Keep Awake

Mark 13:24  "But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25  and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26  Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. 27  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. 28  "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. 29  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30  Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32  "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33  Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34  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. 35  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, 36  or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37  And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Christmas is the time when Jesus-followers remind each other to ‘keep awake’. While this is always a reminder of the birth of the Saviour in history, it is also the opportunity to look forward to the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. This is the moment that asks us to live as if the master was in the house – fig-tree fruitful, alert to the prompting of the Spirit, and awake to the possibilities of life.  

Second Sunday in Advent

3.The Coming of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.