Wednesday, November 30: Scripture – Matthew 24:36-39
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,
39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man.
On September 24, 2018, my life was forever changed when my father suddenly passed away. He had always been such a healthy man and full of life—running and working out on a daily basis— and claimed he was going to “live forever.” He was the last person I ever expected to have an untimely death. The day he passed away I had spoken to him at lunch time, and by 4pm he was gone. Today’s reading tells us, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” When I think back to that last conversation I had with him, I remember telling him how much I loved him. I am so grateful that I was able to speak to him, and that is the last thing he ever heard me say (and the last thing he ever said to me). The Advent season is a chance to open our hearts to receiving the love of Christ. One way we can do that is to never let an opportunity pass to share our love with others.
Prayer: Dear God, we are grateful for the gift of love this Christmas. May we remember that life here on earth is short and precious, so help us to love one another the same way that you have loved us. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
Strat Lake