Sunday, November 30, 2014 Mark 13:24-37
Jennifer Larson
"...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 13:35-37)
I don’t like being caught unprepared for an emergency or a
contingency. I carry a first aid kit in my car, along with jumper cables, just
in case. I always bring snacks and water along with me, just in case. I keep
spare batteries of every kind in a kitchen drawer, just in case. I keep a
charger for my cellphone in my purse, just in case. There’s a part of my brain
that believes that nothing bad will happen if I’m prepared.
In this passage from Mark, Jesus tells us to be
prepared…even though we don’t know exactly when we might need to be prepared. That makes people like me—people who like to
have control or at least feel in control of our lives—a little uneasy. We’re
supposed to be prepared. Okay, that’s fine. But how? And when is this event
likely to happen? What do you mean you can’t tell me? How am I supposed to be
ready? And then we’re just supposed to…wait? How does that work? What am I
supposed to do while I’m waiting?
But as theologian Henri Nouwen notes, “Waiting is essential
to the spiritual life. But waiting as a
disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting.
It is a waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present
what we are waiting for.”
While we prepare ourselves and wait, we have to…deep breath…trust
God and be ready. I know, it’s tough. It goes against our nature. But it
doesn’t mean we just sit still and wait.
Let’s embrace “active waiting,” when we work to create and nurture the
community that will be ready to welcome God with open arms. We can open our
arms to others, welcoming them into the community of faith. I’d like to think
that’s the kind of preparation that Jesus was talking about.
Prayer: Gracious and loving God, help us find the patience
to prepare our hearts and minds for you. While we wait, help us find ways to be
your hands at work in the world. Amen.
Daily Challenge: Find a new way to be welcoming to someone
in your faith community.
