Listen

“In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won’t give its light. The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then they will see the Human One coming in the clouds with great power and splendor. Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.”

Mark 13:24-27

Think

Advent is a season of waiting. The earliest people of God waited generations for their savior. Christians today live in a liminal – or an in-between – time. Something has already happened, and we wait with great hope for the next reality that has not-yet happened. Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago in a manger, and Jesus will come again to usher in God’s new creation.

This passage from Mark predicted what it might look like when Jesus returns, which early Christians expected during their lifetime. Many since have predicted a date or specific event that would signal the return of Jesus. The truth is, we cannot know when that will happen. We can only acknowledge that we live in the “already” – we know who Jesus is and how he came as God in human flesh to teach us how tremendous God’s love is for all of creation. And we live in the “not yet” – the fullness of God’s kingdom is not yet known.

Our calling as we wait is to work for the “not yet” because we know the “already.”

Kelly Adams

Question to Ponder:

How do you feel called to serve God in ways that exemplify the teachings of Jesus until God’s kingdom is fully realized?

Pray

All-knowing God, I pray for patience in this season of waiting.

I long to be a small part of ushering in the fullness of your kingdom on Earth.

Help me to notice where you are calling me to serve in this liminal time.

Amen.

Go

Go now, confident that God is acting, full of hope for a world transformed by peace, love, and joy.

Share a smile, an encouraging word, or a gesture of kindness that shows your hope in action.