“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man” (21:36).
These are the last words we will hear or read this year from the readings of the Mass. The season of Advent and the new liturgical year begins tonight at the vigil Mass. As I read these words, I thought they are not only good words to end the year with but that they would also be good words to read at the beginning of each day.
“Be vigilant at all times” are certainly words to abide by. We need to resist the temptation of speeding through life with blinders on and not taking time to listen to that quiet voice of God that guides us day in and day out. The more we hear the subtle, quiet leading of the Holy Spirit and ignore it, the less we grow in our awareness of his presence in our lives or the presence of those who need his mercy, grace, and love. Worse, the more we listen to the myriad of other voices that are not of God, they might lead us into areas of mind games, action, and settings that our not for our highest hope and good. That is why prayer is so important, so we can develop an ear for our loving Father’s guidings and urgings. He speaks to us all the time, but if we want what we want when we want, if we just keep up our pace at a fever pitch, if we are feeding ourselves with apparent goods, we can open ourselves up to some pretty horrible scenarios.
We must pray that we may have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent. There are predators that seek to do us harm in so many ways and forms that are unconscionable, yet pretending that they aren’t there, doesn’t work, being paralyzed in fear will not work. We do not need to be paranoid, but we do need to be aware. We need to be aware of what our boundaries are for ourselves and communicate that with others, in the smallest to the greatest ways. Each time we listen to our intuition, our conscience, the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, we increase our confidence in who we are, we are able to hear clearer His voice, and who God leads us to be. We can also side step scenarios that can lead us down some very dark pathways.
Even while being vigilant, people of prayer, darkness can still fall upon us and those we care for. We still live in a fallen world of sin. There is darkness within the Church as well. But in each and every case, we are to maintain hope in the one who we prepare for this Advent, the Son of Man, who we stand before. The Light that shines in the darkness who has not and will not be overcome by it (cf. John 1:5). Jesus is the one we can trust. Jesus is the one who will accompany us through the trials and tribulations we face. In the end, Jesus the Christ will be the one to lead us home to the Father’s embrace for all eternity. Watch and pray!
Painting: Rembrandt’s Christ with Arms Folded. To see a fuller version of the image, go to main page of my blog, click on menu in upper right corner of page, click on blog and scroll down to postings listed.
Link for today’s Mass readings:
Spiritual Stepping Stones 