Keep Awake

Advent Day 1

Sunday November 27

First Sunday in Advent

Reading: Mark 13:35–37 (NRSV)

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.”

Theme: Keep Awake

Reflection:

What does it mean to “Keep Awake”?

Coming off the Thanksgiving holiday, the time of national overeating, and tryptophan-induced sleep from the turkey overload, we are launched into the beginning of Advent and the beginning of a new Church Year. We may be feeling a bit sluggish from Thanksgiving, but the new Church Year brings with it a sense of freshness and excitement. I know that I always look forward to the lighting the Advent wreath for the first time.

We begin Advent with a sense of energy, but how do we use this energy to “Keep Awake”? Advent is a time of preparation, preparation for the coming of our Lord. Advent means coming! The preparation requires alertness, as we watch and wait for Christ to come. We watch not just for the coming of the baby Jesus, but also for Christ’s daily appearance in our lives as baptized Christians, and even for his coming at the end of time.

One aspect of “Keeping Awake” is being purposely watchful for signs of God’s action in the world: signs that Kingdom of God is near. Another part of “Keeping Awake” is a kind of self-monitoring that looks at the ways in which we live our lives. Are we being good stewards of what God has given us—our lives, our families, our homes, our assets, our health? Are we living life, aware of the interdependence of all of God’s creatures. Yet another facet of “Keeping Awake” is our role in bringing God’s Kingdom to earth—lifting up the poor and filling the hungry with good things.

“Keep Awake” for the Kingdom of God is at hand, coming—soon but not yet!

Prayer: Good and gracious God, help me to “Keep Awake”, watching for your coming into our world and my life. Help me to see the signs that your presence is at hand. Help me to live my life under your guidance. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Keep Awake: It's a New Year

Blessed Advent to All Readers

On this First Sunday in Advent, as we light the first Advent candle, we remember how these candles illuminate our way for next four weeks. During this time, we will be anticipating Christ's coming--coming as an infant at Christmas, coming again to save us and coming daily into our hearts. Even though Advent is sometimes thought of as a prelude to Christmas, it is its own special time in the Church Year. For me, celebrating Advent with its time for prayer and devotion is a peaceful counter to the cultural demands of the secular Christmas season. Advent says Stop, Wait, and Pray, while the culture calls us to Hurry, Celebrate and Buy.

Although I enjoy celebrating Christmas with all of my family traditions of worship, decorating, special foods, exchanging gifts and cards, and visiting with friends, I find that I need the quiet time of Advent devotion to fully appreciate the Christmas festivities. In these first weeks of Advent, the Advent wreath with its blue candles, signifying hope, is our primary home decoration. The simple wreath with its growing light help keep us focused on the light that Christ brings into the world.

As a way of communicating with you, I will be sharing daily devotions on this blog. These devotions will be my reflections on the Biblical texts highlighted in the new Augsburg Fortress Advent devotional book: "I wonder as I wander". You can find out more about this book at http://www.augsburgfortress.org/

Blessed Advent to all of you.