First Sunday of Advent

Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. -Matthew 24:40-42

Jesus is telling the disciples to pay attention to the larger picture. They are to be constantly on the lookout to see God’s movement and activity in the world instead of being sucked in and consumed by the busyness of life. Jesus is not saying to stay in your room and do nothing else. Instead, he says that readiness and alertness to God is something that accompanies us wherever we go. The truth we are on the lookout for is often uncomfortable. The truth tells us that all is not well. The truth tells us that we have problems to solve, that something has gone astray in our hearts and our souls.

What do you need to change or drop in your daily life so that you can be better prepared to treat others in a more Christ-like way, with grace and truth?