Image from angusday.com

"It will seem like all hell has broken loose - sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking. "And then - then! - they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style - a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!" He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here - when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too - these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. "But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man." (Luke 21: 25-36 The Message)

It was comical. I wore my blue blazer to church yesterday. I felt in my side pocket and discovered an energy bar I had taken with me to a day-long meeting that only took four days to complete! But, snacks were provided and I didn't eat the bar. I pulled it out and showed Nellie and said, "In case I get hungry during church!" She smiled and I thanked God for a wife that puts up with me! We worshiped at FUMC of San Marcos. We had been in town for helping our daughter, Carli, with an event at her new job and we had not seen our other daughter nor granddaughter. She called her grandma to make sure we were going to her church, and added she could not wait to see us. What more motivation did we need? We arrived at church and filled up our row. As the church proceeded, our granddaughter, Saraí Evangelina told her grandmother she was hungry. I heard that, smiled, and sent the energy bar her way. What made me smile was that she knelt on the floor to eat her snack unnoticed by others. And that act was brought to mind as I read this passage.

Advent begins next Sunday. It is that portion of the Christian year meant for preparation. It is a twofold preparation, for we are called to remember all that God did for us in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we are also called to remember that He will come again. In this passage from Luke, in a modern version called The Message, we see the description in a way that perhaps we've not seen nor heard. The signs are there, Jesus says, and it will seem like everything is out of control, even "The powers-that-be (will be) quaking." And here's the part I like, "And then - then! - they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style - a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet." Yes! We're taught to seek shelter and pretty much hide when we hear the sirens or alarms of coming storms, and that is what we should do. When this event comes, those who are still living, who love and trust the Lord, will know that He is on the way. And if that is us, who might still be here, are called to stand to welcome Jesus, not kneel or hide or run to shelter - we'll know, and we'll stand to join the victory celebration of He who has returned.

What may make some run and hide is that they are not ready spiritually. Their lives continued to be centered on themselves and their pleasures, not on God and serving those who needed their help - these will have reason to hide and seek shelter. They will be caught off-guard even though they have read or heard the words, "Be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping." (Ouch! Did He say, "shopping?" During this time of year when Friday is THE shopping day??) Jesus continues, "Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once." We are lovingly called to stay awake, alert, and at work, doing what our baptism should have called us to be: Servants of the Most High God, loving everyone, and giving of ourselves to serve God and God's children; the frightened, the dispossessed, the refugee in our midst, the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and imprisoned. It's all there in the gospels.

Pray constantly to have strength, Jesus continued, and stay smart enough to make it through, even to the end of this world, to enter into the new one with Him.

PRAYER: Loving God, I'm praying even now for strength, for wisdom, courage, and boldness - so much left to do, and it starts now. I want to be ready, but I want to be working even now, so that when You return, I will join others on my feet, to welcome You; knowing that I welcome You every time I give of myself to help someone who is lost, who feels like the least, or has in their opinion, ended up "last." This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong and precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde