1st of Advent 11
November 2011
‘Keep awake - for you do not know when the master will come.’
The early Christians fully expected that Jesus of Nazareth would return in Glory within their lifetime. They expected the so called ‘Last Day’ to be imminent. That is one reason why some of the first Christians sold their property and contributed the whole proceeds to the Christian Community to which they belonged. They fully expected to have no further need for the property.
Then a crisis developed. Some of those first Christians died and Jesus had not yet returned. Where did they stand?
In the first letter to the Thessalonians Ch. 4 Paul addresses this question.
The next crisis gradually developed as more and more time passed and there was no sign of Jesus’ return. Many Christians who had started off with great fervour expecting only a short sprint to the finishing line found themselves involved in a marathon of indeterminate duration. They grew weary of waiting and began to revert to their old way of life, especially after the first group of Christians, who had experienced the ‘Risen Lord,’ were no longer alive to strengthen their faith.
So we get all these parables attributed to Jesus of Nazareth with the exhortation to stay awake or to be watchful in our service of the Lord.
An addenda is generally added, by the editor, as a warning to slackers and waverers concerning the unpleasant consequences if they do not pull up their socks.
Most of us, at least from time to time, can be found in the company of the waverers and slackers.
One may stay awake and watchful for any number of reasons; Like fear of the Masters return or not wanting to miss out on my hoped for a slot in Heaven or because it is what is expected of me.
My Christianity, my watchfulness, my wakefulness, must be based on something deeper than this if I am to persevere.
For example if the faithfulness, the commitment, of a married couple is based on, not wanting to sin or on not wanting the trouble and embarrassment entailed if one is found out, then they are already in trouble.
At the very least it must be based on a certain loyalty to each other, a certain determination not to let the other down, an unwillingness to hurt or disappoint the other.
During this Advent; during this month of preparation, during this period of wakefulness and alertness, I must search my heart for this loyalty to my God; for this unwillingness to let my God down or disappoint Him.
If I ask my God for this I will surely get it, maybe not immediately but at the proper time.