Be ready, therefore.

There is only one way

for a person to be ready,

only one thing that person should be doing

when Jesus comes.

One thing that he,

who called himself the Son of Man,

expects of his followers at any time.

He set it forth in plain Aramaic

on more than one occasion,

that is, if the gospels are to be believed

and not merely taken literally.

One thing.

It is the singular mark of discipleship,

the sign that a person has listened,

truly heard,

and been shaped by the words, the actions,

and the friendship of the coming one

It is he same thing that directed the course

of the Son of Man’s surprising life;

he who continues to come to his own.

This always-present one defiantly embraces

the costly consequences of his choice.

This one thing makes a person ready

for abundance in living,

and fulfilment in dying.

The fumbling and grace-dependent followers

of He who comes, know that they, too,

must be caught up into the generous

and sometimes painful work of love;

this one thing that declares our readiness

to receive him.

© 2010 Ken Rookes