Advent

November 29, 2020

Scripture Reading: Mark 13:24-37

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 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, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’ –Mark 13:32-37

I read the book Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance shortly after it was published. It is a good book, a challenging read because it delves into how our upbringing shapes us for better or worse. Netflix just released the movie, which I think captured that idea well. My Dad was obsessed with the second coming. He followed the teachings of one of the radio preachers of the 1950s. You know the type. They end their program with a promise that if we follow their teachings, we will be saved and the address where to send your contributions. Dad signed up for the correspondence courses they offered, and I drew the assignment of reading them out loud to my parents. The documents were printed with the words the minister thought were the most important in bold type. My teenage rebellion was never to emphasize what they darkened. That experience made me overly cautious regarding interpreting scripture. It took me years and some quality guidance to read Daniel and Revelation for the wisdom they offered. I feel blessed now to have gleaned from those readings the need to dig deep into the scriptural study and seek an array of understandings.

I share this background with you can decide if that background colors my response to the above scripture. I am a bit of a nut on investing energies in doing my part as the Body of Christ in the world today and let Christ worry about the end of days. I think that is what he is saying here. Followers of Christ are called to be verbs, not nouns.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. — James 1:22-25

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we describe ourselves as Christian and think we have completed our work here on earth. Make us doers of the Word following the example of Jesus. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.