The Watchful Doorkeeper (Mark 13:33–37)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

---

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Mark (on Mark 13:34–37) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2/catena2.iii.xiii.html

On the two things enjoined, watching and prayer:

But He teach us two things, watching and prayer; for many of us watch, but watch only to pass the night in wickedness

On the four watches read as the ages of a man's life:

Let us therefore attend to His words; for the end comes at even, when a man dies in old age; a midnight, when he dies in the midst of his youth; and at cockcrow, when our reason is perfect within us; for when a child begins to live according to his reason, then the cock cries loud within him, rousing him from the sleep of sense; but the age of childhood is the morning. Now all these ages must look out for the end; for even a child must be watched, lest he die unbaptized.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Epistle 199 (on Mark 13:37) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2/catena2.iii.xiii.html

On "what I say unto you I say unto all":

For He not only speaks to those in whose hearing He then spake, but even to all who came after them, before our time, and even to us, and to all after us, even to His last coming.

On the day that comes to each man at his own departure from this life:

For that day comes to each man when his day comes for departing from this life such as he is to be, when judged in that day, and for this reason every Christian ought to watch, lest the Advent of the Lord find him unprepared; but that day shall find him unprepared, whom the last day of his life shall find unprepared.

St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 9 (on Mark 13:34) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2/catena2.iii.xiii.html

On the far country to which the flesh was carried in the Ascension:

For the earth is properly the place for the flesh, which was as it were carried away to a far country, when it was placed by our Redeemer in the heavens.

On the porter set to watch as the order of pastors, and on all men keeping the doors of their hearts:

He has also ordered the porter to watch, because He commanded the order of pastors to have a care over the Church committed to them. Not only, however, those of us who rule over Churches, but all are required to watch the doors of their hearts, lest the evil suggestions of the devil enter into them, and lest our Lord find us sleeping.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Exposition on the Gospel of Mark (on Mark 13:34) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2/catena2.iii.xiii.html

On the man taking a far journey as Christ ascending after the Resurrection:

The man who taking a far journey left his house is Christ, who ascending as a conqueror to His Father after the Resurrection, left His Church, as to His bodily presence, but has never deprived her of the safeguard of His Divine presence.