Monday, December 7, 2013 — Week of Advent 2, Year One
[Go to Mission St Clare for an online version of the Daily Office including today’s scripture readings.]
Today’s Readings for the Daily Office:
Psalms 25 (morning) // 9, 15 (evening)
Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Luke 21:20-28
According to today’s second reading, bad things tend to happen at night: “those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.” Indeed, by the time morning rolls around, I’ve often missed out on either some great sleep or a great party!
Of course, we know that it’s impossible to avoid the night entirely. It’s coming, whether we like it or not. The challenge in today’s Scripture seems to be that as days and nights come and go, we not let them pass us by, but instead make ourselves ready and alert and present for each one.
The Scripture tells us that “we belong to the day.” Imagine waking up each morning with that energy, letting the day lay claim to us, and not missing out on a thing due to drowsiness or drunkenness. Imagine being alert to all the gifts and learnings and visitations that come to us from God.
Days spent like that add up to the kind of life that Jesus comes to offer us. Ultimately, Jesus offers us salvation “so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.” Night, death, and darkness are inevitable, but for now, we belong to this day.
Lora Walsh blogs about taking risks and seeking grace at A Daily Scandal. She serves as curate of Grace Episcopal Church in Siloam Springs and as director of the Ark Fellows, an Episcopal Service Corps program sponsored by St. Paul’s in Fayetteville, Arkansas.