Text study for Mark 13:24-37
Lectionary texts for Advent 1, November 27, 2011
The second coming of Christ fascinates us.
The images that it conjures up are often frightening — the moon dripping blood, the stars falling.
Or maybe we see ourselves as rejoicing and a little bit smug because as Christians we imagine ourselves as “insiders” — the ones who are ready for the Day of the Lord while the “outsiders” are unwittingly frittering away their time.
Jesus makes it pretty clear that despite all the predictions to the contrary, humankind will never pin down what only God knows. We are all just slaves working in the master’s house charged with keeping things up and running.
We are entrusted with the day-to-day care and functioning of the household of faith — a household we belong to, but that does not belong to us.
Notice that the parable says God’s people are slaves in the house, not tenants. Tenants at least pay some rent, but not slaves. And yet, we are left in charge.
We are household slaves, and with the master out of sight, it’s easy to lie down on the job and nap. It’s human nature to think that after working so hard, we deserve a nap. But, isn’t that where we get ourselves in trouble — by thinking that all of the hard work falls on our shoulders?
A job for each
The parable says that each slave has his or her own work to do. Not one bears all the responsibility. All that is required is to stay awake and do what God has given each to do.
How many congregational leaders, lay and rostered, overburden themselves by assuming that if no one comes forward to take on a task, that they must add it to an already overwhelming “to do” list?
Ah, but there is a remedy to this problem. A task unclaimed may need to remain unclaimed.
Maybe I really don’t have to get my commercial driver’s license because somebody needs to drive the bus. Maybe running out of creamer on Sunday won’t cause the roof to collapse. Maybe a ministry needs to fade away for lack of energy and call.
Mark’s Gospel simplifies things for us. Take on the ministry God has gifted you to do. Be aware of how your task in the household may change over time. And, whatever else you do, don’t over do it so you can keep awake to see the glory of Christ’s coming!
Talkback:
- Do a few people in your congregation do the bulk of the work? How do we get caught in cycles of overburdened service?
- Are you too tired to keep awake, thereby missing an exciting new calling?
- How do you re-create, listen and get refreshed in the grace of God so that you can keep awake to Christ’s presence?
