Advent Reading Reflections (11/27)

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’" (Mark 13)

I was discussing this passage with a friend the other day, and we were looking at the metaphor of the owner leaving his house in charge of his servants. It is pretty clear that the servants were not supposed to sit around on the couch and look out the window waiting for the owner to return. Watching is an action. Watching means being attentive. The servants were expected to attend to the usual goings on around the house, “He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task…”

So what does that mean for us? It means that we are supposed to actively pursue our “tasks”, our callings, until “the owner” returns. It means that we must take seriously our commitment and recognize the significance of this message. We do not know when the owner will return, so we must be ready. We must keep his house prepared and in order.

Pay attention! Continue to develop the relationship you have started. Continue to grow deeper and discipline your walk accordingly so that you will not be caught “sleeping”. Whether we are in a season of distress or peace, we must keep this idea in mind: “even if we are not 100% confident, we must be 100% committed”.

This post is written for the day of Thanksgiving. So I leave with blessings to you and your families. Offer up your thanks to God and remember to watch with diligence, joy, and hope. He is returning, and that is plenty of reason to be in a season of “Thanksgiving”!