Words of Advent: Watch

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” ~ Luke 12:25-40

 

“Wake up. 
If your eyes are sleeping 
then wipe them gently. 
You need to be awake for this. 
It is a matter of life and death. 

Wake up! 
If your mind is sleeping 
then shake it quickly. 
You need to be awake for this. 
It is a matter of life and death. 

Wake up, I said! 
If your heart is sleeping 
then beat your chest! 
You need to be awake for life! 
You need to be awake for love! 
It is a matter of living and being alive.” ~ Kamand Kojouri




I admit that you might read this text as bad news. I know I used to.
I was always a fidgety kid. I struggle sometimes even now to sit still, be calm, relax, and especially to be attentive to things I am not in the least interested in. 

Or sometimes even things I AM interested in!
So the idea of being ready for something to this level - dressed and ready to hear that knock - always struck a bit of fear in my heart.
What if I wasn't ready?

What if I missed it?

Is there a threat that hangs in that idea of the Son of Man coming at an unexpected hour?

Or is there a promise in that coming? A promise that readiness will make all the sweeter?

Sometimes I admit I still get some anxiety about the idea of watching and waiting with an alertness I don't always feel.

But more than anything I trust that promise. The promise of the coming. The promise that the wait will be worth it.

Even for those of us who are fidgety.


Lord, help me to be alert and attentive, and when I'm not, forgive me and maybe give me a little reminder! Because I know that more than anything you are worth the wait! Amen


Advent Meditation:

Meditate on the things that you find difficult to wait for. Ask for God's help in waiting.

Popular posts from this blog

But we had hoped

Now on that same day two (disciples) were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles  from Jerusalem,  and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,  but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.   Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”  He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,  who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,  and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.  But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.  Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.  Mo
Read more

Resurrection Run

For the week after Easter, some deeper dives into the Resurrection . When (the women) looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”  So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. ~ Mark 16:4-8 No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach; the same restlessness; the yawning. ~ CS Lewis The cave you fear to enter holds the  treasure
Read more

The Gospel of Mark: Friday Follow-Up

- Re-read Mark 15:6-15:39 from this week's devotions. - Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you. - Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation ( biblegateway.com  has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life? - Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward? - Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer? - Recite the Lord's Prayer.
Read more