Reflections on the Sunday Readings for 11/30/08 by Dawn

You can find all of this week's Scripture at www.usccb.org/nab/113008.shtml

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
...and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming..."
(Mark 13:334-35)

It doesn't seem possible that a new Church year has begun, that we've entered the season of Advent. When we enter the church building we may notice the Advent wreath and the purple altar cloth, instead of the white. Indications that this is no longer Ordinary Time, instead we're in a season of waiting - waiting for the birth of our Savior. We often speak of Advent as a time of "waiting in joyful hope".

I often equate waiting with boredom. My mother will tell you that when I'm bored, I'm awful to be around. As a teenager, when I was bored I would mope and whine for something fun to do. I can be very annoying, believe it or not! But boredom is not what Advent is about. Instead, we're asked to be actively waiting. This sounds like an oxymoron, but it's not. It is demonstrated in today's Gospel - we are supposed to be like a gatekeeper, or watchman. The job of a gatekeeper was not only to keep out people that shouldn't be allowed to enter, but also to watch for the return of their master and to announce to the household when they were approaching. So it is the same with us. We need to make sure to keep out those things that shouldn't enter our interior dwelling, but we also need to keep watch for our Master, and to announce his coming to those we encounter.

We do this active waiting in many different ways during Advent. We may spend a little more time in prayer each day, using the "Little Blue Book" available in church; perhaps in the new year of Spirit Alive! we spend more time reading Scripture. We may take a tag off the giving tree or buy food to give to the food pantry or Christmas baskets; perhaps we ring bells for Salvation Army, or help sort presents or food; maybe it's having an Advent wreath in our own homes and lighting the candles before each meal; or we may make a special effort to examine our conscience and go to confession before Christmas. However you spend your time during Advent, remember that this season is meant to be one of actively waiting and watching.

The part about announcing the return of the master is harder for me. For me, it's much easier to talk about God and faith issues with those who hold the same beliefs as I do. We're called, though, to share our faith with everyone. This does not mean you need to bang people over the head with a Bible, but maybe it's just sharing with a coworker, friend or spouse where you witnessed God at work during the day. During this Advent is there someone in your life to whom you should announce the coming of the Lord?


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