O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel . . . Those are the opening words to an advent hymn very familiar to many of us, and tomorrow we begin that very season: Advent - a time of preparation. How do you prepare? In the rush of our lives, there are times when that preparation can be difficult. We get caught up in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping modes. We stress when we realize weve broken our pledge of getting our Christmas greetings out early for once (Im guilty on multiple occasions on that one). We promise to be patient when we deal with the crowds in the store, only to be tempted (admit it, it happens!) to run someone over with a shopping cart or charge though a mid-aisle logjam like a steam engine. Somehow, I dont think thats what the prophets such as Isaiah and Elijah had in mind when it came to preparing. In the 13th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, a portion of which we will read tomorrow, Jesus speaks these words: “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!’” God asks that our hearts be ready this season - not if weve been successful in our shopping or sending of Christmas cards and letters. God is preparing to give us a present in the form of the Christ Child. Let us pass even a portion of that goodwill to others. See you tomorrow! :) youtu.be/7xtpJ4Q_Q-4
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 21:14:51 +0000
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