Daily Devotion for Saturday 16th March 2024

Saturday, 16 March 2024 St Mark 13: 28 – 36

Jesus said: ‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  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 his work, 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.’

Reflection

We are disciples wherever we go and whatever we do. In all seasons and in all frames of mind. It is easy to say but not always easy to remember that in the moment. We need to keep awake, keep alert, see what God might be asking of us at work, in the supermarket, or even on a train. 

Years ago, when I was studying to become a lay preacher, I was sitting on a train, travelling to work, trying to read a book on mission and evangelism, for an essay that was due – or possibly overdue. The person sitting opposite me kept talking to me. I was trying to read but she kept asking me questions. What are you reading? Are you a Christian then?  

It was quite annoying!  Here I was trying to learn how to talk about Jesus, which is both important and scary, and this person kept interrupting me with silly questions. She was very persistent, she had to ask me quite a few annoying questions before it finally penetrated my brain that here was someone trying to talk to me about my faith, and I was ignoring her to read a book about how to talk to people about my faith. 

Being a disciple wherever we go and whatever we do, means keeping awake. We never know when the moment will come to share our faith, when the moment will come to serve, or when the moment will come to glimpse God in the face of another. We never know when we might be called to speak up for another, challenge oppression or manifest the fruits of the spirit. Stay awake and alert today. You never know what you might notice. 
 
Prayer

Loving God, you walk with us in our daily lives, 
may we have the grace to seek you out in all places, 
to recognise you in all people, 
to minister your grace in all situations. 
Keep our faith alive and active, 
so that we may be ready at any time to listen and love. 
Amen