If one form of preparedness is to expect the unexpected, then we can be sure that life has its unexpected surprises for us.
And if Scriptures tell us that the stone the builders rejected turned out to be the corner stone, then we also need to be prepared for unexpected surprises from God.
Some of the things in life that we avoid or resist may turn out to be God's way of revealing His ways to us and helping us to grow.
In the 1st reading, we hear of a rather unexpected and surprising way that God used to teach His people.
The people lost patience and complained against God and against Moses.
For that, God sent fiery serpents and their bite brought death to many in Israel.
They repented and Moses interceded for the people and God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a standard, and if anyone was bitten and looks at it, that person will live.
That may sound rather strange and unexpected, but we can make many reflections from it.
For example, the Cross was intended to be an instrument of death, yet with Jesus dying on the Cross, it has become the symbol of life and salvation.
Another example is that our sins are a reminder of our faults and failings and we feel the guilt and shame.
Yet, in reflecting on our sins, we should come to the realisation of how we have done wrong and we then ask God for the grace to resist future temptations.
God has unexpected surprises for what we avoid and resist.
But when we are open to them, God will have healing revelations for us.