It is Advent again. In his sermon this morning, Oscar Uzin said: “Be alert, be alert, so that you will be able to recognize your Lord in your husband, your wife, your parents, your children, your friends, your teachers, but also in all that you read in the daily papers.” The Lord is coming, always coming. Be alert to his coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.
Henri J.M. Nouwen – GRACIAS! A Latin American Journal
KEEP AWAKE AND WATCH
“But about the 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.” – Mark 13:32-36
PRAYER
Lord Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, let us be especially alert to your coming during this Advent. As a parent listens for the cry of an infant, as a sailor watches for land, as an astronomer scans the skies, as a doctor watches for signs of returning health, let us be attentive to your arrival. Let not our pride and arrogance blind us and put us to sleep. Give us the endurance to be true watchers of the night as we journey through this Advent. Amen.
ADVENT ACTION
We are in a state of readiness when we wait in wisdom like the wise virgins of the parable. Get up fifteen minutes early or retire fifteen minutes later in order to devote time to watchful waiting and prayer.
* This excerpt from Advent & Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen
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