Scripture Scribbles: December 3, 2023

the Gospel

Mark 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

the devotion

Watching. Waiting. Advent. The pregnant breath of being held in suspense as we await the coming of our Lord. What am I doing to prepare for His arrival? What does it mean to stay awake and watch? 

To watch in our Faith means to live in the Sacraments. It means to enter into an intimate relationship with Christ - engaging in Baptism through daily prayer and going to Reconciliation, living true to marriage in holy matrimony, deepening Confirmation vows through witnessing discipleship and serving others, uniting with Christ in the Eucharist weekly or even daily, surrendering all to Him and trusting in His mercy.

Jesus promised us His return for the final time when all will be judged, resurrected, and restored. When this will be, we do not know; however, in the genius of the Liturgical patterns of our Church, every Advent we are reminded of what Jesus tells us to do to prepare for His Return, how to be alert, and how to return to Him. We are invited to slow down, and immerse ourselves in the anticipation of His arrival. This time of year often includes a hustle and bustle of activities, baking, shopping, stress - an “asleep” frenzy of not being present to the Truth of Christmas. Challenge yourself this year to stay awake and be present to those around you, volunteer and give back to the community, ponder what it means for Jesus to return, immerse yourself in the anticipation with Mary. Even if you have a lot to do to prepare for the holidays, are you doing it with a stressed resentment? Or are you prayerfully entering into the mystery of our Lord with each activity, every cookie baked, every present wrapped, every shopping trip with Jesus in mind and the gift He is to our world?

Today’s devotion is written by Diana Giard