Sunday Meditation: Be Watchful!

Today we start Year B of the liturgical calendar with the Gospel of Mark as the centerpiece of the readings.  Today also starts a new season, Advent.  The USCCB explains the season: “Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.”  But, the closing of one year with the merging of the new signal both the coming of Christ at the end of times and the coming of His incarnation.  It really has a double meaning, and so we get this Gospel reading.

 

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!’”

~Mk 13:33-37

What are you to watch for?  The Lord’s arrival!  As Jeff Cavins so eloquent says: “The Lord is coming.  He came, His is coming, He will come.” 

 

I say He is coming into your heart, and so be prepared for Him to stay.

Meditation: "Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming.”

As a bonus, I offer “O Come Emmanuel” arranged and performed by Chris Tomlin.

 

That is just lovely.