Last week we read Matthew 24 and 25 in our daily readings, “The Olivet Discourse,” one of those hard-to-understand passages. When is Jesus talking about the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.? When is he talking about the second coming?

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24.1 – 3, ESV)

It’s not always clear what Jesus is talking about, but one thing is clear: the “so what?” We are to be ready.

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24.42 – 44, ESV)

There follows the parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25.1 – 13) which ends:

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25.13, ESV)

This lesson from Matthew 24 and 25 provides another application for our story about the 501st Legion, folks who dress up as Star Wars Stormtroopers, participating in the filming of an episode of The Mandalorian provides. (I just found this picture of my son Mark and me with two members of the 501st, taken back in 2016.)

What if you were a member of the 501st, but you’d just sent your costume out for cleaning or you’d loaned it out to the kid down the street who damaged it? Oops. Not ready. Those who responded to the last-minute call to be extras in the episode were ready. Debbie Friley and her friend were ready.

And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. (Luke 12.47, ESV)

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. Titus 3.1, ESV)