Thursday, December 1, 2022
Rev. Sela Finau
Pay Attention
Scripture: Mark 13:32-37 (NRSV) 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.’
Devotion: Jesus tells a story about an owner going away on a journey, putting us in charge of his house, work, people, animal, and all of his affairs. The owner doesn’t tell us when he’s coming back, whether he’ll return next week or ten years from now. Thereby, we must always stay alert.
The story that Jesus tells connected with his first audience and pertains to us today. This means we can’t just sit around and do nothing. We can’t just wait around, and when we see him coming, we hurry up, look busy, and say Jesus is coming! Get to work. Look busy!
No, the call of Advent is an opportunity to get our life in order. Get our house and our affairs in its proper place. Prioritize our life according to what is most important.
We must be good stewards of everything the owner (God) has placed in our care. We must pay attention and be good stewards every moment of every day, with every gift we have been given, whether that’s people, animals, skills, talents, money, or time.
Prayer: God, help us pay attention to life’s details and be better stewards of your gifts. Amen.
AΩ
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