lateness

¹All things have their time, and all things under heaven continue during their interval.

⁵He who gathers the harvest is a wise son. But he who snores in warm weather is a son of confusion.

¹⁵And so, brothers, see to it that you walk cautiously, not like the foolish, ¹⁶but like the wise: atoning for this age, because this is an evil time.

⁴Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.

¹“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the groom and the bride. ²But five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. ³For the five foolish, having brought their lamps, did not take oil with them. ⁴Yet truly, the prudent ones brought the oil, in their containers, with the lamps. ⁵Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep, and they were sleeping. ⁶But in the middle of the night, a cry went out: ‘Behold, the groom is arriving. Go out to meet him.’

¹¹And we know the present time, that now is the hour for us to rise up from sleep. For already our salvation is closer than when we first believed.

⁸Yet truly, let this one thing not escape notice, most beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. ⁹The Lord is not delaying his promise, as some imagine, but he does act patiently for your sake, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting all to be turned back to penance.

³⁵Let your waists be girded, and let lamps be burning in your hands. ³⁶And let you yourselves be like men awaiting their lord, when he will return from the wedding; so that, when he arrives and knocks, they may open to him promptly. ³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he returns, will find being vigilant. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, while he, continuing on, will minister to them. ³⁸And if he will return in the second watch, or if in the third watch, and if he will find them to be so: then blessed are those servants. ³⁹But know this: that if the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly stand watch, and he would not permit his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰You also must be prepared. For the Son of man will return at an hour that you will not realize.”

²⁹And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none;

²⁰Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone will hear my voice and will open the door to me, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with me.

⁹Jesus responded: “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the daylight, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰But if he walks in the nighttime, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

⁹And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail.