SUNDAY, DEC 3
Mk 13:33-37
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.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!'”
Grace: I ask for the grace to know Jesus in a deeper way that I may abundantly love and follow him.
I find myself resisting this call to watchfulness. It can seem like yet another attitude or activity that sucks time and energy from my already tired out soul. Why is Jesus piling yet another expectation into my life?
The words “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:31) echo through my being. This is so different from the tired busyness I experience every day. “What are you saying, Lord?”
“I want you to watch for overtiredness, over-commitment, excessive expectations that do not come from me. They will tempt you to take on the work of my other servants, as well as your own. Keep watch. These false expectations will try to overwhelm you. Take care, so that when I return like the Lord of the house, I do not find you submerged in a flurry of unnecessary responsibility.” “Jesus, show me what true rest looks and feels like in my life.” I am flooded inwardly with peace and rest.
For Reflection and Prayer:
As you begin this Advent Retreat, Jesus may be asking you to re-order your priorities, to live a more peaceful, centered life. Paradoxically, watchfulness can also mean being alert, to not allow stress to take over your life.
These questions may help you reflect on this:
I allow my daily activities to float through my mind. Which of these is Jesus asking me to set aside? Which am I called to keep?
How do I feel about letting go?
Which activities “build up” the Kingdom of God in my heart, my family, my work? Which do not?
You may want to use this music to help you end your prayer with quiet relaxation:
The Contributor:
Renata Furst teaches scripture and spirituality at Oblate School of Theology. She accompanies others through the journey of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in daily life. She shares this gift to train spiritual directors to accompany others through this same journey.
Learn more about Magis Ignatian Spirituality Programs
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.