective. If we would have a place in the new world that God is even now bringing in through Jesus Christ, we cannot be totally invested in ourselves and our possessions — no, not even in our own families. To prepare ourselves for a place

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