Advent Reading for Thursday, Week 1 (12/1/22)

 

The Season of Advent prepares for Christ's coming--both on Christmas Day and when we comes again in glory.  This year, we will spend each week exploring a different way we can prepare ourselves.  The post for each day will include a scripture, a song, a few brief questions to reflect upon, and a prayer  Week 1 is about Keeping Watch.

 

Week 1 Reminder

This week, our readings focus on "Keeping Watch."  For a longer introduction to what keeping watch entails, please refer to Sunday's post.

Scripture

Mark  13:32-37

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Beware, keep alert,^[a] for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴ 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. ³⁵ 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, ³⁶ or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷ And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."(NRSVUE)

 

Hymn

Questions

Christ teaches that preparing for his return includes faithfully carrying out the work he left in our hands.

• What work has Jesus given you to do?  
• Are you doing that work faithfully?
• How can you increase your commitment to it (example: if Christ calls you to feed the hungry you decide to donate a certain number of canned items a month or schedule a time to volunteer at a local hunger ministry).

Prayer

Jesus, give me the commitment to keep following your commands and doing your work as we wait for your return.