Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the First Week of Advent: Year 1
AM Psalms 20 and 21:1-7; PM Psalms 110:1-5, 116, and 117;
Isaiah 4:2 to 6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to 18; Luke 21:5 to 19
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.” (1st Thessalonians 4: 14)
I’m guessing it is our Lord Jesus whom God will bring us to the realm of God. Jesus, after all, is God’s way of being with us – Emanuel. It was, and is, a holy time.
For Education for Ministry (EfM) we are reading “Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel. The opening words makes us aware that time, and the holy events that take place within time, is more sacred and important than things or places.
Paul writes from a perspective of immediacy. He believes the Lord’s return will occur within a matter of days. Over time, with the return of the Lord not happening, we who are still waiting, become complacent. However, we must remember that God does not care about time. God is outside of time. We can’t comprehend this concept. Therefore, we must rely on our faith.
We must endure in our faith regardless of the hour, or day, or month, or year. If we don’t leave our children anything else, we must leave them with the message that the Creator of the universe will return and judgment will take place. Also our children must be taught that death will not be an escape from judgment. All will rise. It will be like when a judge enters a court room, “All Rise.”
Perhaps complacency should be the most dreaded of attitudes. I battle complacency by having a habit of regular prayer and study; by meditation and communal worship. I am trying very hard to not be caught off guard or surprised when, not if, the Day of the Lord comes. I encourage all people of faith to also not be surprised when it happens, and not only that, even if we die before the Lord comes in a cosmic way, we need to pass on to those who come after us that such a day will come. It really makes no difference where you are on this planet or in space. Things and places are not as important as preparedness. The event itself is the most important thing. We must remain vigilant.
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 