"BE VIGILANT AT ALL TIMES AND PRAY"
We need to be fully awake, alive, alert, attentive, and on
the move doing God's good work during this season of Advent.
Until Jesus Christ
comes again we can expect difficulties, trials and temptations. We need to ask
Jesus to rekindle the fire of God's love in you and me so that we will be ready
and eager to meet Him when He comes again in all His glory. Luke's Gospel for this
final day of Ordinary Time prepares us for tomorrow's First Sunday of Advent -
the new Church year! The words of the Gospel serve as a warning: "Beware
that your hearts do not become drowsy" (Lk 21:34a) and assures us that
being couch potatoes is not our Advent agenda.
We need to be fully
awake, alive, alert, attentive, and on the move doing God's good work during
this season of Advent. The things to be on guard against are "carousing
and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life" (Lk 21:34b), which are
unacceptable to our heavenly Father, not only during Advent but throughout the
year. Our journey towards another Christmas brings us cheer, but what kind of
cheer do we have? Our cheer should come from the Holy Spirit, not from spirits.
The challenges of daily life are better dealt with through prayer and patience
than by trying to drink them away.
"Be vigilant at
all times and pray," Jesus tells us. Advent is our wake-up call for better
listening, understanding, and action during the busy days before Christmas. Our
challenge is to stand straight and tall before the Lord, the Son of Man who
comes to bring us hope, peace and healing and leads us to eternal life with
Him.