Undistracted

A Reflection on the Gospel for November 29th, 2020:
First Sunday of Advent

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Mark
13.33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.

“It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with a particular task, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.

“And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

It’s been a calmer season in our house. Thanks to homeschooling, the early morning wake ups necessitated by public school are being avoided this year. Thanks to working remotely, I don’t have to leave the house at 6am to get to the office, but instead I can clock in right at the start of my shift. We are better rested and less harried overall as a family, which is helping us cope with the stress of living through a global pandemic.


The break from the feeling of panic and urgency around us has been a gift. As the cases are rising in our province and the lists of sites for contact tracing increase by the day, our cozy little life behind our closed front door has been a more effective plan for the pandemic than any attempt to deal with masks or group limits.


We have set ourselves apart and that has been a gift in more ways than one. After we made the adjustment from all the busyness of pre-pandemic life into the gentler pace being afforded us now, it created so much room in our lives. The time we used to spend rushing to making lunches or driving to and fro, accounts for more of my day than I had expected. And what do I do with this extra time? The temptation at the start of the pandemic was to binge watch those must watch TV shows (yes, even the Tiger King). That later turned into binge watching TikTok videos. Those distractions kept me from hyper focusing on my fears about how the pandemic could affect my family.


As we step into Advent, I am reminded and invited to take my eyes off the distractions and fears of the world. The invitation to prepare for Christ is a welcome reminder to keep my eyes on the end goal — to have my heart ready for the Master. When He comes, will I have used my time wisely? Or will I be found sleeping?


Jesus has taught me to watch for Him — to keep my eyes on Him. The world outside feels scary right now, but this is an opportunity to fix on our eyes on Jesus, who loves us beyond all measure. Christ is inviting me to use the extra time in my life to come closer to Him and to make more room in my life for Him.




Stephanie Potter

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