March 15, 2024 

Today's Reading: Mark 13:24-37

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 47:1-31, Genesis 48:1-49:28, Mark 13:24-37

But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.\ (Mark 13: 32-33)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There is a cottage industry dedicated to deciphering the signs and learning when Jesus will appear, and unsurprisingly it makes people a lot of money. Yet, oddly enough despite protracted explanations about how various verses can be used to predict the precise date of Christ’s return, these verses are rarely addressed. Jesus couldn’t be clearer, no one knows the day or the hour, so people should quit using the Bible like a magic decoder ring that will tell them exactly when. 

Instead of looking for signs to give us a timeline, we should simply always be prepared for His return. How do we do that? By staying awake. Jesus doesn’t mean we should undergo a rigorous diet of sleep deprivation, instead He is saying that we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be distracted by all the cares and comforts of this world and lured away from Him. It’s easy to forget, especially living with the abundance with which many are accustomed, that we rely on God for all our needs of body and soul. As a result of this abundance many think that the life we have is ours to possess and control. It’s easy to let our souls shrink as we fritter our lives away on silly, meaningless things, complaining of boredom, and grumbling about the neighbors we have been given to care for. Yet Jesus says to stay awake and be on guard because the days are evil. We certainly see this in all the things that lull us into numbed distraction. Like a person walking across the street staring at their phone, we amble through our lives, unaware of all the dangers that assail us. These distractions aren’t always obvious things, sometimes it’s things that simply rob us of gratitude and cultivate our grumbling. 

Instead of cultivating anxious grumbling, our wakefulness cultivates a hopeful longing, awaiting the day when we can bow to our merciful judge who brings healing and restoration with Him. Just as we would stay awake in eager anticipation of a loved one’s long-expected late-night return, we await our Lord’s return. And however joyous our loved one’s return might be, think how much more joyous that glorious day will be. What a reason to stay awake to watch and pray.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The clouds of judgment gather, The time is growing late; Be sober and be watchful, 

Our judge is at the gate: The judge who comes in mercy, The judge who comes in might

To put an end to evil  And diadem the right. (LSB 513:1)

-Deac. Eleanor Corrow, Higher Things Board Member and coordinator in LCMS Missionary Services. 

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

Unforgivable? Unforgiveness is a prison—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In a world full of turmoil, many use forgiveness as a coping mechanism without understanding what true forgiveness is. Learn what forgiveness from Christ looks like, and how He forgives His people.