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Gospel: Mark 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!’”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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So, when will the world end?
It’s a question human beings have asked seemingly from the beginning of time. Even the disciples ask the Lord this question, prompting his response in today’s Gospel.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,” Jesus tells them. “Nation will rise against nation. There will be earthquakes and famine. But it will not yet be the end… What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
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Human beings have watched ever since, often wondering if the end is near.
For example, you may remember the drama of Y2K then in 2012 the Mayan calendar. Twice since the turn of the century, people stuffed their cellars and braced for impact.
Of course, nothing happened. But within the last century, there have been real catastrophes, leaving people wondering if it’s the end of the world as we know it.
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Think of what happened during World War Two.
Hitler was systematically wiping out an entire people, while taking over large swaths of Europe, drawing nation after nation into conflict. Those camps, trenches, and bloody beaches must’ve looked like the apocalypse.
We know now it wasn’t.
But something happened in World War Two that can teach us a lesson about the end of the world…and our role in it.
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On June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed in Normandy, where they began their slow, heroic march towards Paris.
Weeks later, as American boots marched through the Arc de Triomphe, many felt that the war was coming to an end. It would take nearly another year to reach Hitler. But our generals knew we could win if they persevered.
And persevere they did.
On September 2, 1945, World War Two was officially over.
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As Christians, we should see ourselves like the Allied troops marching through the Arc de Triomphe. We know this existential battle between good and evil can be won.
In a sense, it has been won.
When Jesus conquered death on Easter Sunday, he dealt the devil a decisive blow.
But there is still work to be done. God’s peace isn’t reigning from sea to shining sea just yet. Like the Apostles, we must continue our march. We must, “Be watchful and alert.”
This is what Advent is all about – not just celebrating the Lord’s birth at Christmas, but also awaiting his return, acknowledging that we all have a role to play in expanding the kingdom of God during this time in between his birth and his return.
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For the Apostles, being “alert” meant taking on the yoke of responsibility for the early Church.
At Pentecost, the Lord sent them out to preach to all nations, which wasn’t an easy task; ten of the twelve Apostles were martyred! They experienced in a very real way the battle between good and evil; between belief and unbelief; between life and death, which unfolds in every age.
So, what about us? What mission have we been given? And how are we to prepare for Christ’s return?
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First, do whatever we must to live in a state of peace, which is rooted in having a right relationship with God and with our neighbor.
Secondly, stay focused. Do the ordinary tasks we’ve been given to do with a pure and generous heart.
“Whatever you do,” Saint Paul says, “do for the glory of God… that you may be saved.”
I try to live Paul’s words by looking at a crucifix at the end of each day. If I can say that I’m tired because I was attentive to the responsibilities the Lord has given me, then I know I’m being, “watchful, alert.”
You can say the same about being a spouse, a parent, a colleague, a student, a believer in any context. Whatever we do, do for the glory of God.
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As we begin this first Sunday of Advent, may we continue our march for peace together, staying watchful and alert, awaiting the Lord’s return.
Come, Lord Jesus.
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Image credits: (1) Be Watchful Until He Comes, True Jesus Church, YouTube (2) One Walk With Jesus (3) Liberation of Paris, Wikipedia