Knock, knock, knock

Stay awake! Be ready!

33 Be on guard! Be alert[a]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”-Mark13:33-37

As we anticipate the coming of Jesus, it doesn't mean that we just sit, look into the heavens and do nothing. We are tasked to be in charge, to continue working and be responsible stewards. Also, we are tasked to be a part of Jesus' rich ministry by being "harvesters" in the vineyard according to our capacity.

It's saddening to know that some people no longer anticipate or feel Jesus. They no longer rejoice because Jesus is born again in their lives. They much preferred the parties, the holiday break, the presents that come with the season. The Baby Jesus knocks into our hearts. What harm will it be if we open our hearts to His coming?

Image courtesy: Deviant Art (BlackButterfly), Le Nain Brothers (Nativity with the torch)

Seasons change

Life is a like a season. There is autumn. There is winter. There is spring. There is summer. Though seasons come and go, God remains.

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.-Luke21:29-33

Wars and insurrections, check. Earthquakes, plagues and famine, check (these happen from time to time anyway). Trials and persecutions, check (and still happen until now). Fall of Jerusalem, check. Signs in the sky, check (but what signs actually?). Jesus' generation passed away, check. Only one prophecy has not happened - the coming of the Son of Man in power and glory. Could it be that Jesus erred when He said, "... And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" while considering "... this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened...?" Impossible. Jesus never erred. Could it be that a remnant of Jesus' generation still survives until now waiting for His coming and so, prophecy has only been partially fulfilled only? Possibly.

Jesus' coming will happen in many ways. One day He will come again. Time? No one knows but it will come at a time we least expect. Jesus continues to live in our hearts. For every fall in our lives, He is there. He shares our very own passion and suffering. Jesus has resurrected and ascended into Heaven. And this privilege is shared with us. Thus, we experience His resurrection as we experience our own resurrection from our falls in life. As we see ourselves victorious in our battles in life, there is that glorious feeling. We cannot fully express it, even "Thank You, Lord" is not enough to express the glory that we feel.

We are all invited to anticipate Jesus' coming as we live our day-to-day life. He may come in a glorious state or He may come in a state we least expect (like riding in a bus beside us in the guise of a teenager). God is full of surprises. He may be preparing one for you today. Are you prepared?

Image courtesy: Blackbutterfly by Deviant art, artists

Vigilance and Faithfulness

Stay awake and be ready!

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.-Luke12:35-38

Apart from vigilance and faithfulness, the Gospel reading is also about honesty. Sometimes, staff and employees do things when the master is away. They slacken; they loiter about; they chat and gossip; they idle; they steal away from the office to do some recreation outside.

That is why, any employer or boss is happy to find an honest, vigilant and faithful staff or employee who does his/her work well and diligently despite no one around to monitor him/her, and continues to do so when there are people around monitoring his/her work. Some people live up to the saying, "When the cat is away, the mouse will play." while others do not.

Putting myself in the shoes of the master of the house, I would be very happy when my servants are awake, waiting for me and immediately open the door when I knock. The Bridegroom is made happy when he looks about and sees the invited guests and bridesmaids waiting for his arrival no matter how late it is.

If Jesus comes again and sees us ready, vigilant and expecting Him, He will be very happy - to such an extent that He will be the One to serve us, rather than the other way around. This vigilance, readiness and preparedness can be expressed through acts of faith, hope, charity, above all, LOVE. If Jesus comes again, what will He find in our hearts?

Photo by: Dreamstime, unknown artist, St. Takla Org.