The Monday after the Last Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on November 25, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 13:32-37 (NKJV)
13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Devotion
Our Lord tells us to “Watch!” We are to be humble, understand that we do not know all things, and respect His headship as our Maker and Savior. The time for resting will come later. Even Adam and Eve were given the divine example to work for six days and then rest on the seventh. They were commanded to work and be faithful, which is the same as being told to “Watch!” Eve and Adam thought they knew better and, leaning on their own assessment of things, they failed to watch out for the wiles of the Serpent. They forgot their place in the work of the Lord’s kingdom.
Our sinful hearts tell us to “Relax.” In our own eyes we think we know better than our God, and we seek to do things on our terms. Our Lord tells us to watch and work according to His gracious commands because He desires that His love be made known to as many people as possible before the Last Day. But we want to indulge our own carelessness and focus on serving our own pursuits. Being ready to face judgment is not just about you! His very good will for mankind is that we should all do the works of love and service for each other so that more people may be ready and watching in faith!
Collect: Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy people from their offences, that from the bonds of our sins which, by reason of our frailty, we have brought upon us, we may be delivered by Thy bountiful goodness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
