Mindfulness and Preparedness

 “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. 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. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Mt 24:42-44)
 
Preparedness is a concept most Floridians understand well, especially during Hurricane Season. Vigilance is required when a hurricane forms and strengthens in the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. Although we have sophisticated means of tracking the potential path of a storm, the “Spaghetti Models” that are produced fall woefully short in determining exactly when and where the brunt of the damage will occur. Just as in the opening pericope from the Gospel of Matthew, staying awake and being prepared play an integral role in being alert and ready for “an hour you do not expect”.
 
In the chapter immediately following, Jesus underscores the importance of being mindful and prepared in the “Parable of the Ten Virgins”. The exhortation to stay awake is repeated, as well another reference to preparedness for a time that come suddenly and unexpectedly. We read in scripture:
 
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
 
When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask for our daily bread. In addition to food, drink, and shelter, we can pray to be mindful and prepared each day for the hour Jesus chooses to return.