“But about that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 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 13:33-37, NRSV
It was our first trip to Kentucky to visit Hillary’s family since her move to Murfreesboro. Hillary typed the address of her parents into the GPS and asked, “How adventurous are you feeling?” The GPS had recommended an “interesting” way to get there and we decided to try it.
Hillary wasn’t kidding when she suggested “adventure.” At one point, we turned off what I would describe as a “main road” and drove for what seemed like hours (okay, so I have a way of exaggerating) on winding country roads that seemed to get smaller and steeper by the minute. At one point, in the rolling hills of either Wayne or Clinton County, KY, I observed a sign that said, “Jesus is coming soon.” Did I need to be led out into the middle of nowhere to be told THAT?
Jesus is coming soon. That’s what the sign said. And the person who erected it was probably worried that too many people aren’t looking really looking for Jesus’ coming (I was just looking for a main road).
The season of Advent is about preparing and waiting for the many ways that Jesus comes, not just as a child born in a manger, not just in his final glory at the end of time, but in the daily and ordinary ways that are worth our mindfulness. Let’s be attentive to what Jesus says in today’s scripture reading.
Let’s stay awake to the ways that Christ would come to us… during this season and always.
