Gospel reading for the First Sunday in Advent: Year B
Mark 13:24-37
“And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” (Mark 13: 37)
Initially Jesus was only talking to his disciples. But this statement opens up Jesus’ words to all people on this planet.
Even Jesus says that not even He knows the time and day of the coming of the Lord will happen. We have had many theologians to wrongfully calculate the day of the end of the world. What’s wrong with us? If Jesus says not even He knows, we then, should just leave it alone.
What we can take away from this lesson is the stay focused part. While the biblical words say keep awake, we can conclude that God knows we need sleep and rest. The real meaning here is to stay attentive.
Inattention to small matters can cause great suffering. A parent who does not normally take the baby to the sitter could forget the baby is in the back seat while on the way to work, which is the normal habit. The new duty of the baby-drop-off to the newly assigned parent, must stay focused on the baby, not the job.
We can only stay attentive to the coming of Christ if we establish and maintain a strict prayer life. As Episcopalians we are blessed with our Book of Common Prayer which contains many and various prayers and short prayer services for all types of occasions. Create some time this Advent to check the back seat of your soul and stay focused on what is most important.
As we approach Christmas, we must keep in mind the back seat of our souls. We must stay attentive to the Christ child who is coming. We can only receive this knowledge and wisdom through God the Creator. So, we sing:
O come, thou wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go; Rejoice, Rejoice, Emanuel shall come to thee O Israel (1982 Hymnal # 56).
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 