1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT B
Do you pay attention to the weather alerts that pop-up on your phone or scroll across the TV screen? Do you have health insurance / car insurance / property insurance? What about smoke and CO2 detectors? Do you wear a seat belt in the car / a mask when you’re outside your home? Do you have an alarm system for your car and home?
There are many ways that we’re watchful and ready for things that might happen in life – things we hope and pray never will happen. But what about eternal life – our spiritual life with Jesus – something that we know will happen? Why is it that we do so much to be prepared for the things that might happen in this world and so little to prepare for our own day of judgment and our eternal life?
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come! Keep watch! What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
We begin this Advent season with three reminders: That Jesus came into the world on Christmas; that Jesus continues to come to us in Word and Sacrament; and that Jesus will come again as savior and judge.
We hear that Advent message - especially about Jesus coming again - in today’s gospel when Jesus says that, it’s like a man going away. When he leaves his house, he puts his servants in charge, each with an assigned task.
He tells them to keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping!
Jesus isn’t exactly talking about putting on your pajamas, getting into bed, and falling asleep. He’s talking more about not paying attention to our job, being indifferent to the orders of our master, acting as if we have the right to do whatever we want – regardless of what God has told us to do. In other words, sleeping on the job. This is why we need those three advent reminders every year.
We need to be reminded that God came into our world as one like us. That he continues to come to us and gives us new life through reading and hearing his Word and through the regular reception of his Body and Blood in Communion. And that he is coming again; the very necessary reminder of how near Judgment Day is for any one of us.
Our watchful waiting for Jesus’ second coming is totally different from merely celebrating Christmas. So many people wear themselves out, rushing here and there during the holidays. But God has already given us peace and joy, for he has already done all the preparations.
As St Paul reminds us; In God we have been enriched in every way…We do not lack any spiritual gift as we eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.