Advent I
"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." (Matthew 24:44)
This is how the Gospel reading for the first Sunday in Advent (which was today) ends. The words that stand out for me are "must be ready". We spend so much time focusing on "getting ready for Christmas" that I think it is important that we are reminded in the Advent Season to be ready for Jesus when He returns. Now, getting ready for Christmas, and by that I mean shopping, baking, planning events, wrapping gifts, and cleaning, is very important. Personally, I hope to get all those things done before December 25th! But what does it mean to be ready for the Son of Man's return?
Right now I am focused on the verb "be". Now my problem is that I don't really remember much about English grammar from high school so I can't rattle off what kind of verb "be" is. What I am aware of, however, is that it implies a state. To be... is well.... to be. It is what it is. Being ready means that we are ready. I think this is different than getting ready. Being ready for the Son of Man's advent means that whenever it happens (and it could happen at any moment of our life day or night; at home or work; in church or while we are running errands), we are fully prepared to face Jesus.
There is so much that could be said about what that state of faith/mind/being is but I want to state the obvious: one of the best ways to demonstrate being ready for Jesus' unexpected arrival is to face Jesus every day. To talk with Him (prayer). To listen to Him (read Scripture in general and Gospels in specific). To gather with His people to worship. To have a willing and surrendered attitude toward Him. One of the ways I am trying to focus on Jesus through Advent is to have a time of stillness daily where I give all my attention to Him. It is challenging - as many of the "getting ready for whatever is next in my day" details go through my mind - but I believe it is worth it because after all the gifts have been open, the ornaments put away, and the guests have gone back home, what is the lasting impact of Christmas? Jesus, our Saviour. It makes so much sense to me to focus on Jesus this Advent and I encourage you to do it too!
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
This is how the Gospel reading for the first Sunday in Advent (which was today) ends. The words that stand out for me are "must be ready". We spend so much time focusing on "getting ready for Christmas" that I think it is important that we are reminded in the Advent Season to be ready for Jesus when He returns. Now, getting ready for Christmas, and by that I mean shopping, baking, planning events, wrapping gifts, and cleaning, is very important. Personally, I hope to get all those things done before December 25th! But what does it mean to be ready for the Son of Man's return?
Right now I am focused on the verb "be". Now my problem is that I don't really remember much about English grammar from high school so I can't rattle off what kind of verb "be" is. What I am aware of, however, is that it implies a state. To be... is well.... to be. It is what it is. Being ready means that we are ready. I think this is different than getting ready. Being ready for the Son of Man's advent means that whenever it happens (and it could happen at any moment of our life day or night; at home or work; in church or while we are running errands), we are fully prepared to face Jesus.
There is so much that could be said about what that state of faith/mind/being is but I want to state the obvious: one of the best ways to demonstrate being ready for Jesus' unexpected arrival is to face Jesus every day. To talk with Him (prayer). To listen to Him (read Scripture in general and Gospels in specific). To gather with His people to worship. To have a willing and surrendered attitude toward Him. One of the ways I am trying to focus on Jesus through Advent is to have a time of stillness daily where I give all my attention to Him. It is challenging - as many of the "getting ready for whatever is next in my day" details go through my mind - but I believe it is worth it because after all the gifts have been open, the ornaments put away, and the guests have gone back home, what is the lasting impact of Christmas? Jesus, our Saviour. It makes so much sense to me to focus on Jesus this Advent and I encourage you to do it too!
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
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