The First Sunday of Advent
First Sunday of Church Year
Sunday 3 December 2017
•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤•
Mark 13:24-37 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤
Jesus calls us to be attentive and to stay alert. We do not know when he shall come for us, to bring us to the fullness of the Kingdom of God. We do not know when he shall come for us individually or for us all. We need to be ready at any moment. And as we are ready, we need to be alert that we will not be caught off guard. This does not mean that we become like others who say they read the Bible with remote in hand and Scriptures in the other, reviewing what is happening in our generation as signs that the end is just about to come. After all, if we do that we can loose focus on Christ and become overwhelmed by what we see and thus forget what we cannot yet see. It means being faithful, focused on Jesus, crying out for the day when he will say, "Enough!" "Enough of suffering, and death, and sin, and brokenness." "Enough of wars and rumors of wars." "Enough of all that is not of God." And as we are faithful, we cry out for Jesus to come and make new all that is presently broken and crying out for healing and restoration.
•♤♡♡♤♤♤◇♤♤•♧•♤♤◇♤♤♤♡♡♤
Fr. Timothy Alleman
No comments:
Post a Comment