Gospel for November 29 2020 – Mark 13:33-37
Gospel Reflections for November 29 2020
Are you watching?
This Gospel predicts the end of the world and warns us to watch. You might start looking at the sky to see anything dramatic coming!
This Gospel is actually inviting you to look inside yourself. That is the place to get ready.
Today’s Gospel and this whole Season of Advent invites you to reflect on your life and relationships and be ready in that deeper way. Certainly the long Covid-19 season of restrictions and economic challenges have already changed our lives dramatically. Despite the hardships I hope it has also helped you see the larger meaning of things, and about what is important and what is not.
The Season of Advent has that larger perspective as its purpose. Before we celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem the church invites you to stop and take stock of your life, and ask important questions to make sure you are on the right track.
- Am I having a good and loving effect on the people I know?
- Is my life moving in the right direction?
These questions are a good start, and the answers will be helpful, but they should also lead to the most important question of all.
- Am I getting closer …or further away from God?
(God is always in the same place, so it must be us that move closer or farther!)
This Advent Season is filled with the color purple. It comes from the color of the sky just before dawn, between the black of night and the bright light of sunrise. For thousands of years, people have found this early morning time useful for quiet reflection. Maybe because this “purple sky time” is outside the normal day’s schedule people have used it prepare themselves on a deeper level for the day to come. Why rush into events if you don’t know why you are doing …whatever it is that you’re doing!
Sunday Mass is also a perfect one hour event each week, even if only on video, that connects you with Our Lord, whose only desire is your lasting happiness.
I hope we will soon have good news about the end of Covid-19. I especially hope this Advent will help happily align your life with Our Lord even more …so that you can celebrate Christmas, and start the New Year with confidence, courage, hope, and, above all, a spirit of joy. That would be a welcome change!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Look inside – focus – answer the key questions and assure our life is moving us closer to God!
More great advise – thanks Fr. Dave!
You are welcome!
My inner clock awakens me just before dawn, “the purple sky time.” The quiet has become my measure for contemplation, an easy chair, a cup of coffee and this –
“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
Thank you, Father Dave for another reflection of getting closer to God during this Advent season.
You are welcome!
Love your words as always!!! At the sunset of each beautiful day, I try to thank our loving God for all the precious gifts he has given to me!!! Nowl at dawn I will think of all his beautiful gifts and show him my love by loving others! all day!!!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee your precious thoughts!! I know you had a beautiful Thanksgiving for our precious, loving God loveeeeeeeeeeeeees you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Great reflection for Advent, Fr. Dave!
Life is teaching us that each day is important, and that when the Lord
comes we will be watching. Advent is a journey, and if we travel that journey
we may discover the wonder of the Child in the manger.
I am glad we can all take this journey every year!
Yes thankyou for your reminder. With all the distractions these days it is easy to not concentrate on what we should. Since I have always been a fighter of causes it is very much easy to get off track.
It is a great reminder to keep praising Jesus and put our trust in God alone.
Yes, always trust in God.