1st Sunday of Advent, Year B.
Gospel Reading: Mark 13:33-37.
Vs.33 Jesus said to his disciples, “Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.”
Vs.34 It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task, and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake.
Vs.35 So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming: evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn;
Vs.36 if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep.
Vs.37 And what I say to you, I say to all, Stay awake!”
Guidelines to help begin our meditation.
Can you remember an experience in life where the Master “had gone from home,” – where you encountered a hidden God at a time of sickness, affliction, loss or failure – and it had been quite a struggle to keep faith, to keep your hope alive, to “stay awake” for the Master’s promised return?
Can you remember how during such an experience the time of waiting seemed to go on and on – “evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn” and still no sign of him. You cried out “how long, O Lord…” And just when you were about to give up hope the Master came?
Can you identify the “doorkeepers” in your own families, parish communities, church and society, whose role it has been to “stay awake”, to be a sign and reminder to the rest of the household that the Master is coming?
Can you look around at the activities associated with this time of year and see in them an echo of the voice which exhorts us to “stay awake” to the possibility of the coming of God’s kingdom despite signs to the contrary in our world?