After contemplating a pause on blogging here, the arrival of Advent changed my mind. The Gospel for Advent 1, the first Sunday in a new Christian year, is from Luke 21:25-36. It contains several themes associated with the season of Advent. This is a time for reflection upon the theme of Christ coming into the world in various ways. Advent is also a time to emphasize spiritual and moral preparation for His arrival. It is a reminder of our constant need for renewed dedication to our faith in Christ.
A key theme of Advent is watching. Luke 21: 34 begins, "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life..." (ESV). The same important idea is repeated in different words in Luke 21:36, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (KJV). In other words, followers of Jesus Christ always need to be watching and praying about the end of worldly things and the arrival of heavenly things. This prayerful watchfulness applies to every day of our lives, and Advent is a special time for us to keep emphasizing readiness for God's present and coming kingdom!
No comments:
Post a Comment