“And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” – Mark 13:37
I spent many weekends of my undergraduate years traipsing around the New England woods. More specifically, I spent many weekends of undergraduate laying in the New England woods. Even more specifically, these weekends were spent laying in the New England woods, shivering against the cold ground, eyes droopy, and head propped up against the barrel of a fake M16 so as to appear awake. Such was the life of an Army ROTC Cadet. Of course, we were all told to “beware, keep alert,” and “keep awake” in case we made enemy contact. But, we all knew that there were no actual enemy forces in the woods, our perimeter would not be breached, and that fake rifles wouldn’t be of much help anyways. Worst case scenario, we would awake from the crunching of the leaves under approaching feet. The incentive to “keep awake” was limited. On this first Sunday of Advent, I can’t help but wonder if Jesus’s disciples felt similarly when he warned them to “keep awake” (Mark 13:37). “Beware? Keep alert? Keep awake? …for what?” they may have asked. “We’ve never seen any enemy, and we certainly have never seen a ‘Man coming in clouds with great power and glory’” (Mark 13:26), they may have retorted. The disciples were, likely, tired and, likely, starting to grow weary. They were on a faith journey – a journey of believing things unseen (Hebrews 11:1) – too, after all. Yet, Jesus implored the disciples to “keep awake.” They needed to stay vigilant because the Son of Man was to come and would not be expected. So they, in faith, stayed awake. Whether laying in the chilly New England woods, fatigued by the 2020 news cycle, or just struggling to find hope in the world, may we all have faith and hear Jesus’s imperative to “keep awake” – for the Son of Man is coming. |